First timer advice pls...

[Ollie]

With all this in mind do you think I might be a good opportunity to get my first contract?

Also, I think I could negotiate a good enough rate to ensure I would still be up £££ while inside IR35.

What do you think?

[TheFaQQer]

With all this in mind do you think I might be a good opportunity to get my first contract?

Also, I think I could negotiate a good enough rate to ensure I would still be up £££ while inside IR35.

What do you think?

Personally, I wouldn't take it, and I'm surprised that your employer wants to go this route.

If everyone else that you are working with knows that you are a contractor, what's to stop them doing the same thing? They will know what kind of increase in salary you are getting as well, which does not encourage team building / spirit.

BUT, it's an easy way in - you know what you are getting into, know what the work involves, and have the opportunity to build up some savings before moving into a "real" contract.

If you can negotiate a good enough increase, then it's probably worth taking - they must really want you to stay if that's the case. If they are that willing, have you thought this move through properly - they may be happy to give you a much better salary / package rather than leave to go contracting.

[Ollie]

Personally, I wouldn't take it, and I'm surprised that your employer wants to go this route.

If everyone else that you are working with knows that you are a contractor, what's to stop them doing the same thing? They will know what kind of increase in salary you are getting as well, which does not encourage team building / spirit.

BUT, it's an easy way in - you know what you are getting into, know what the work involves, and have the opportunity to build up some savings before moving into a "real" contract.

If you can negotiate a good enough increase, then it's probably worth taking - they must really want you to stay if that's the case. If they are that willing, have you thought this move through properly - they may be happy to give you a much better salary / package rather than leave to go contracting.

Thanks again for the reply.

There are many reasons why they wouldn't want to offer me a better salary package, especially now they know I want to go. My motives for leaving are not solely wedge related. The company have always seemed to be happy to offer good money to contractors over permies. I would be there to finish a project and nothing else. Also I may be happy to contract for 3 or 4 months but do not want to stay permie.

It would be a London gig, working on C#, ASP.NET, SQL etc. What kind of rate would you see as being reasonable? I was thinking no less than £400 per day.

[kramer]

another variable to throw in the pot is "industry" ... some financial sectors pay more than others.... web factories and media usually pay poorly ...etc...

[Let-Me-In]

Rubbish, everybody can dance, even us white men!! (We just need 10 pints of lager and/or equivanlent alchohol dosage in sprits inside us first to let our rythem loose)

I disagree....when I dance I can see people thinking "Has he got headphones on?"

[Ollie]

I disagree....when I dance I can see people thinking "Has he got headphones on?"

At Glastonbury this year they had a "Silent Disco" where you got given some wireless headphones. Was crazy when you took them off and saw everyone singing and dancing to no music!