contracting = more stress?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Coming from a contractor with a lot of experience in banks? NOT.

I am sure there are raft of people in Cheshire who would completely disagree as the rates there are rubbish. From what I saw the rates and the client in question here are not amazing either.

Banks do not mean more money at all.

Jeez you take things seriously.

And in London banks do indeed pay more money.

[craig1]

What - that causes you stress ??

Yep. Everyone has their stress points in life and everyone's different. If you can identify what stresses/annoys you and find ways to work around them then life is far more mellow.

Moving desks once I'm comfy annoys me but going to completely new clients and new buildings doesn't! It's a weird peculiarity of mine.

[northernladuk]

Jeez you take things seriously.

And in London banks do indeed pay more money.

Maybe I do but this is a professional forum for advice and glib statements that are not true don't help. Just pointing that out in my friendly, helpful and courteous posting style.
After all a spade is a spade not a long handled mulfunctional digging implement.

[jmo21]

I think the more experience you develop as a contractor, the more coping mechanisms you deal with. For example, I enforce a rigid clean desk policy in the office, that way if I get moved at short notice for a new permie then all I need to do is wheel the typical office storage drawers to my new desk. I've been bumped from my seat too many times over the years for it to even register any more as an annoyance.

Other coping mechanisms I have include never going near the banking industry (including all the multiple sub-sectors)! I'll happily pass up those opportunities and would rather be benched.

A real contractor would take their time

[Scrag Meister]

And in London banks do indeed pay more money.

Greed! Oops I meant Agreed.

[SueEllen]

Wondering if its a general contracting thing everywhere or if I just got unlucky..I am not the kind to run away...also the rate is really good so I plan to fight it out...

No you are just unlucky.

You can have tulip management whether you are contract or permie. If the person has got to management, they haven't been made redundant due to restructuring and a significant amount of their team are contractors or looking for new roles then it's time for you to leave.

[bluedrop]

a significant amount of their team are contractors or looking for new roles then it's time for you to leave.

Yes. In a team of about 20+ here, only 4 or 5 are perm staff. The rest are either contractors or vendors. Btw, project managers, program manager are all contractors.

[globalprogrammer]

Have to say I think the best thing is to quit the environment if it's too unpleasant. It simply isn't worth it.

I've worked at banks in the past. Never again. I've contracted for plenty of blue chips, and banks were the worst in terms of the small minded management attitudes. The whole atmosphere with them is the kiss of death. I don't need banks - or anyone else on my CV anymore and I won't even consider them. No matter how much money they offer.

Apart from that, banks are the enemy. Think credit crunch.

[v8gaz]

Just remember this story from a long time ago. I worked for a bad manager, who had a particular dislike for a colleague of mine. One morning he was taken to the other side of teh room, where he received a good old rollocking for about 10 minutes.

Colleague came back over, and I asked 'what was that about?'

He looked at his watch and replied 'about £15 quid'

[lukemg]

First – you need to toughen up, sometimes contractors get dropped into a tough situation, projects behind schedule, manager is a nobber (maybe that’s why there was a vacancy). BUT – That doesn’t mean you take abuse, especially if its unwarranted. Make sure you are clean, do what is asked PUSH back if deadlines are a joke, so at least you told them ahead of time. If you are being asked to do 10 things, ask which they want you to do next as you have no chance of doing them all. Work hard and If they ask you to leave, so what, why do you care ?
I am the most reasonable chap in work, always willing, will do stuff beyond normal brief etc. As long as the rate is right I don’t care but if I am getting abuse for the sake of it and it’s not justified I bite back hard. Spent many years in shared houses with lads and it was routine to take the piss constantly, this stands me in good stead.
I won’t walk off a job like this, I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction, I would find another job first or at least pass on a renewal (they usually leave these till the last minute which leaves them panicking)
Oh – by the way, it’s only work, not something that matters.