Will you go back to full time employment to enrich your skills portfolio ?

[zerointeractive]

Hi folks,

this is my first post!

I am an IT contractor since 6 years now and I have worked mainly on public administration long-term contracts.
I am now near the end of my contract and a possible renewal is about to come, but I feel like I want to change to enrich my skills portfolio.

In facts, I think it is important to have different experiences in various sectors such as banks, insurances and telcos so that I am able to market myself to different customers.

Well, now I have received an offer from a company, but as a full-time employee salaried job.
The project seems promising and the interesting point is that the final customer is a bank.

The fact is that the salary is like 1/3 of my rate, but the point is that I haven't found so far any contract whatsoever.
So I have these options:
- stay were I am until the end of my days (going nuts because of a boring project)
- leave for an employed salary

What do you suggest me ?


Thank you in advance!

[cojak]

Permie for a bank? It's a no brainer - take permanent employment.

Don't worry, the rest of us will take up the slack.

[NotAllThere]

I went permie twice. One to get a lucrative new skill, the second time when there was no decent contracting work, so took a management role.

[kingcook]

FTFY...

So I have these options:
- stay were I am until the end of my days (going nuts because of a boring project)
- leave for an employed salary (going nuts because of a boring project)

[northernladuk]

I am an IT contractor since 6 years now and I have worked mainly on public administration long-term contracts.

I would go perm just to get out of that sector. Sounds like a potential IR35 disaster, maybe not now but later.

I am not averse to the idea I might have to go perm to get some new/updated skills and to shore up the CV, particularly with rates dropping. I think when I start worrying about it or 'feel' it is the right time then it probably is. If you are worrying about this now you will for the next contract and the next one. Bite the bullet, get it done and then contract with confidence later in my book. A 6 months to a year isn't going to kill you IMO.

[northernladuk]

- stay were I am until the end of my days (going nuts because of a boring project)
- leave for an employed salary with training in a valuable skill that you can get end to end contracts for years to come

You are not looking at the right factors. There is more to leaving than an employed salary. You will never make a decision on those two factors

[northernladuk]

FTFY...

Utter bollocks. Some business you are if that is as blinkered as you are to different opportunities.

[bobspud]

Down to your own outlook and your sector volatility, but every time I look at my rate then take taxation into account and all the hassle of HR I generally say screw it! I have never been one for course based learning as I get bored easily and from what I have seen of my permanent friends, they are as rare as hens teeth anyway.

But you never know your well earned skills outside the ranks might make your career rise easier of you jump back in...

[zerointeractive]

I would go perm just to get out of that sector. Sounds like a potential IR35 disaster, maybe not now but later.

Is Public Administration that terrible ? Well, I know by experience.. but would love to read your opinion on the matter. And why IR35 disaster ?

[sirja]

This is something I've been thinking about. My field is coming under a lot of pressure from cloud based alternatives. If I could get a senior perm role with cross training into these new platforms it's indeed something I would consider.