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Long time contractor

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    Long time contractor

    So just had my first proper permie job interview.

    In my field IR35 has killed/scared off all clients to ltd contractors. The few that remain will make it not worth running a ltd for.

    Been a ltd contractor for 15 years. And too be honest I am struggling to cope with the idea of going back to a perm role.

    I contract not only as the money can be better (gaps in roles/ travel can reduce that benefit at times) but also as I am able to maintain a separation from people I work with.

    I am a supplier not a college and have not had to deal with any of the corporate crap, for along time now.

    How have other people on this forum coped with the transition.

    Even before covid and IR35, ltd contracting was getting less worth it.

    I have spent years traveling and my wife worries for my health. But going too perm is like a commitment I am not sure I want.

    Also a feeling of dread
    Last edited by mallisarealperson; 6 April 2021, 18:08.

    #2
    Get ready for permie innoculations

    Comment


      #3
      Yeah, I feel this.

      I went permie back in 2015 after somebody made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I knew the moment I signed the paperwork I'd made a mistake - hated every minute, really struggled to put up with the corporate stuff I'd been missing and handed my notice in after precisely a year.

      Despite having nowhere to go, I remember getting back in my car after resigning and just feeling so damn good.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by AtW View Post
        Get ready for permie innoculations
        That would be a deal breaker.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by vwdan View Post
          Yeah, I feel this.

          I went permie back in 2015 after somebody made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I knew the moment I signed the paperwork I'd made a mistake - hated every minute, really struggled to put up with the corporate stuff I'd been missing and handed my notice in after precisely a year.

          Despite having nowhere to go, I remember getting back in my car after resigning and just feeling so damn good.
          Yeah that is one of my concerns.

          Comment


            #6
            Inneresting
            'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

            Comment


              #7
              You are exactly committed to them as they are to you.
              Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

              Comment


                #8
                I lasted a year. I couldn't stand the monotony of going into the office with nothing to do, because the task was complete in less than a year. They expected years, but I couldn't adjust to just sitting chatting crap and wasting time , so just cracked on with it.

                A year later, and an appriasal that David Brent would be proud of was the straw that broke the camels back.

                Back to contracting and outside IR35. Just signed a new one today, outside too. I must be lucky.

                Comment


                  #9
                  I can relate to this - been contracting for 20 years. Just finished my last contract because it was changing over to umbrella only - and the pay offer to compensate was miserly.

                  A feeling of dread sums it up. I've run a business succesfully for 20 years, and not many can say that. In my view its a legitimate and viable business and it feels like the government are shutting it down, with a brexit and a covid on top. I really resent them for this; for crushing my livelihood at a time of crisis instead of helping.

                  I have no idea really what will come next. Maybe PAYE via umbrella isn't too bad an option, so long as I put asside the max in pension contributions the extra tax is managable. Maybe I should take a permie role and aim high - head architect or CTO role, at least then I might actually be able to have some positive influence early in the design, rather than continually picking up the pieces as a contractor.

                  Maybe I could start out fresh with some new business idea. Fortunately working as a contractor has enabled me to pay off debts, and also learn how to live cheaply since you always have to conserve money between contracts. I don't really care about being rich, I'd be happy making a moderate living doing something that interests me, that I own and take a pride in, and doesn't drive me to despair with the usual corporate BS or monotony or silly workplace politics.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    You will be a corporate drone fully assimilated into the corporate collective

                    I do enjoy calling the Permies 'corporate drones' when they go off to company wide meetings that contractors are not invited to.

                    Comment

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