Job market

[Bagpuss]

I didn't mean a 4 year contract. I meant contracting for 3-4 years.

I know you did, I was just commenting that it must be hard to explain a 4 year contract as anything other than a permie job. 1 client, 4 years, 9-5, there longer than many permies. Is that freelancing?

[Francko]

I know you did, I was just commenting that it must be hard to explain a 4 year contract as anything other than a permie job. 1 client, 4 years, 9-5, there longer than many permies. Is that freelancing?

Would you consider it permie with no security, no holidays, no training, no benefits, no bonus involved? To me it's the same to have 10 contracts of one year each or 1 of 10 years. 9-5, if that's what they require so be it. When I was contracting for a big dutch bank many people used to be there for 5 years and longer. However, one serious mistake and you are off the door the same day. Permies could **** up as much as they like, they would be kept in anyway.

[tim123]

Would you consider it permie with no security, no holidays, no training, no benefits, no bonus involved? To me it's the same to have 10 contracts of one year each or 1 of 10 years. 9-5, if that's what they require so be it. When I was contracting for a big dutch bank many people used to be there for 5 years and longer. However, one serious mistake and you are off the door the same day. Permies could **** up as much as they like, they would be kept in anyway.

But you're being paid twice as much. Some of this extra is to cover the periods of not working, but if there are no periods of not working.....

It is quite common for cons to get training, not "sent away on a jolly" training, but the much more useful, "do something that you haven't done before" training.

And if you're spending any of your time worrying about "if I make a huge **** up I will get canned" then you aren't good enough at your job to be a contractor.

tim

[sasguru]

And if you're spending any of your time worrying about "if I make a huge **** up I will get canned" then you aren't good enough at your job to be a contractor.

tim

Aye. That's why he became a poorly-paid permie. Just couldn't hack it...

[Francko]

And if you're spending any of your time worrying about "if I make a huge **** up I will get canned" then you aren't good enough at your job to be a contractor.

tim

And don't forget also that driving when using your mobile without a hands free set is highly dangerous.

[expat]

Would you consider it permie with no security, no holidays, no training, no benefits, no bonus involved?

Yes. Permie without the benefits.

[Francko]

Aye. That's why he became a poorly-paid permie. Just couldn't hack it...

I left that contract actually because the permie job would pay more. Ironically.

[vetran]

Notes is dead

I loved notes when I first saw it, did loads of Lotuscript, hung out at the watercooler etc. But they didn't move it forward and the user interface was rubbish.

Now most fortune 500 use Exchange, sharepoint 2007 is now a reasonable Notes app replacement, migration is point and click or script and tea, so expect a lot of migrations late 2007.

Get yourself some real experience with Exchange & Sharepoint, take a pay cut and get on a migration. Your expertise with Notes apps may get you in.

Sorry M$ are very good at what they do!

[sappatz]

truth

the truth is, they replaced IT contractors with IT indian bods working for slavery wages in many places (they are frequently below the absolute minimum wage with unpaid overtime on weekends, they dont pay social security also). i have seen the numbers, pretty amazing. sometimes this truth emerges from the surface and even lead to small political scandals in various european countries.

also many of those inefficient |@^!# large consultancies have contractor-unfriendly policies in many places (contractor are only hired in exceptional circumstances) while they grab the largest share of the market (often with PSLs)

[wendigo100]

What's the job market like at present? I have been in a contract for the last 3 years and have been receiving several agency calls a month for this time, however it's all gone dead recently.

Happened to me a few years ago. My advice is to stay contracting, but don't stay at the same client for that length of time. It drops you out of circulation, and makes your recent CV look one-dimensional.

I try to move around more now, which not only adds variety (and more blue-chips) to the CV, but also exposes me to loads of new skills and knowledge. And it keeps you on your toes.