State of the market

[BlasterBates]

Nope, my last contract was with a certain hardware company (doing .NET) and it was so stress free and the work was fairly interesting. The maximum you worked was 7.5 a day with other negotiating working 4 days or less hours.

Sounds great, where's that?

Actually I work in banks in Europe and it's more like that, easy going. I don't think I could stand working in some of these banks in the City. Went for two face to face interviews over the last few years and had the impression it would be tough, sort of humourless poker faced types, just drilling you with technical questions, what a contrast to an Engineering company I had an interview some years ago, really affable Australian guy speaking mainly about what sort of place London was to work in.

[oliverson]

Sounds great, where's that?

Actually I work in banks in Europe and it's more like that, easy going. I don't think I could stand working in some of these banks in the City. Went for two face to face interviews over the last few years and had the impression it would be tough, sort of humourless poker faced types, just drilling you with technical questions, what a contrast to an Engineering company I had an interview some years ago, really affable Australian guy speaking mainly about what sort of place London was to work in.

I remember one contractor I worked with at RBS. He used to get out of his seat at around 17:15 and not put his coat on. He'd hold it down on the floor in one hand and his bag in the other, then make his was to the fire exit, so as not to be 'noticed' about his 'lack of commitment'. It was like he was taking two small dogs for a walk. Who wants to work in an environment like that?

[norrahe]

I remember one contractor I worked with at RBS. He used to get out of his seat at around 17:15 and not put his coat on. He'd hold it down on the floor in one hand and his bag in the other, then make his was to the fire exit, so as not to be 'noticed' about his 'lack of commitment'. It was like he was taking two small dogs for a walk. Who wants to work in an environment like that?

At the end of the day its a gig, you're a contractor, and unlike the permies you don't owe the clientco anything, if you don't enjoy it, you get out and move on and keep on billing.

Unfortunately for me most of my work is never local so I have the joy of 20 hours of commuting a week, unless I have an obliging client with a flexible attitude to home working.

[krytonsheep]

Long live the North!

That was probably one of the best posts I've read on this forum

[RichardCranium]

Do we need any of this? Really?

Mrs RC & I decided not and have left the South East for good. We will not be returning for any rate.

In the north it's everybody out the door at 17:00 on the dot in order to pursue outside activities.

I've got you some bad news.

Oop North, you'd better not be stood by the exit doors at 15:59 - you will be trampled in the crush.

If you want to do some online shopping, send joke emails, catch up with CUK, print huge documents for personal use, or just need quiet time for some serious thinking, from 16:01 you'll often be on your own. Except for the other contractors, of course.

Mind you, that's because the staff are often in at 8:00. But they had to leave home at 7:40 to do that.

[kandr]

Sounds great, where's that?

Actually I work in banks in Europe and it's more like that, easy going. I don't think I could stand working in some of these banks in the City. Went for two face to face interviews over the last few years and had the impression it would be tough, sort of humourless poker faced types, just drilling you with technical questions, what a contrast to an Engineering company I had an interview some years ago, really affable Australian guy speaking mainly about what sort of place London was to work in.

Biggest PC maker in th world, maybe?

[CheeseSlice]

These people (London workers) seem to have no life outside work. In the north it's everybody out the door at 17:00 on the dot in order to pursue outside activities. The only people working beyond that are obviously on an hourly rate ;-)

Not everywhere in London is like that. My last contract in the city (original city of london, not that canary wharf crap) was in a place where just about everyone - whether they were permie or contractor - left the office by 5pm. Only the shift workers from support teams and the odd manager in his office would still be there by that time. Of course during my first few weeks I would sit there with another new contractor wondering what the hell was going on.

Anyway, turns out that most people do go home, but there are so many pubs around and they're usually packed at lunch time, and evenings from Wednesday onwards. It was just very annoying that I also had about a 2 hour commute to get home.

On the other hand I have worked in some places like you describe, where by 7pm the office is still 60% full of people, and without any overtime arrangements. Usually a place where the CEO makes everyone feel like a 'valuable part of the business', when in actual fact he's just a cheap manipulative

[nomadd]

That's the point I'm making. It was the same for me too until one year ago.

And the point I'm making is that I left one contract and moved to another with no gaps in between just 6 months ago...

[nomadd]

Not everywhere in London is like that. My last contract in the city (original city of london, not that canary wharf crap) was in a place where just about everyone - whether they were permie or contractor - left the office by 5pm. Only the shift workers from support teams and the odd manager in his office would still be there by that time. Of course during my first few weeks I would sit there with another new contractor wondering what the hell was going on.

Anyway, turns out that most people do go home, but there are so many pubs around and they're usually packed at lunch time, and evenings from Wednesday onwards. It was just very annoying that I also had about a 2 hour commute to get home.

On the other hand I have worked in some places like you describe, where by 7pm the office is still 60% full of people, and without any overtime arrangements. Usually a place where the CEO makes everyone feel like a 'valuable part of the business', when in actual fact he's just a cheap manipulative

Exactly. And it's these things you get nailed in the interview before you start. I turned down Barclays Wealth as they were totally inflexible in working hours. Two days later, I found another contract about 50 yards away and better money (and a better project, and with a chance to pick up better skills, and a nicer team of people, etc., etc.) I'm out the door every day by 4:25 p.m. every day.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Anyhow, the upshot of all this is whilst on my way to a final round interview (until the next round) (involving yet another 2 hour pair programming test followed by a further three interviewers) at a bank in Canary Wharf, crammed into London Bridge tube station with problems again on the Jubilee line I looked at my reflection in the glass screening the track and said aloud F**K THIS CR*P. I took the train back out of London got in my car and drove home, which is the North of England, worried about the bills, etc. Then the phone rang. It was an old line manager. Was I interested in writing some code for him just 20 mins from my home? Err, I'll think about it ;-) Just goes to show, the lord really does act in mysterious ways.

Excellent post mate.

A similar thing happened to me recently. I am based in the Manchester area. I went to Oxford for an interview, the interviewer was a right prick. He was arrogant, unfriendly and plain rude. After the interview I walked out thinking there is no chance I am working there and dreading the travel if i was offered the role. Went back home and got called for an interview in Lancashire. Went there and the people were great, the hours excellent, the work fantastic and the rate more than reasonable. I was so happy to get it and even though its an hour commute away, I enjoy getting into work and having a laugh with the people there. Even if I was offered 500 a day to work in London instead of this role (paying sub 300) I would say no. And after your post it sounds like I would need to be offered more than 600 to even consider swapping.

Long live the North!