Change of career to contractor - advice needed (Virgin Media)

[Simbo]

Hi,

I have recently applied for a position with McNicholas as an installer for Virgin Media. This would be a huge career change for me so I'm looking for any information.

I have gone from being really enthusiastic about it to feeling quite worried after what I've read about the industry.

Has anyone got any experience of working for McNicholas? Are any of you installers for Virgin?

Thanks in advance!

[pmeswani]

Hi,

I have recently applied for a position with McNicholas as an installer for Virgin Media. This would be a huge career change for me so I'm looking for any information.

I have gone from being really enthusiastic about it to feeling quite worried after what I've read about the industry.

Has anyone got any experience of working for McNicholas? Are any of you installers for Virgin?

Thanks in advance!

Whatever industry you go in to, you will hear tulip about them. If you avoid working for companies because of the tulip publicity, you will end up not working at all. Different people have different experiences of working in different industries. A lot of people who talk tulip about their employer are likely to still work for them.

[Simbo]

Thanks for the reply.

The most worrying part for me is going from a stable job with regular pay to a job which may not be as consistent. I am in a poorly paid job now (£1000 per month) but at least I know exactly how much and when I will get paid. I have a family to consider so it is quite scary.

I have read of installers working very long hours for relatively poor pay and people saying it really isnt worth the hassle.

McNicholas have told me it will be £6.41 per hour with extra payment for each job completed. If I hit their targets they have said I will earn £20,000pa. I also get 28 days holiday.

Im waiting to hear back from them for some more information. I have asked if they supply the tools, if there are any fees for the tools, any other deductions from pay, how much exactly for each job completed and what their targets are.

What is also worrying is the length of training and the training rate. I am on an extremely tight budget and really cant be earning any less than the £1000 a month I earn at the moment.

But on the positive side I am convinced I would love the job and it is something Ive wanted to do for a long time.

Hmmmm decisions, decisions!

[DeludedAussie]

Thanks for the reply.

The most worrying part for me is going from a stable job with regular pay to a job which may not be as consistent. I am in a poorly paid job now (£1000 per month) but at least I know exactly how much and when I will get paid. I have a family to consider so it is quite scary.

I have read of installers working very long hours for relatively poor pay and people saying it really isnt worth the hassle.

McNicholas have told me it will be £6.41 per hour with extra payment for each job completed. If I hit their targets they have said I will earn £20,000pa. I also get 28 days holiday.

Im waiting to hear back from them for some more information. I have asked if they supply the tools, if there are any fees for the tools, any other deductions from pay, how much exactly for each job completed and what their targets are.

What is also worrying is the length of training and the training rate. I am on an extremely tight budget and really cant be earning any less than the £1000 a month I earn at the moment.

But on the positive side I am convinced I would love the job and it is something Ive wanted to do for a long time.

Hmmmm decisions, decisions!

£1000 a month? Are you serious?

Some people on here take that home a day + VAT

[Simbo]

Yes I'm serious!

That's why Im looking for a career change. Like I mentioned I know I would love doing the installations for Virgin but I'm concerned about what I've heard about working ridiculously long hours and not really seeing the benefits of it in the pay packet.

That's why I'm after as much feedback as possible before I make my final decision.

[stek]

Yes I'm serious!

That's why Im looking for a career change. Like I mentioned I know I would love doing the installations for Virgin but I'm concerned about what I've heard about working ridiculously long hours and not really seeing the benefits of it in the pay packet.

That's why I'm after as much feedback as possible before I make my final decision.

That's not a contractor role mate, it's slave labour - as a contractor you are running your own business. Forget pay-packet, think profit and dividend.

Contractors don't get paid holidays, I really cannot see how you can call this 'contracting' - it isn't.

[SueEllen]

Yes I'm serious!

That's why Im looking for a career change. Like I mentioned I know I would love doing the installations for Virgin but I'm concerned about what I've heard about working ridiculously long hours and not really seeing the benefits of it in the pay packet.

That's why I'm after as much feedback as possible before I make my final decision.

As said this isn't contracting. It's purely temp work.

I would stay where you are and either get more skills in the role you currently are in, or look for another permanent job.

[2BIT]

That's not a contractor role mate, it's slave labour - as a contractor you are running your own business. Forget pay-packet, think profit and dividend.

Contractors don't get paid holidays, I really cannot see how you can call this 'contracting' - it isn't.

it's not contracting and if the best you can do is get 20k by working long hours I'm not sure its worth it - if you take home a grand a month you'll only take home 1500 getting 25K so for 20K i reckon you'll take home around 1250, would the extra 250 a month be worth it if you were under more stress working long hours and not seeing your family? plus if its a role based on market forces you may not find you have the work to earn that extra cash - I'd stay put the job doesn't sound good in the context of your aspirations

[jmo21]

Another use of the word contractor, is in the manual labour trade.

It just means he's self employed I think.

OP, you are on the wrong forum for advice on stuff like that.

[northernladuk]

I think you need to have think hard here and I also think you need to understand properly the concepts you are talking about.

pmeswani is right about the gossip. Even I have heard that Virgin Media isn't nice to work for and there have been comments on here. Thing is I cannot afford to care. If they offer me a contract at a reasonable rate I will be there like a shot. No way would I turn one down because I hear it isn't nice so forget that. Take the bull by the horns and go for it. If you go in worried it won't get any better.

You say you have had a career change? So you have never done installations before? Well done on getting a contract with no prior experience but it would also explain your low rate. You are obviously worried about how safe you are, this isn't gauranteed even in permie land but contracting in something you have no skills in could a problem. You install stuff for 6 months and come out with what? It certainly isn't a career. Career's tend to be made in permie land not contracting land. Yes you can do it but you need to be pretty brave and lucky. No disrespect but if you are worried about this job and family etc you are not starting on the right foot.

Is there not an option to go full time somewhere where you can actually start on a career ladder? Having a 6 month contract is not the start of a career ladder by any means.

What other options do you have? You said decisions decisions? Have I even got the right end of the stick. This is a temporary piece of work or a contract?