Why did you get into contracting

[R6steve]

Really? In every org i work in i find it to be full of permies who lack in skills adn more importantly the balls to actually deliver work. Don't get me wrong I've also met plenty of contractors like that.....but tehy dont last for long. Being a contractor forces you to up your game or you get the push....Permies can sit in the same seat for 20 yrs doing the square root of nowt!

Absolutely, don't get me wrong, I'm no capitalist monster but most companies, especially large ones with 10,000 plus employees could shed 20% of their staff and it would make no difference what so ever to output. They rarely do this as the managers in charge of these teams constantly big them up to justify their own positions - these ignoramuses would be the first to get the boot in my opinion.

However, a company full of fat, lazy (metaphorically speaking not physically) and incompetent employees just means more work for agile, skilled, driven contractors who CAN actually deliver.

[NotAllThere]

I do it for the money and the time off.

[ChimpMaster]

I did it because my old boss was a tosspot and I was in a 100% road warrior role which I had grown tired of after many years. No longer would I be forced to travel & work all over the world - now I can choose to.

[weemster]

More cash and eventually more freedom.

[BrilloPad]

Hi,

I'm fairly new in my job (marketing consultant, automotive industry NOT a recruiter, I'm also a permie and not a contractor) and I've been asked to write a guide about the roles of contractors throughout the business and how contractors will more than likely play a larger part on the company (end of the permanent job for life type thing).

I've read lots of posts and seem to have a good handle on what contractors do, how they operate etc however the only bit I'm struggling with is how/why people choose to become a contractor/freelancer in the first place?

I'm guessing it's mainly because of:
1. necessity - couldn't find permie work?
2. design - the allure of more money and potential life style choice
3. hate their boss, culture of the company or combo of both

Is this about right?

Also (on a more personal interest note, this isn't for the report) how many started as a contractor and used it as a stepping stone to starting their own business?

Cheers

I started so that I would not have to put up the permie sh1t that IBs give their employees. Soon as it stops I will go permie. 21 years and I am still waiting......

[maui50]

Before I was a contractor, I was a temp (i.e. pimped-out badly paid office bod). Even then, I was aware that I worked harder than the average permie, because I knew how replaceable I was, and that one little ****-up could have me out on my ear.

I later became a contractor because of the job - pure and simple. I wanted to do a particular job in a particular industry, and all the particular work I wanted to get into 'seemed to be' contract only (either 3 month or at most 1 year contracts).

I've stayed a contractor because even though more permie jobs now exist in the industry, none of them have anything like the pay and conditions I get as a contractor. The major pay cut, dreary commute and silly office politics I'd have to put up with are just not worth it! (I've rarely had to work on site). If I am forced to get out of contracting because my contracts/entire industry dries up, so be it. But I'd say that working as a contractor has done wonders for my work ethic (ahem...better get back to it actually..)

[RichardCranium]

Employing a contractor is usually cheaper than employing a permie.

Only due to the fact that permanent employees have a huge long term cost -salaries, taxes, pensions or even the cost of a pension provision, sick pay (contractors rarely get sick), holiday pay plus the cost of keeping employees happy.

"Only due to"? That doesn't stop it being true.

You take on a contractor for a project then dump them again. It is virtually a known, fixed cost at very low risk.

Contractor sick? Dump 'em. Contractor whingy? Dump 'em. Contractor pregnant? Dump 'er. Contractor wants some time off to deal with a family crisis? Dump 'em. Contractor wants a holiday mid-project? Tell 'em you'll dump 'em.

[herman_g]

My Story

Chapter One

- had a very cushy permie job ( SA at McDonald's head office in Canada )
- colleague next to me got a company car, I got a promotion
- wanted a car also and got told a promotion was better
- told them give me a car or I walk
- they didn't

Chapter Two

- went for a comparable permie role and interview was going perfectly
- manager asked how much ( 2 thousand more than Chapter 1 ) and when I told him he nearly fell out of his chair
- received a letter stating "others were more qualified" and it became clear I was not going to find a permie role as good as my old one

Chapter Three

- returned from a one-week escape to Jamaica - Canada was starting to get frosty
- phone rang "do you want to come for a contract in California" rate is xx per hour plus expenses
- ok, now I was a contractor

The End

[thelace]

The End

I love a story with a happy ending

[cojak]

I have a confession to make so I'll just come right out with it...

I love my work.

I'm project based with specialist skills. I go into a company, make it better and then get out.

Companies have no need to keep people like me as permies (unless they are growing at a fast rate). I have had happy clients contact me for projects over 2 or 3 years without the expensive need of keeping me in their employ.

And the rates are good (not great though at the mo' - I've dropped them to get the current contract which has proved a good decision with hindsight...)