Originally posted by MPwannadecentincome
View Post
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Need to get off the bench....
Collapse
X
Collapse
-
-
MPwannadecentincome:
Good luck and keep at it. Don't give up. A gig often comes up when you least expect it. Bench is beckoning for me in a few weeks too.Comment
-
Originally posted by NorthWestPerm2Contr View PostMPwannadecentincome:
Good luck and keep at it. Don't give up. A gig often comes up when you least expect it. Bench is beckoning for me in a few weeks too.
Now off to networking drinks in London.
I hope you find something good - best of luck to you.This default font is sooooooooooooo boring and so are short usernamesComment
-
Originally posted by MPwannadecentincome View PostMany thanks! The phone interview went really well today it has made my week
Now off to networking drinks in London.
I hope you find something good - best of luck to you.Comment
-
MP - hope something gets sorted for you soon.
Hope you don't mind me adding to your thead about how I do things.
Been on bench since September. Only looking since start of October really since I did go on holidays for a few weeks.
My situation is slightly different in that I've got a small baby in the house and wife has been ill recently. So, in a way, its been nice to be home to look after them both but it means, even though I've devoted time to job hunting, I've not had the time I'd have liked to do other stuff like learn new skills, study for exams etc.
Wife is pretty good and takes baby out most days for a few hours so I can get on with things.
Generally, I get up in the morning and crack onto jobserve, jobsite, cwjobs, monster, technojobs. Amending CV generally for each role. Then the calls start.
Also, done the emails to people, Linked in etc and all that.
I've found the market fairly quiet but surprisingly its not gone as dead as I'd expected nearer xmas. In the past 15-20 years been redundant 3 times from permie jobs and had many contracts and longest I ever had between was about 3-4 weeks. It does worry you a bit when its a lot longer this time I must admit - I start doubting myself and wondering if I'm ever going to get anything.
Since then I've been offered one that got canned on the friday before, been close to a few, and had quite a few phone interviews. What I have found is :-
1. Increase in stupid question technical interviews.
2. Lowest rate person seems to go a long way these days.
3. Plenty of roles get advertised then get pulled by the client (or agent is too keen in the first place).
4. A lot of it is luck - I've had phone interviews where its obvious they've already made up their mind regardless - its all about being put forward for the right role at the right time.
5. Not many people bother with face to face now - got my first one on monday.
Warchest is now ok to last until about next April/May. Still hopeful of getting something before xmas if I can - even if it is a low paid one. Thinking being 1/2 normal rate for two months is better than nothing before xmas, hoping then in january it'll start picking up again.
Starting to look further afield now as well. Good news is that wife is getting a little better so working away for a few days a week might be doable (with the help of family). Not ideal and I'd like to secure something decent to pay for the additional costs/hassle but at least its an option now.
Also, still signing on. Glad I did this. Once the claim is done its no big hassle to turn up for literally 2 mins every 2 weeks and they pretty much leave me alone to get on with things. 3 month since last contact so approx £900 or so back into warchest from this. Better than a poke in the eye. Only problem is this contrib JSA runs out end of Feb so don;t know what happens then?
MP - I'd be claiming now if I were you. As a single person, you've got no other persons income to consider so should be ok for all sorts of assistance. My problems is that wife works part-time (£500/month yet great) so I can't get anything extra.Rhyddid i lofnod psychocandy!!!!Comment
-
Originally posted by MPwannadecentincome View PostWell you don't have to spend all the 8K in one go and it is unlikely a permie employer would do so either - not even over 2 years in most places!
Besides even spending some of that if it helps you get contract that has got be better after tax than doing a permie role?Comment
-
Originally posted by psychocandy View PostMP - hope something gets sorted for you soon.
...
I've found the market fairly quiet but surprisingly its not gone as dead as I'd expected nearer xmas. In the past 15-20 years been redundant 3 times from permie jobs and had many contracts and longest I ever had between was about 3-4 weeks. It does worry you a bit when its a lot longer this time I must admit - I start doubting myself and wondering if I'm ever going to get anything.
Since then I've been offered one that got canned on the friday before, been close to a few, and had quite a few phone interviews. What I have found is :-
1. Increase in stupid question technical interviews.
2. Lowest rate person seems to go a long way these days.
3. Plenty of roles get advertised then get pulled by the client (or agent is too keen in the first place).
4. A lot of it is luck - I've had phone interviews where its obvious they've already made up their mind regardless - its all about being put forward for the right role at the right time.
5. Not many people bother with face to face now - got my first one on monday.
...
Also, still signing on. Glad I did this. Once the claim is done its no big hassle to turn up for literally 2 mins every 2 weeks and they pretty much leave me alone to get on with things. 3 month since last contact so approx £900 or so back into warchest from this. Better than a poke in the eye. Only problem is this contrib JSA runs out end of Feb so don;t know what happens then?
MP - I'd be claiming now if I were you. As a single person, you've got no other persons income to consider so should be ok for all sorts of assistance. My problems is that wife works part-time (£500/month yet great) so I can't get anything extra.
I've also seen plenty of roles that have ended up being pulled by the client or where they thought they knew what they wanted but actually needed something else.
Re JSA I guess I should be claiming but whilst I am withdrawing dividends from the Ltd Co somehow it doesn't seem right to claim JSA, I know contributions based is not means tested but I keep thinking its better to be on a lower rate doing something useful than claiming JSA.
Hope you find something soon!This default font is sooooooooooooo boring and so are short usernamesComment
-
Originally posted by MPwannadecentincome View PostRe JSA I guess I should be claiming but whilst I am withdrawing dividends from the Ltd Co somehow it doesn't seem right to claim JSA, I know contributions based is not means tested but I keep thinking its better to be on a lower rate doing something useful than claiming JSA.
Murphy's Law says that just as you jump through that final hoop for your £76 a week (or whatever it is), you'll land a new role on your best ever rate. So why waitOriginally posted by MaryPoppinsI hadn't really understood this 'pwned' expression until I read DirtyDog's post.Comment
-
Originally posted by DirtyDog View PostIf the warchest is likely to run out soon (and I'm not going to define soon!), then get claiming.
Murphy's Law says that just as you jump through that final hoop for your £76 a week (or whatever it is), you'll land a new role on your best ever rate. So why waitComment
-
Wow!
An agent just talked my rate up!
Hmm that means I should have asked for much more, never mind.This default font is sooooooooooooo boring and so are short usernamesComment
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Contractors, don’t be fooled by HMRC Spotlight 67 on MSCs Yesterday 09:20
- HMRC warns IT consultants and others of 12 ‘payroll entities’ Dec 3 09:15
- How you think you look on LinkedIn vs what recruiters see Dec 2 09:00
- Reports of umbrella companies’ death are greatly exaggerated Nov 28 10:11
- A new hiring fraud hinges on a limited company, a passport and ‘Ade’ Nov 27 09:21
- Is an unpaid umbrella company required to pay contractors? Nov 26 09:28
- The truth of umbrella company regulation is being misconstrued Nov 25 09:23
- Labour’s plan to regulate umbrella companies: a closer look Nov 21 09:24
- When HMRC misses an FTT deadline but still wins another CJRS case Nov 20 09:20
- How 15% employer NICs will sting the umbrella company market Nov 19 09:16
Comment