Contracting in Germany

[Pondlife]

Is Germany a big market for contractors? Considering its population and that it is the world's third largest economy jobserve is not exactly overrun by German based contracts.

Currently contract in in Germany and managing a team of 10 other contractors. They're all long term BoS and some heve been there for 20 years.

Lots of old technology being upgraed at the mo, so there must be a market.

Got the gig through a UK agent though.

Rates for them (the locals) is about €800 and no agency.

[DodgyAgent]

Dodgy mate, you are fooked aren't you?

I hope you don't have a big mortgage to worry about.

My business activities are very flexible. I can convert my offices back into a car lot in 24 hours.

[darmstadt]

I've been contracting here on and off for too löng! Sometimes I've had to go through agencies, once even through a UK one. Most of the big agencies have a well established presence here (I currently work through one with 2 words, the first H and the second N.) There are a number of German agencies but most of my work is through consultancy firms or software houses, i.e. RZNet or FuM or CA, etc.

[TimberWolf]

Do you need to be fluent in German to work there?

Talking of which, is Robinson Crusoe's "Friday" known as "Friday" or "Freitag" in Germany?

[SteveV]

I heard germany is bringing in new regulations a bit like our ir35 in January '08. A lot of the german contractors I know have been told to go permie or get out in Jan. Seems like they won't be able to contract one man bands any more.

Anyone got any more info on this one ??

[sasguru]

Serious question for Dodgy

Dodgy, are you seeing a tail-off in the market? After all it's people like you on the sharp end who notice these things first. So are we going into recession?

[wendigo100]

Do you need to be fluent in German to work there?

Talking of which, is Robinson Crusoe's "Friday" known as "Friday" or "Freitag" in Germany?

There's lots of IT/technical work you don't need it for, but if you haven't got it, learn it as soon as you can.

Don't know about Friday. They never mentioned him while I was working there.

[BlasterBates]

The answer is yes the German market has picked up, no you don´t often need German, though obviously it is helpful. If you have the right people at the right price, you´´ll have no problem. You just need the contacts, probably set up a little office in Germany, employ a competent local, and you´re in business. IR35 isn´t much of a problem, if a client stipulates employees then simply employ a contractor to do marketing for 100 quid a month, and tell the client he´s an employee, then pay him the rest as a freelancer. Now the reason for that is that it is possible that a contractor could claim employment rights, but if he´s an employee of your company he can´t.

[DodgyAgent]

Dodgy, are you seeing a tail-off in the market? After all it's people like you on the sharp end who notice these things first. So are we going into recession?

It is difficult to say at the moment. My own agency does not do the financial markets, more utilities, energy and retail. retail will be interesting once the Christmas figures come in. I also tend to find that downturns in the market coincide with downturns in the activities of my employees, which has more to do with my management style than anything else

[BrowneIssue]

My business activities are very flexible. I can convert my offices back into a car lot in 24 hours.

A couple of contracts back when chatting to my agent I said how some agents seem to be ex-estate agents.

"I still am on Saturdays" says he.