How to snag a permie job after contracting for ages?

[The Spartan]

I worked with a .Net contractor who went permie he told them he wanted stability and that he and his wife were about to start a family. I'm not saying you should go down that route as that would be a bit drastic

[The Spartan]

Is your area particularly niche? The general IT skills jobs market seems really buoyant - .NET, SQL, Java etc.

Yup it's testing, problem is lots of companies think they don't need good quality testers so they opt for the cheaper option or for Bobs. Oh well as the saying goes "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.""

[Jeebo72]

OK, so, the contract market is dire. Yes, Im getting calls about some contract at either end of the country ie London or Edinburgh but, virtually nothing in between. Im also seeing lots of roles that 12 months ago would have been contract but are now being advertised as permie.

I've started applying for the permie roles as, although I've a good warchest, I dont want to fritter it away by just sitting at home doing nowt.

To date, I've not had a sniff of an interview for a permie role even where the agent has contacted me about them. Hardly surprising I know since a lot(?) of permie employers turn their noses up at 'ex contractors moving into permie' positions.

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

The problem is you're only going after permie jobs because you can't get a contract. You may well be giving off these signals to recruiters, even if you think you are not.

Why not chase senior roles, roles that you could say are about career progression, and hint that at this stage in your life, this is what you want to do.

[Mich the Tester]

Yup it's testing, problem is lots of companies think they don't need good quality testers

Just be patient. They will.

[ELBBUBKUNPS]

OK, so, the contract market is dire. Yes, Im getting calls about some contract at either end of the country ie London or Edinburgh but, virtually nothing in between. Im also seeing lots of roles that 12 months ago would have been contract but are now being advertised as permie.

I've started applying for the permie roles as, although I've a good warchest, I dont want to fritter it away by just sitting at home doing nowt.

To date, I've not had a sniff of an interview for a permie role even where the agent has contacted me about them. Hardly surprising I know since a lot(?) of permie employers turn their noses up at 'ex contractors moving into permie' positions.

So, how do you make yourself and your contractor cv more interesting to a permie recruiter? How \ can you de contractorise your cv?

I managed it, and my permy employer is someone who was never a client of mine so no contract to permy at same place IR35 worries.

I sold myself on being at a stage in life I wanted a 'career' (is there any such thing these days) and explained how the contractor skills I had made me a better option that a existing permy, things like being able to hit the ground running, delivery focus etc etc, I blagged alot

I did get asked alot of questions about why I wanted to stop contracting and as well as the career part of it I explained how HMRC had made the environment so painful and uncertain to operate in that was another reason. (There you go HMRC less tax revenue for you from me is that what you wanted ???)

Main issue I was had was getting good £, lots of permy places just see contractors as just a developer or at max a senior developer, it took me a while to get an offer that was good, not great but it was best I would get.

[BolshieBastard]

I dont know why people are bringing up the pitfalls of permie. Yes, we all know what it entails. Bottom line is, I want to get back to work but the opportunities are limited, some by choice and some not and the pros and cons of permie v contracting doesnt bring anything to the table.

As I have said, a lot of roles are being advertised as permie rather than contract. Im even seeing permie BA roles being advertised now. Hyphen (Adecco etc) are currently advertising for 6 BA at LTSB under their "Employed Consultant Model."

Im not junior stuff either so Im aiming for senior roles. But, if there's none about, you cant apply for them can you?

When all said and done, I dont know how you can 'de contractorise' your cv. In any application process, this is what grab's the hirer's attention.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I dont know why people are bringing up the pitfalls of permie. Yes, we all know what it entails. Bottom line is, I want to get back to work but the opportunities are limited, some by choice and some not and the pros and cons of permie v contracting doesnt bring anything to the table.

As I have said, a lot of roles are being advertised as permie rather than contract. Im even seeing permie BA roles being advertised now. Hyphen (Adecco etc) are currently advertising for 6 BA at LTSB under their "Employed Consultant Model."

Im not junior stuff either so Im aiming for senior roles. But, if there's none about, you cant apply for them can you?

When all said and done, I dont know how you can 'de contractorise' your cv. In any application process, this is what grab's the hirer's attention.

Once you have seen the light do your best to stay away from the darkness.

[BolshieBastard]

Once you have seen the light do your best to stay away from the darkness.

Yes but pretty immaterial if there are no contracts. I intend being 'retired' in 3 to 4 years so no point of a Plan B hence, considering permie.

[d000hg]

I dont know why people are bringing up the pitfalls of permie. Yes, we all know what it entails. Bottom line is, I want to get back to work but the opportunities are limited, some by choice and some not and the pros and cons of permie v contracting doesnt bring anything to the table.

As I have said, a lot of roles are being advertised as permie rather than contract. Im even seeing permie BA roles being advertised now. Hyphen (Adecco etc) are currently advertising for 6 BA at LTSB under their "Employed Consultant Model."

Im not junior stuff either so Im aiming for senior roles. But, if there's none about, you cant apply for them can you?

When all said and done, I dont know how you can 'de contractorise' your cv. In any application process, this is what grab's the hirer's attention.

Have you got the recruiters on your side by telling them that you've been contracting but you want to return to the stability of permanent jobs? Their word should carry _some_ weight if the client employer has a relationship with the recruiter.

[BolshieBastard]

Have you got the recruiters on your side by telling them that you've been contracting but you want to return to the stability of permanent jobs? Their word should carry _some_ weight if the client employer has a relationship with the recruiter.

I've only pushed the willingness to take on permie jobs with a select few since I want to keep as many options open as possible.