How to make the next step?

[MarillionFan]

I started by contracting into the company I am now perm in.

When I converted I kept the company I had, but effectively dormant for about a year. I still had to do my accounts at year end, but with the exception of bills for office, wifi, company phone I kept it going just in case it didn't work out. I stopped taking any salary immediately.

I then went perm, so my salary increased and so did tax. I then took entrepreneurs relief on the balance on my company account. Then at the end of the next tax year, boosted my pension up using that money to claim back some of the tax I was paying as a permie. Shares on top of the basic salary pushed me over what I would have earnt as a contractor with the lower tax.

If you can get into a company that is rapidly expanding and is going to give you shares, then a perm move is a good idea.

[SimonMac]

Although it wasn't completely luck.

I was lazy and would happily accept the 1st agent who offered me a job at my usual rate.

Last time I knew what type of role I wanted and actually hunted that kind of role on Jobserve. I refused agents who called with my usual role and usual rate.

I plugged my specialism on LinkedIn regularly and made sure that my contacts had me at the top of their feeds, so when my colleague had a need I was already in her line of sight.

So, be clear, focused and picky about what type of role you want and go out there and get it.

It takes a bit of effort to get yourself out of that 'easy to get/regular contract' rut.

I think thats the key, not settling for what you were happy to take last time, will craft my Linkedin to be more focused as its still a bit all over the place from when I was permie with Mobile Data and InfoSec in there still.

Do you just reshare and comment on other articles or try and create your own content to share?

[PerfectStorm]

Don't know about anyone else here, but the 'content' and comments I read on linkedin makes my toes curl.

[SimonMac]

Don't know about anyone else here, but the 'content' and comments I read on linkedin makes my toes curl.

The "solve this if you are a genius" is annoying, as much as I hate the fact its becoming a social network rather than a business network there are still some quality among the rough

[Lightwave]

closing it will be easier than doing the paperwork for 2 years. with the tax its a no brainer. I have done both and wish I had closed earlier.

starting a new one up in 24 hours for less than £100 is possible.

and as mentioned above once HMRC say you can close it you can be fairly confident IR35 is a memory.

What is the process by which HMRC 'say you can close it'?

It is some years since I closed my company, about 2005? Has anything changed?

[eek]

The "solve this if you are a genius" is annoying, as much as I hate the fact its becoming a social network rather than a business network there are still some quality among the rough

If those sort of posts didn't work then people wouldn't post them...

You only have to look at photos within linked in to know that many people don't know how to be professional...

[TheFaQQer]

Closing your company all but removes the risk of IR35 investigation for those contracts. You can also extract your dosh at 10% ER. And you don't have any of the accountancy/paperwork to worry about.

If I was going permie, then I'd shut the company down and take the money out. I'd then personally pay for IPSE membership for another year just in case there was an investigation in that year that I needed to fight (although technically it could happen at any stage in the next 6 years).

That way, when you're sat in your 360 degree review, you can pass the time by working out how much you saved by only paying 10% tax on that money.

[cojak]

I think thats the key, not settling for what you were happy to take last time, will craft my Linkedin to be more focused as its still a bit all over the place from when I was permie with Mobile Data and InfoSec in there still.

Do you just reshare and comment on other articles or try and create your own content to share?

I create my own content if I have the time, otherwise I add my own comments above links.

[SimonMac]

I create my own content if I have the time, otherwise I add my own comments above links.

Will give that a go, don't want to go down the permie route, but will do if I have to as I think I need a change!

[cojak]

How to make the next step?

In a Zeity kind of way this article popped into my Inbox.

http://www.theitsmreview.com/2015/02...p-itil-expert/

I agree with the conclusion (even though I have ITIL Expert and COBIT Certs).

I won't be going for the next version of ITIL qualifications (appearing in the next couple of years and having an expiration date ala Prince 2).