Going back from perm to contracting?

[Gulliver89]

Hya,

I'm a close follower of this forum, and also seen the recent thread asking the opposite.
I was a Microsoft-systems (cloud and on-prem) contractor up to 2021 when I got hit by the client's IR35 assessment.
Found myself out-of-contract while helping the family abroad, so the easiest solution was to accept my old DevOps role from a 2018 employment.
As it does, it came with big promotion promises, which until today didn't materialize. I'm fed-up with that, and the surrounding politics.

Two things holding me in (except the usual of salary, bonus etc).
1. I feel invested already, as I may get a promotion any day now (although to a rubbish new "SRE" team lead role).
2. The family health situation is still volatile -a situation which in the last 5 years required a month of remote "working" every year. (in quotes, as I can't give my 100%)

When do I cut my losses, put the big-boy pants and go back to the jungle?

[jamesbrown]

Whenever you want

Bear in mind, the market appears to be terminally tulipe, particularly in the UK, for that skillset - see the state of the market thread. However, there will always be a reason to not do it, and you can at least test the waters from the security of a permie position.

[vetran]

Whenever you want

Bear in mind, the market appears to be terminally tulipe, particularly in the UK, for that skillset - see the state of the market thread. However, there will always be a reason to not do it, and you can at least test the waters from the security of a permie position.

Indeed I know some really good people who have been out for months. Test the water by all means but expect it to be disappointing.

[hobnob]

I think the main questions would be:
a) How long is your notice period?
b) How long can you live off your savings?

I.e. is it practical for you to apply for contract roles while you're still a permie?

Aside from that, when's your next annual performance review? That would be a natural time to ask about the promotion you were promised.