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

[The Spartan]

Earn

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[kal]

...which bit; completing the business entity test, and then getting terminated if you don't? Or completing the business entity test, and being found to be inside IR35 & taxed accordingly?

+1

I wouldn't go near a public sector contract these days (got a mate at the BBC and one in the NHS), asking for trouble!

[Barley]

Well, a crap contract has come through. Crap rate but on the plus side, pretty easy going (its NHS), flexible hours etc, hourly paid so its just 37.5, and some of the experience will be quite good. And one week notice. 45 mins by train, 5 min walk.

Only problem is - sods law strikes. Had two interviews recently which are looking quite good. One is 3x the rate (and although 100 miles from home is 4 days office, 1 day WFH), the other is 4x rate (albeit london not sure about WFH yet).

Im struggling to understand this? 3x, 4x the rate? Am I correct in the assuming this implies a broad range from say £200 to £800 pd? If so I find it astounding, London £800pd is Lead Architect / Programme Manager money, what particularly astounds me is that people in those roles are considering opportunities for £200pd, it begs the question what did you do with the money when you were earing £400-£800pd (£100k-£200k) annual equivilent that means you are so desperate to take the crap contract and not enjoy a bit of time on the bench with the fruits of your labours?

[DirtyDog]

Im struggling to understand this? 3x, 4x the rate? Am I correct in the assuming this implies a broad range from say £200 to £800 pd?

I'd guess it's closer to £100 - £400 than £200 - £800.

[Barley]

I'd guess it's closer to £100 - £400 than £200 - £800.

Money is money at the end of the day, I can understand the circumstances when contractors will need to swallow the pill, ive come close but the differential is much much narrower in my specialty, low and high being about 30% either side of the average.

[Old Greg]

+1

I wouldn't go near a public sector contract these days (got a mate at the BBC and one in the NHS), asking for trouble!

I thought this was primarily a problem with government contracts, not the wider public sector. No sign of this in the NHS as far as I can see.

[kal]

I thought this was primarily a problem with government contracts, not the wider public sector. No sign of this in the NHS as far as I can see.

Aren't they cracking down at the Beeb with freelancers as well and forcing them to become permies (read the likes of Paxo etc are working through their own Ltd's and Cleggy had convinced/bribed/blackmailed Dave to do something about it)... I could be wrong

[psychocandy]

I'd guess it's closer to £100 - £400 than £200 - £800.

£150-£600 is closer.

[psychocandy]

Im struggling to understand this? 3x, 4x the rate? Am I correct in the assuming this implies a broad range from say £200 to £800 pd? If so I find it astounding, London £800pd is Lead Architect / Programme Manager money, what particularly astounds me is that people in those roles are considering opportunities for £200pd, it begs the question what did you do with the money when you were earing £400-£800pd (£100k-£200k) annual equivilent that means you are so desperate to take the crap contract and not enjoy a bit of time on the bench with the fruits of your labours?

Last few contracts have been somewhat in the middle of this range. And yes, the top end of £600 is in london and is a pretty senior unix architect sort of role. £150-£200 roles are mainly windows roles (I also do this) and include places like NHS, local government etc.

Yes, I did save some of the money from the past few years. Not on the bones of my arse just yet but my warchest is being eaten away. Would have liked to have saved a bit more but left permiedom with some credit card debts also so these also had to be paid.

Been on the bench for 3 months pretty much now. Need to get out there and do something. If it turns out to be low paid contract then so be it because:-

1. Its better than nothing.
2. There still experience to be gained.
3. Its local anyway.
4. I can still look for something else.

[quackhandle]

And by God there's some awful gigs out there.

qh