Family members - how do they view you contracting?

[rl4engc]

My Dad hates it, but he worked for the same company for 35 years.
I couldn't imagine anyone doing that in this day and age.

I could, I've been contracting at the same place for 3 years, that could turn into 5, 7, 10... As long as they pay, I'll work for them. I'm not career-minded though (reason people stay at the same company is [nowadays anyhow] a deluded sense of loyalty; work your way to the top..) so currently I don't need to move to update my skills etc. or chase more money.

[EternalOptimist]

My classic was a brother in law. 'I like the new car, believe you had two weeks in Italy, a week in France and you are off to Oz for four weeks soon. Oh BTW, thanks for paying for our narrow boat this week, there is no way in the world we could fork the £1500.
Anyway, when are you going to quit temping and get a full time job ?'

[FatLazyContractor]

If your family members have a problem with your profession, tell them to earn the money and bring food to the table.

Alternatively, they can fook off, STFU and go to Blackpool on a holiday.

[BrilloPad]

I pretend I am an estate agent...

Still - they are grateful. At least I am not a recruitment agent!

[rl4engc]

it just hits home how crap the job security idea is.

Exactly. Mate of mine works in a college for peanuts, they have to apply for their "own job" each 12 months I think it is, having to do powerpoint presentations and all sorts of dogtulip.

[quackhandle]

My father in law just doesn't get it, however he is the sort of person who come 9 am on a week day he wonders why people are still on the streets and not in work.

My own pater was a contractor when I was in School (thou not in IT), he was very handy for advice when I first made the plunge.

qh

[vetran]

I'm the poor permie in my immediate family.

They were fine with me going contracting.


My wife & Father in Law didn't like it at first when I went contracting. Which is Ironic as they both work for themselves now and I work for the man (admittedly with decent pay, pension and based from home).

[Support Monkey]

I love people telling me contracting is not very secure, to which I always reply that contracting is more secure than your permanent job because if you get laid off your going to spend a few months writing your CV and living off your redundancy money after getting a few rejections because you haven't been for an interview in 10 years and didn't have an answer for the questions they asked, and then the panic sets in when you realise you have to lower your expectations or you might be out of work for 6 months

Where-as if the client tells me not to come in Monday, my CV is ready to go I know the questions their likely to ask at interviews and I'm not bothered that the benefits are less than the last job and 6 months off won't bother me in the slightest

[jmo21]

My first permie job out of uni was with a very large american IT company. Lasted 2.5 years and quit, because it was awful.

Took a role at a small (~30 people) software house which was much better.

My mum and dad threw a wobbly because I'd quit the "big successful American company", thought I'd thrown away my career and all that.

They don't really comment on contracting, but they know I earn way more than I could permie, and have side contracts as well.

[PurpleGorilla]

Exactly. Mate of mine works in a college for peanuts, they have to apply for their "own job" each 12 months I think it is, having to do powerpoint presentations and all sorts of dogtulip.

Twice the money half the grief and about the same level of work security. Why wouldn't you want to contract!