Did you consciously become a contractor or fall into it?

[lukemg]

Good for you Trace, most people can't face the uncertainty, especially after that long perm. Sounds like you would have done ok going contracting many moons ago....

[MrMark]

Quite a good question from MF there - who's stole his log-in?
I fell into it, when I couldn't get interviews for permie roles anymore, so ended up taking contract roles. Still wouldn't turn down a decent permie opportunity, as I hate bench time. There again, at least you get variety with contracting. I don't know how the permies have stuck it for years at my current client - conditions are nice, but the work is so tedious...

[Fred Bloggs]

I suppose I'm a slow learner. 19.5 years at one employer and 10 years at the next one. Then I realised I was being an idiot and went contract, never looked back. First contract lasted ~18 months and set me up for long term contracting. Should have done it 25 years earlier but I didn't have the bottle. I'm never going staff again.

[MaryPoppins]

I'm never going staff again.

Me neither. Only been perm once, about 10 years ago. Yucky.

[Dearnla]

I was under consultation when my company were merging with another 6 years ago. As there were two of us doing similar jobs, obviously they only needed one, which turned out not to be me.
At the time I'd been to 8 different permie interviews and got nowhere, so when they actually gave me notice (and £20k) I landed a contract whilst on gardening leave.
So I thought I'd rather carry on in this line, thanks.

[Lockhouse]

Fell into it.

I got burned by office politics after 4 years of slavish permiedom, I told the manager to go **** himself, stormed out of his office slamming the door in his face, went back to my desk, told my oppo that "I'm outta here" and started to empty my desk.

At that exact second the phone rang and an agent said "have you ever thought of going contract?". Job done.

It was fate I tell's ye.

I still like a good flounce every now and then.

[minestrone]

Always knew I would do it it but the moment of it happening was quite by accident. 5 years permie and now nearly 10 years contracting.

[norrahe]

Fell into it after a year out and plan B not quite working out.