Urgent: Do I Leave Perm 4 Immediate Contract!?

[MI0303]

Good to see another person asking the same kind of question as I did

It's entertaining reading the pstaking by some of them, especially those like malvolio who say

Stay perm, you're not good enough to go contracting

when he/she's the one that can't see perm is only 5 days a week

However daft I sound , here's what I thought before coming on this forum and I'm still not totally covinced that it's wrong

The contracts I would go into have been in good supply even during this recession. A sign of this is the fact that when they were first being recruited for, they asked for a specific professional qualification. Then a few months later the same client was using the same agency and now highlighting that they no longer insist you have the qualification and yet the same daily rate.
This is and the other contracts advertised made me think there'd be a good supply of work for the best part of the next 12 months.

And

When people here are talking about warchests or spending ages on the bench

The way I'd look at the calculations is:
Get a contract, earn £250/day, even if it ends after 3 months, you've earned nearly 9 months worth of perm money in 3 months

While looking for the next contract, just take on a temp job paying a sht £7/hour , £49/day

Yes, you won't be a true hardcore contractor if you do this, and so probably wouldn't be able to do the tax dodging IR35 tricks. Instead use an umbrella, less take home pay but less hassle and still better off overall than perming


Right - I'm ready for a load of stick

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

There does seem to be an increadible amount of arrogance from some contractors who "answer" my questions in here.

If you look at SBK's post on page 5 then you will see that you can offer advice in a way without adding the odd insult in. What SBK said was logical and thought provoking on the other hand your comments are aimed at just being provoking.

So what if you have 14 years experience or you think you know it all, doesn't mean that some youngster (me not included) can't come in and do a better job after 2 years experience because of his sponge like brain. Also with experience should come a bit of humility not more arrogance.

I have noticed the difference between chilled out, layed back, easy going, nice contractors and some of the arrogant ones on here. The former will definitley get further and will make lots of friends on the way....

If you don't like the discussion go somewhere else.

Regardless of what route I chose to take in life I enjoy learning from others more experienced than myself, it gives me a broader understanding and helps me to make the right decisions as I go along. I am sure it will also help others who are in similar positions to myself.

[malvolio]

Arrogance? OK, but in my case, it's hard-nosed arrogant people like me you need to impress in order to get the work. So far, you ain't doing too well...

There is a lot of good, experienced advice in this thread. Sadly, every so often , we get someone who hasn't twigged (a) this is a difficult time for even very well established contractors much less newbies and (b) what we say may not accord with your world view but is nevertheless pretty much reality.

So as I said earlier, grow up or get out. Your attitude is not compatible with being a contractor. Take the advice given or plough your own furrough, we could care less. It's not like you will be a threat to our business.

HTH

[mudskipper]

The impression I (and probably others) get is...

You're young, enthusiastic and spontaneous (these are good things!) You've been dazzled by bright lights and streets paved with gold (easily done).

Nothing wrong with taking a risk and making the jump, but much, much better to do it with some preparation, knowing what the reality is, and how you will manage if it all goes wrong.

People in this thread have been trying to tell you what that reality is, but it does seem that you pick out the bits you want to hear and discount that which you don't.

Deciding to go contracting isn't something you do with a day's notice. You work out a plan of how you're going to get into it, do your research, work out pros and cons and then take the plunge.

I'm new to contracting myself, so know how difficult it is with notice periods etc. But that's just the tip of an iceberg - there's so much stuff you need to know about that can trip you up, and there are people on here who can help you avoid the pitfalls. The starting point is reading the guides that are freely available (I think there are links already on this thread).

As a fellow newbie, I've found malvolio's advice and knowledge on these threads invaluable - he knows his stuff, and is worth listening to.

Don't lose your enthusiasm and drive, but take time to do some research, work out a plan and demonstrate the maturity it will certainly need to become a successful contractor.

Good luck!

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

People in this thread have been trying to tell you what that reality is, but it does seem that you pick out the bits you want to hear and discount that which you don't.

Everybody does keep saying this, but its actually not true. I do like to play devils advocate at times to pick peoples brains but I'm not disregarding the harsh realities of contracting.

Thanks all for your input

[northernladuk]

Everybody does keep saying this, but its actually not true. I do like to play devils advocate at times to pick peoples brains but I'm not disregarding the harsh realities of contracting.

Thanks all for your input

Unfortuantely your devils advocate approach is losing you respect on here as you can see. Some of our most respected posters have even taken to pointing out your faults and with a negative spin. You can ignore me as I am a miserable git all the time but FaQQer and Malvolio are some of our most helpful and knowledgeable posters and and you have even got the coolest potatoe MaryPoppins in a spin. None of these peeps are not prone to digging at fellow posters.

Your attitude and downright inability to take in both sides has even irk'ed them. Bearing in mind you are clearly going to need A LOT of help from here if you do start (god help us) it is normally good practice not to p*ss the entire community off before you even start.

Hint, when two people with the experience of Malv and FaQ give you some figures from the reality side of the fence best to take notice and listen rather than try and lecture them on the theory you have fallen in love with.

Maybe drop the devils advocate a bit huh?

[pmeswani]

Everybody does keep saying this, but its actually not true. I do like to play devils advocate at times to pick peoples brains but I'm not disregarding the harsh realities of contracting.

Thanks all for your input

As you are not willing to take the views of the posters here, I can only wish you the best of luck. If you decide to come back and swallow some humble pie, I'm sure those you have ignored will forgive you (in time). Go forward and hope for the best. I still think you are a sockpuppet, and think you should have chosen Deviladvocate as an appropriate tag name.

[scooterscot]

Comparing perm at home or 250 miles travelling contract, I would stay perm.

Remember travel costs, also future bench time, probably you'll be commited to travel for much longer than the current contract.

Gosh just reading that makes me wonder why I still contract... 500 miles away from home.

Now I remember why. I say when I say why I make my own choices in life!

[gingerjedi]

Good to see another person asking the same kind of question as I did

It's entertaining reading the pstaking by some of them, especially those like malvolio who say when he/she's the one that can't see perm is only 5 days a week

However daft I sound , here's what I thought before coming on this forum and I'm still not totally covinced that it's wrong

The contracts I would go into have been in good supply even during this recession. A sign of this is the fact that when they were first being recruited for, they asked for a specific professional qualification. Then a few months later the same client was using the same agency and now highlighting that they no longer insist you have the qualification and yet the same daily rate.
This is and the other contracts advertised made me think there'd be a good supply of work for the best part of the next 12 months.

And

When people here are talking about warchests or spending ages on the bench

The way I'd look at the calculations is:
Get a contract, earn £250/day, even if it ends after 3 months, you've earned nearly 9 months worth of perm money in 3 months

While looking for the next contract, just take on a temp job paying a sht £7/hour , £49/day

Yes, you won't be a true hardcore contractor if you do this, and so probably wouldn't be able to do the tax dodging IR35 tricks. Instead use an umbrella, less take home pay but less hassle and still better off overall than perming


Right - I'm ready for a load of stick

Go for it then, your plan looks flawless... what are you waiting for?

[northernladuk]

The contracts I would go into have been in good supply even during this recession. A sign of this is the fact that when they were first being recruited for, they asked for a specific professional qualification. Then a few months later the same client was using the same agency and now highlighting that they no longer insist you have the qualification and yet the same daily rate.
This is and the other contracts advertised made me think there'd be a good supply of work for the best part of the next 12 months.

I give up

How do you quantify in good supply? Because there are a few a day on jobserve... to feed a few 1000 highly skilled benched contractors? You then quote 1 job example. You think there is a good supply? Have you not read a single post on this forum? Makes me want to cry.

Can anyone find that graph that someone posted showing the number of roles advertised over a 3 year period? I am not sure if it was extract from jobserve or something but that shows a the stark reality of the situation.