How have I ended up here?

[ba222]

Evening all,

ive somehow ended up as a permie middle manager (with a team) on a comfortable wage but I hate it, prior I was a contract business analyst, I don’t think I’m cut out for permie role but covid (well my cowardice) forced me across, has anyone converted successfully? I’m on a long notice period too…

cheers

[hobnob]

First off, a quick tip: you'd be better off posting a question like this in the "Business / Contracts" forum; the "General" forum is more of an off-topic area, where people are allowed to be a bit ruder.

To answer your question, a lot of people have shifted from permanent roles to contracts. In fact, I'd guess that most contractors started out as permies (to build up their skills). However, a long notice period (3 months?) will make it more of a challenge, since agents are typically looking for people who are available right away. You could hand in your notice before you start applying, but then there's a risk of ending up on the bench (i.e. unemployed). Do you have a "warchest", i.e. savings to tide you over for a few months?

Also, if you went permie at the start of the pandemic, are you aware of the recent changes to IR35? In brief, the client is now responsible for determining whether a contract is inside or outside, whether that client is in the private sector or public sector; there are exceptions (e.g. for tiny companies), but they're rare.

[ladymuck]

I often wonder how I ended up where I am and it usually turns out that the answer is gin.

Long notice periods can always be renegotiated. You don't offer any insight into what aspect of permie life isn't for you. You need to have a think about what is different about your working environment and the type of work you're doing that is giving you the 'not for me' vibes. Is it the work, is it the company you're working for, the pay, the benefits, did the hottie from accounts raise a formal complaint against you because they didn't appreciate your interpretation of The Rock's pecks of love at the Christmas party?

You can't fix 'it' if you don't know what 'it' is.

[northernladuk]

I don’t think I’m cut out for permie role but covid (well my cowardice) forced me across,

Looks like you weren't cut out to be a contractor either You know covid is still around and affecting us more than it did in the first wave? I personally know scores of people including myself who have it as we speak. So you left out of fear but you think things are rosier now so you want to come back? When did you go perm? You know about the IR35 stuff and what contracting looks like now? It's more than likely you'll be inside so you will be being taxed like you are now, with no perks and not get paid when/if you are off with covid? What does your CV look like now? Highly skilled specialist still?

I'd say you need to look at your middle management position and try and work out something you do like. You can be a business analyst as a perm as well you know.

[GJABS]

ive somehow ended up as a permie middle manager

You're Mr Anchovy and your next role will be that of a lion tamer according to the old Monty Python skit:

[vetran]

Managing people is always sold as the ultimate destination by employers it frequently is a pain. Technical people don't always want to be referees.

[vwdan]

Managing people is always sold as the ultimate destination by employers it frequently is a pain. Technical people don't always want to be referees.

100% - last permie job I had was all about "grooming" me to take on more management responsibilities and it did my nut in mostly because that wasn't the deal when I interviewed (Mentoring, yes - managing, no)

Part of the reason I love contracting is because there's no need to do the yearly dance of "Look, you pay me way more than I could ever imagine to do work I broadly enjoy - why, exactly, would I want to follow your "progression" track".

[Gibbon]

Part of the reason I love contracting is because there's no need to do the yearly dance of "Look, you pay me way more than I could ever imagine to do work I broadly enjoy - why, exactly, would I want to follow your "progression" track".

You need to work on your imagination!

[PCTNN]

Evening all,
has anyone converted successfully? I’m on a long notice period too…

Yes, as for everything, many people have converted successfully from contract to permie. Just as many have converted from permie to contract. I have switched between the 2 worlds a couple of times. What has made things easy for me was stopping to care too much about my job.

It's just something that allows me to live comfortably enough and allows me to focus on the important things such as family, friends, hobbies. Permie/contract/interesting/boring....as long as enough money goes in my bank account, I couldn't care less.

The day I stopped caring about my job was the day I truly achieved freedom.

About your long notice period...as someone pointed out already, you can always negotiate it down to 1 months.

Good luck.

[Whorty]

Yes, as for everything, many people have converted successfully from contract to permie. Just as many have converted from permie to contract. I have switched between the 2 worlds a couple of times. What has made things easy for me was stopping to care too much about my job.

It's just something that allows me to live comfortably enough and allows me to focus on the important things such as family, friends, hobbies. Permie/contract/interesting/boring....as long as enough money goes in my bank account, I couldn't care less.

The day I stopped caring about my job was the day I truly achieved freedom.

About your long notice period...as someone pointed out already, you can always negotiate it down to 1 months.

Good luck.

Yup, same here.

Currently in a perm role. Was contract up until a few years ago when decided to go perm due to caring duties (actually, I stopped work completely but had a kind offer from someone I know who knew my late wife and my situation and was happy for me to work 2 days a week from home).

I treat all jobs as a 'contract' ... a perm is just a contract with no end date. Go in there, do your work, and if it gets too boring, resign and get another job.

I manage a team now, but then in contracts I've managed teams so no different. Have the bulltulip around yearly appraisals but my team are old and cynical enough that they know there is a game to be played so we just go through the motions.

I'll probably go back contracting again, but I have a juicy programme of work at the moment that will look good on the CV so happy to stay here for now.

I don't need the money, but I do need the social interaction that work gives me. Once we can go back to normal, and spend some time in the office I'll re-assess my next move.

Life is just a journey, our destinations are all the same. If you're not enjoying your journey, change it. Life is too short to be unhappy. Don't look back on your last day on this planet and have any regrets. And stop being miserable gits (you know who you are on here) ... enjoy life, this isn't a rehearsal.