Why did you get into contracting

[nomadd]

God nomadd what is your issue with him? You have been jumping on his back since first post for no real reason except you don't like his question...

Nothing wrong with the question. Except:

1. It has nothing to do with the "research" he's claiming to do.
2. He'd already made his mind up from his first post what the answer he wanted was - go and re-read his posts (and this time try to be "Wise" rather than "Not So Wise" )
3. He's changed his mind about who he is and what's he's up to every time he's posted on this thread.

Really, if you were doing research into taking on some contractors direct, would you log on to this forum and start a thread entitled "Why did you decide to go contracting?" Of course you wouldn't, unless you were a complete idiot or a fraud.

He's not once asked about skill sets, qualifications, training, years in service, preferred work location, rate expectations, career aspirations, invoicing terms, thoughts on working direct, thoughts on working in his specific industry, yada, yada, yada. You know, all the sorts of questions someone who was genuinely doing what he's suggesting he's doing would ask.

I await the "direct contracts from his company" with baited breath. Somehow I think that'll be a loooooong wait.

Cheers,

"God" Nomadd (as you so eloquently phrased it. )

[R6steve]

Thanks for that Nomadd.

For everybody else, I'm still very interested in hearing why people decided to turn to contracting. This information will help large companies like ourselves to target and turn more work over to contractors rather than permanent workers.

Our company, and I'm sure lots of other large companies like ours will be increasing the level of contractors in the near future. I'm sure any smart HR/IT/project management department, not forgetting all other types of contract work such as engineering, freelancers, bankers etc who reads it, will find most of the posts useful.

The more companies understand about contractors the more they are likely to use you guys and gals.

I'd encourage as many of you as possible to post a thread, it can only help. I know for sure it is helping me and the project/team I'm working on.

Cheers

[MrToast]

Thanks for that Nomadd.

For everybody else, I'm still very interested in hearing why people decided to turn to contracting. This information will help large companies like ourselves to target and turn more work over to contractors rather than permanent workers.

Our company, and I'm sure lots of other large companies like ours will be increasing the level of contractors in the near future. I'm sure any smart HR/IT/project management department, not forgetting all other types of contract work such as engineering, freelancers, bankers etc who reads it, will find most of the posts useful.

The more companies understand about contractors the more they are likely to use you guys and gals.

I'd encourage as many of you as possible to post a thread, it can only help. I know for sure it is helping me and the project/team I'm working on.

Cheers

I agree with Nomadd on this. I really don't see how providing you with a reason why we decided/chanced on the contracting route will provide you with enough information to increase the demand for contractors or am I missing something?

OK, my reasons were financially motivated and the flexibility that contracting provides. Now, how will this information help you?

[R6steve]

I agree with Nomadd on this. I really don't see how providing you with a reason why we decided/chanced on the contracting route will provide you with enough information to increase the demand for contractors or am I missing something?

OK, my reasons were financially motivated and the flexibility that contracting provides. Now, how will this information help you?

Hi Mr Toast, thanks for your note and taking the time to say why you decided to go contracting, no you're not missing anything. When writing a report (which is now up to 37 pages) you need to fill the pages with something. My objective is for our company to use more contractors and this type of info just adds to the flavor.

I've found lots of other usefully threads on Contractor UK but couldn't find anything on this, hence the post, it's just handy background.

Cheers

[cojak]

Thanks for this.

This is for you Cojak and all the other experienced contractors out there - Have you seen an increase in the number of contractors?

My suspicion is they are on the up and the good news is that due to the vast number of projects currently on hold, we'll be looking at a huge recruitment drive for contractors to support the new projects and renewal of older systems.

Yes I have seen an increase in quantity, but not in quality. Many new contractors have been made redumdant and many will go back to permie land when things pick up...

Others are inter-company transfers, which are much cheapness...

[williamdavis]

For me it was simply a case of losing faith in the corporate structure, seeing ridiculous people being promoted due to their friendship with the boss rather than their ability, hating my idiot boss and getting bored of long unpaid and unappreciated hours.

Contracting isn't easy, but it is rewarding.

I do envy the non-contributory pensions many permies have here, but is it really worth it if you have to work in some hell hole, for some numpty, for 30 years.

Many of my friends are now contractors, I'm not sure if that's because I'm a contractor and as a contractor you naturally have more contractor friends or if more people are choosing to work this way, maybe a combo of both. For sure there are less and less perks being a permie.

[Sockpuppet]

I went contracting becuase I kept getting fired from permie work. Went through 3 jobs in little over 6 months.

I'm a very, very confident person which people read as arrogance and I refuse to play the polotics game. If i think your a twunt I'll usually just say it.

Since going contractor I've never had a bad word said about me have always been extended many times and worksed at the same client over and over as they keep asking me back a couple of months after I left.

I'm just not cut out for the permie lifestyle.

[expat]

Being a contractor allowed me the freedom to pursue my passion - travelling . This year I did a three month backpack in Cambodia, Thailand and Burma . Last year I went to Vietnam and Laos
Could not exactly fit that all in as permie on their two weekly holiday allowance ....

Where is it that only gives employees two weeks' holiday?

Anyway, you can fit three-month trips into some careers, teaching for example, which might have been one of my alternatives. And you could always leave and come back to a job: some of them will pretty much guarantee to take you back. For example I was told once by a sergeant in the Met that he had backpacked in Asia a couple of times, you could always come and get your old job back.

I have used contracting for time off and travel, but looking back over my life, I don't now see that I couldn't have done it as a permie.

[elwray]

Where is it that only gives employees two weeks' holiday?

What I meant was despite employees receiving 5 weeks holiday per year most of the time (in my experience) most people take up to two weeks in one go for a holiday .
As a contractor if I did a 6 month gig if I decided to not to take an extension I could travel for a few months before starting another contract . And I have the freedom to do this often as a contractor . Now as an employee would I be allowed to travel for a few months every 6 months work or so ? Not all employers would be that flexible ....

[RichardCranium]

I'd encourage as many of you as possible to post a thread, it can only help. I know for sure it is helping me and the project/team I'm working on.

I'm sure this is going to bite us on the bum.