Sticking out a boring contract

[AnthonyQuinn]

I've been in an IBank contract for around 2 years, and it looks as though it could run for at least the next two.

Rate is good, 30 minute commute, not too stressful....

BUT I'm absolutely bored out of my mind, not really learning, a bit bored of the beuracracy and skills are starting to stagnate.

I have a big old 'war chest' accrued in the company now so finances no concern for a few years.

its like batting on 150 in a test match with pie chuckers bowling at you. Do you keep concentrating and plan to get 300 or do you try to entertain the crowd and get out? Temperament is key. Hang in there.

[Sid]

Same boat here but 6 months into 8 with possibly more.

I'm planning to do some certs to freshen up my skill set either way - if I'm doing it whilst on the bench then so be it, if I do it in another extension then so be it.

Hope you get it sorted either way.

same here mate - its job satisfaction v/s work-life balance.
I am sticking it out here doing mostly typist kind of work, but commute, rate and team are great. But I am worried about my core skills getting rusted and wasted.To keep myself adequately challenged I appear for job interviews, enjoy the high after giving an interview..and not take rejections to heart...

[Kanye]

Time has passed since my OP and I must say its still quite dull working for ibanks. Im on my third now.

Legacy code, change management, offshoring, long hours, annoying management, crap tools all conspire to take any fun out of coding. It is absolute drudgery.

Sad thing is they still pay the best. Its a big call to walk away from a string of £650+ contracts in search of something more interesting. Not sure when ill man up and do it!

[Scruff]

Its a big call to walk away from a string of £650+ contracts in search of something more interesting. Not sure when ill man up and do it!

I call CUSTARD

[GillsMan]

Sad thing is they still pay the best. Its a big call to walk away from a string of £650+ contracts in search of something more interesting. Not sure when ill man up and do it!

Haha, I hear you there brother! I've been in a similar position and it is very hard to leave. However, the money does completely set you up for a while, so it's worth sticking around.

[BlasterBates]

long hours

I used to work in banks in Europe and I can vouch for the "boredom" at least we didn't do long hours. The combination of the two sounds pretty deadly.

Now work for an Internet co.....I might be "having fun", but look on the bright side you guys earn more than me

[rurffy]

I used to work in banks in Europe and I can vouch for the "boredom" at least we didn't do long hours. The combination of the two sounds pretty deadly.

Now work for an Internet co.....I might be "having fun", but look on the bright side you guys earn more than me

Earning loads at first might be interesting - but trust me - that guy called "boredom" is terrible..
Sometimes at work, you would almost run mad lol - thinking of things to get you busy..
I have posted on here seeking advice on what to do when bored on a contract - but people will still tell you same thing - try to up your skills, do an OU course blablabla ...

But trust me, when boredom is around , no one stays unpunished !

[No2politics]

A contractor friend of mine rejected an extension that would take him over the 24 month limit. His next role was approx 2 mile drive away.

The role before the almost 24 month one, was less than a miles drive away.

I explained to him what I knew on HMRC rules about travel being significantly different etc.

He said "My accountant says it's cool".

I tried.

I wonder what the implications of taking this bad advice is. I hmrc started hounding you would you have a leg to stand on? Could you sue your accountant for negligence- not providing sufficient duty of care?
After all as contractors we can't be expected to know the ins and outs of every tax/accounting/expense law- that's why you hire accountants in the first place

[No2politics]

taken from the third of my links:
An employee works for an employer who has several offices close to each other in London. Her employer rotates staff around the offices every 18 months. She works at one office and is then moved to another. She travels to work on the Underground and, although she now gets off ten stops further on than previously, her journey is largely unaltered and the price of her ticket does not change.

When you travelled to CW did you buy a weekly 1-3 Travel card or a return DLR ticket? If you bought a travelcard then the journey cost between westminster and CW has not substantially changed has it? And you would still be in the same geographical area (London)...

The north south of the M1 is clearly a new location because the journey has substantially and geographically changed.

But is the same price?

[northernladuk]

But is the same price?

But what has the price got to do with it?