Would you do a crap contract short-term if needs be?

[psychocandy]

Last happened to me in Jan 2010 (had young baby as well). 1st week was great, 2nd week was ok, 3rd week was hell!

Yep. Its nice to be home with baby etc but same as you - after a few weeks I've had enough.

[psychocandy]

If a very short low rated contract comes up (no more than 2/3 weeks) at any time while on the bench I would consider it and go for it no problem.

When I will start to consider contracts lower than my ideal rate that are longer, happens when I'm at a certain 'point' on the bench, that 'point' will always be different depending on the exact situation at the time, war chest, length of time off, time of year etc.

I look at it even on a much lower rate the bills will still be covered and can still put into savings, so better that than using the war chest for the bills and having zero going into savings.

More concerned at how tulipe it'll look on my CV. Loads of high level stuff then a crap low level one.

But it does pay the bills but not much else. In fact, its about income of a permie job lol.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Yep. Its nice to be home with baby etc but same as you - after a few weeks I've had enough.

I'm not sure which is better - having a low paying contract or being immediately available for a high paying contract.....

[petergriffin]

Advantages as I see it:-

Better than working at Poundland for your benefits.

[masonryan]

See quite a few crap contracts on jobserve at the moment. Pros and cons of taking short-term crap role?

Advantages as I see it:-

1. Some income is better than zero income.
2. Its better to have something on your CV than a large gap.
3. Might learn new skills?

Disadvantages:-

1. Rate really is crap.
2. It looks strange on your CV that you did something low-level.


Got an offer of a contract. Its about 1/3rd of what I normally charge but:-

1. Its 10 mins from home. (Important at the moment)
2. I get my SC back. (Good for future roles)
3. Its a month rolling so easy to bail if something better comes up. (and I won't mention that I could bail part way because it'll upset NLUK)

I've been in this situation in the last couple of years.

I took a lower paid local contract for a little while but said for a renewal I wanted a rate more akin with that paid in the past few years by clientco, which was again lower than the rate paid in the golden years of 2005-09 (about 50% lower). They basically told me no and found someone more desperate for a cashflow.

Some people, particularly those I know in permie land, thought I was crazy. They said why didn't you just take it for a few more months as some money is better than nothing.

Well, I don't think permies can really offer advise to contractors, as most permies I've met live hand to mouth and don't save, so they can't comprehend that someone can not work for a week let alone a few months. But sensible contractors like me have saved in the good times to sustain myself in these tougher times.

I think if you take the permie mentality of 'something better than nothing' then you will keep working for less money and the agents and clientco will realise they can push you around. That's not good in the long run as you lose respect and won't get proper rates in the good times. So basically, you end up working more but for less.

Personally I don't think this 'gap on CV' scare story is worth anything at all. Sure someone might use it as an excuse to attack your CV, but who said that people must work like a slave all their life? If you've got money to support yourself then why not take time off? It's just jealous permie thinking again.

Anyway, if I were you, it doesn't work to do say 2-3 months in a role like that but anything more and there's a risk you will be perceived as a cheap contractor.

[Andy Hallett]

I've been in this situation in the last couple of years.

I took a lower paid local contract for a little while but said for a renewal I wanted a rate more akin with that paid in the past few years by clientco, which was again lower than the rate paid in the golden years of 2005-09 (about 50% lower). They basically told me no and found someone more desperate for a cashflow.

Some people, particularly those I know in permie land, thought I was crazy. They said why didn't you just take it for a few more months as some money is better than nothing.

Well, I don't think permies can really offer advise to contractors, as most permies I've met live hand to mouth and don't save, so they can't comprehend that someone can not work for a week let alone a few months. But sensible contractors like me have saved in the good times to sustain myself in these tougher times.

I think if you take the permie mentality of 'something better than nothing' then you will keep working for less money and the agents and clientco will realise they can push you around. That's not good in the long run as you lose respect and won't get proper rates in the good times. So basically, you end up working more but for less.

Personally I don't think this 'gap on CV' scare story is worth anything at all. Sure someone might use it as an excuse to attack your CV, but who said that people must work like a slave all their life? If you've got money to support yourself then why not take time off? It's just jealous permie thinking again.

Anyway, if I were you, it doesn't work to do say 2-3 months in a role like that but anything more and there's a risk you will be perceived as a cheap contractor.

So was it you or your friend that went for a [jealous] Permie interview the other day?

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...-part-1-a.html

Let me guess. They didn't think you were Senior enough?

[masonryan]

So was it you or your friend that went for a [jealous] Permie interview the other day?

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...-part-1-a.html

Let me guess. They didn't think you were Senior enough?

My friend. I have been a contractor for 10 years but occasionally an agent will seduce me to a permie interview with their lies, you know what I mean.

[Andy Hallett]

My friend. I have been a contractor for 10 years but occasionally an agent will seduce me to a permie interview with their lies, you know what I mean.

Yep, shocking.

I was recently put forward for a permanent position by a recruitment agency, which for the moment shall remain anonymous. The agent said salary would be £45-50k plus the usual permie benefits.

I had to do the assessment centre numerical and verbal reasoning tests prior to interview. The interview was mostly competency based plus questions about career to date.

In my experience all these type of interviews are very similar and unoriginal in terms of what the companies claim to be looking for, and claim about themselves as employers.

Before the interview the agent gave me a mock interview on the phone and discouraged me from any negativity whatsoever. He helped me get my story straight as to why I wanted to leave contracting and go perm. So I went to the interview full of positivity and acting like this was my dream job, would be my career highlight and to leave that unprogressive contracting career. Why? As I wanted to get a perm job to settle in the area and develop my career in their excellent company.

[masonryan]

That particular agency told me say this, say that... so the agencies also distort the interview process by tipping candidates off about what the client co wants to hear. Basically, the agency double-crosses in their greedy pursuit of commission.

You are only obsessed with me because I pose a threat to the reputation of your 'industry'.

[Andy Hallett]

That particular agency told me say this, say that... so the agencies also distort the interview process by tipping candidates off about what the client co wants to hear. Basically, the agency double-crosses in their greedy pursuit of commission.

You are only obsessed with me because I pose a threat to the reputation of your 'industry'.

You'd only pose a threat to our reputation if we submitted you to one of our clients.