When do you become desperate enough to go perm?

[yasockie]

After enjoying the end of summer w/o any work I am beginning to get concerned.
The warchest that was designed to last 6 months and after 3 or so is nearing depletion due to client not paying and some other unfavorable circumstances...
In such situation what steps would you go for?
Perm role until a suitable contract is found?
Contract at a very low rate?
Loan?

[stek]

After enjoying the end of summer w/o any work I am beginning to get concerned.
The warchest that was designed to last 6 months and after 3 or so is nearing depletion due to client not paying and some other unfavorable circumstances...
In such situation what steps would you go for?
Perm role until a suitable contract is found?
Contract at a very low rate?
Loan?

Anything - been a contractor since 1992 and had two permie stints...

1. 2001-2003 - not the most brilliant of times, don't wanna go on about it but ended up jobless and alone with five kids not in a very good state of mind. Got through that with a permie WHF mostly job, for which I will be forever grateful.....

2. 2009, finished after 3 year contract, then - nothing, nada, nichogo. Panicked a bit but after 7 months still had 50% of the Warchest left and ended up in tulip role for a few months till I got a permie job locally, was good - a good £65k pa here in Leeds until Mr Dick Head - Ur New Manager came along and started with the 1-2-1's and SIT's and New Looks and RAGS and CASCADES and Straight effing talking. I could not stand it so went back to contracting in a better frame of mind and never regretted it.

Basically as a Contractor you do whatever is necessary, I say that on my way to the bus stop on Mon Morn at 4:32 am on my commute up Further North on an ok rate but less than normal, keep saying it, keep going and keep invoicing...

You do whatever is necessary!!

[Robinho]

Low rate contract.

Could never stomach the ethos of permiedom.

[SimonMac]

When you find AussieLong has joined your team

[ChrisPackit]

How picky are you being? Is there absolutely no contracts out there for you?

I was in a situation about 10 years ago when there was "No" work out there. When I say No work, I mean no work that was commutable for me. After about 3 weeks with very little warchest, I thought I'd better go outside my comfort zone and stay away for the week. I got a contract in a matter of days which was only 6 weeks long and tied my up nicely till my next commutable contract.

Sometimes you've got to go outside your comfort zone when needs must. Fortunately it was the only time I needed to work away in 12 or so contracts, but I'm not ruling out that it may not be the last...

[BlasterBates]

It's tough out there I would say, and you've already been out for 3 months. Go for permie and contract.

[Lockhouse]

Beggars can't be choosers.

[d000hg]

I don't really buy the "have to be desperate" line. For all the pretentions (is this a word) of freedom that contracting gives you, it's still basically having a job. So if you need the money take a different job for a bit; you can always leave.

[Robinho]

I couldn't hack feigning interest for the company i worked at.

Also as a permie-n00b you won't be treated like the contractor-god that you are, you'll be treated initially as inferior because you don't know the system as well as maggots who've been there for years.

[ELBBUBKUNPS]

I'm switching to permy (a client I have never worked while contracting for if HMRC are watching !).

I switched primary because long term I can make more £ as a permy in my sector. Contract rate wise I've been treading water I've peaked on my rate, taking permy will lower my income at the start but give it a year or two and I should be on par again with contracting, then after that £ wise I should leave contracting behind.

Second reason was I had enough of HMRC and IR35.

Thats the plan anyway whether it works out and I can hack being a permy is a different thing, if it doesnt work out I will be contracting again.