My life as a contractor- Day 2

[kempc23]

OK, well I guess I imagined the telephone interview I had yesterday. And the one that is scheduled for tomorrow. Perhaps the client just wants to interview me for jobs that dont exist?

In the permanent job I left, the market for the skills I had was red hot. The practice was massively over-utilised and had a very strong pipeline going forward. I took a chance that the contractor market would reflect this- so far it seems that it does.

I had set myself a target at the beginning of the week to get an interview. I have done that. It went really well, but I decided the role was not for me. I have another one, and potentially two, either today or tomorrow. Fingers crossed I land one of the roles.

I have set myself a personal target of 75% utilisation, so 195 billing days a year. If I am still looking after a month (it has been about 14 working days now) I will then change my approach to get ANY contract. At the moment I am still being selective on rate, role and location. I am going to make this work.

[SueEllen]

OK, well I guess I imagined the telephone interview I had yesterday. And the one that is scheduled for tomorrow. Perhaps the client just wants to interview me for jobs that dont exist?

You can put people on ignore you know.

[Boo]

Boo has he got exactly the same skills as you? If not how do you know he will be on the market for a year for a contract?

"you may be a year or longer finding a job"

Hth,

Boo

[Boo]

OK, well I guess I imagined the telephone interview I had yesterday. And the one that is scheduled for tomorrow. Perhaps the client just wants to interview me for jobs that dont exist?

Well congrats on that. </Genuine>

I once had the experience where an agent arranged an interview about 5 hours drive away up north. They gave me a name and a contact phone number as well as the address. Something about the phone number flagged a warning so I googled it on the web. Turned out the name and number were for another recruitment agent from a different agency, client didn't exist. Long drive saved and agent given a piece of my mind he won't forget.

I would name and shame but all I can find in the email folder I named after the female pudenda are people like XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX, etc etc and it wasn't any of them so...

In the permanent job I left, the market for the skills I had was red hot. The practice was massively over-utilised and had a very strong pipeline going forward. I took a chance that the contractor market would reflect this- so far it seems that it does.

Well, again, congrats. But my point that in todays market only a stupe would leave a job before landing the contract still stands, whatever your skill set.

I am going to make this work.

Best of luck.

Boo

[kempc23]

Well it took me until working day 15 (Monday), to get my first face to face interview. I got offered the contract the next day, and was told I was "head and shoulders" above the competition

Its a six month contract, at the top end of my rate range (or at least the range I had in my mind before I started), central London, and sounds like a really interesting role Its a 2-3 year project, so fingers crossed it will all work out and I can stay there for a long time.

The agent hand delivered the contract yesterday, which I have signed and returned. I start a week Monday, so that will be a total of 24 bench days between finishing my permie job and starting my contract job. Not bad for a "stupe" hey boo

Really happy and looking forward to starting

Thank you everyone for your advice and encouragement

[Pondlife]

The agent hand delivered the contract yesterday, which I have signed and returned. I start a week Monday, so that will be a total of 24 bench days between finishing my permie job and starting my contract job. Not bad for a "stupe" hey boo

Congrats Kemp!

One point... it's often useful to get your contract reviewed w.r.t. IR35 by an expert.

[SimonMac]

Congrats

[kempc23]

Congrats Kemp!

One point... it's often useful to get your contract reviewed w.r.t. IR35 by an expert.

Thanks mate

Its with a fairly established agency though. Shouldnt their standard contracts be written up with that in mind?

[eek]

Thanks mate

Its with a fairly established agency though. Shouldnt their standard contracts be written up with that in mind?

It depends which "standard" contract they give you.

[Wanderer]

Its with a fairly established agency though. Shouldnt their standard contracts be written up with that in mind?

You would think so, wouldn't you but it doesn't always work that way and you have to negotiate a bit.