Are you prepared for next IT contractor downturn?

[Moscow Mule]

Well done MM.

Of course soon when it becomes 'what's hers is hers and what's yours is hers' you won't get a sniff of that inceased rate.

Cheers.

I'll just leave it in the company, then it's not mine - or hers!

[LittlestHobbo]

how long do you have to stick it out?

i've gone permie after contracting for 5 years. i've been permie 9 months now. if i leave a perm job after 1 year it looks bad right? i've got to stick it out for 2 years?

Just put it down as another contract? when the markets going again no one looks at longevity etc the employment market is much more flexible than it used to be - if you've got the skills to pay the bills you will be fine.

[TheBigYinJames]

Just put it down as another contract?

That's what i did when I did a 5 month permie stint during the last downturn. It's down as a contract on my CV - because in my mind it was only temporary, no matter what the employer called it.

[LittlestHobbo]

There's really no such thing as permie any more... outside of the public sector...

yep i agree and alot of those jobs are fixed term contracts on permie wages..

I mean FFS what are the benefits of being permie...a chap who started with us recently was coming in on a streak of 3 redundencies...he'd not even managed to bag a fun size pay off..

[Zippy]

how long do you have to stick it out?

i've gone permie after contracting for 5 years. i've been permie 9 months now. if i leave a perm job after 1 year it looks bad right? i've got to stick it out for 2 years?

I would have thought that a year looks respectable. Practice the weasel words (lack of challenge etc) for the upcoming interviews.

[TheBigYinJames]

I've never had a redundancy payout worth the name...

I had 20k when I left BT after 5 years. Spent it on motorbikes, mostly.

[Zippy]

I had 20k when I left BT after 5 years. Spent it on motorbikes, mostly.

You jammy git!

Just jealous really ...

[TheBigYinJames]

You jammy git!
Just jealous really ...

It's all long gone.

[Solent]

I think as long as the agencies dont screw you that much, and you're flexible on rates and location; with the right experience and skillset as contractors there is nothing particularly concerning.

Or... is my glass half empty or half full?

[LittlestHobbo]

flexible on rates

is the unfortunate part...working anywhere for sod all isn't too difficult...

working for a good rate not hours away from home i think becomes more difficult..