So who is a poor permie lurking on OUR site?

[rootsnall]

Yep, that's my attitude. If it goes well, I'll stay, if it doesn't then I have some very good contacts with whom I can go contracting again in a co-operative. The permie job is a contract, but with a different form of payment. Maybe now I can take all the permie nonsense with a pinch of salt and laugh it all off.

I'm lucky in that I'm working with a bunch of ex contractors and consultants all with a similar outlook to our permiedom. My only performance review was done by an ex contractor who knew the score. Otherwise no permie grief I can think of. I have so far managed to go with the flow rather than fight the system but it may only be a matter of time.

[BrilloPad]

Yep thats all we are good for knitting and getting married .... but then I'd end up watching loose women and listening to LBC and get angry at the world - the ignorance of the banking bubble

errrr - it was your suggestion to take up knitting. I think your current choice of fixing race belts and punctures for ironcretins is a good one.

Stay in cuk too long and you will start getting angry at the world.

[VectraMan]

I'm a 'contractor' working in a permanent job because it suits. If it doesn't suit I'll quit, just like all the other contracts I've done.

Which is what I've done. Although it took me nearly 18 months, in truth I always had one eye on the exit door and never saw this as "permanent".

There are a couple of problems: quitting involves doing something. Unlike in a contract where you have a set date you can leave/negogiate an extension, in permiedom you have to make a definite decision and act on it. Which sounds a bit stupid, but there were pleanty of times I was seriously considering walking, but it's hard to walk away from a steady income.

And secondly, there's the notice period. I was on 2 months notice, which makes lining up another permie job awkward at best, and lining up a contract impossible. Part of the reason I'm leaving now is that I feel I've saved enough of a buffer/war chest to deal with a period of bench time/unemployment, which of course is difficult to do when you're earning less as a permie. And I don't think I'm entitled to sponge off the state for 6 months after voluntarily leaving a job.

[darmstadt]

And secondly, there's the notice period. I was on 2 months notice, which makes lining up another permie job awkward at best, and lining up a contract impossible.

Thats one of the PITA things about being a permie in Germany, you can only put your notice in 6 weeks before the end of the quarter which makes it very difficult lining up a contract, resigning and then sorting out a new job or contract.

[Gibbon]

Which is what I've done. Although it took me nearly 18 months, in truth I always had one eye on the exit door and never saw this as "permanent".

There are a couple of problems: quitting involves doing something. Unlike in a contract where you have a set date you can leave/negogiate an extension, in permiedom you have to make a definite decision and act on it. Which sounds a bit stupid, but there were pleanty of times I was seriously considering walking, but it's hard to walk away from a steady income.

And secondly, there's the notice period. I was on 2 months notice, which makes lining up another permie job awkward at best, and lining up a contract impossible. Part of the reason I'm leaving now is that I feel I've saved enough of a buffer/war chest to deal with a period of bench time/unemployment, which of course is difficult to do when you're earning less as a permie. And I don't think I'm entitled to sponge off the state for 6 months after voluntarily leaving a job.

When I left the mob I had to give 18 months notice !

[Notascooby]

Saw a nice permie role just last week and thought hmmmm

Then I thought my plans for next year and the need for 35-40 days off and realised I'd be lucky to have 26 as a permie and thought fook that.

But never say never

[MarillionFan]

Well according to MyCo's org chart there is just Canary M Burns above me



Doesn't matter the title of the person above you, even a well placed premmie still has to report to someone, even if its just share holders, me and the other contractors are still ultimately the masters of our own destiny, we choose the
contracts and the direction we travel. It may be on a smaller scale than your new company, but it's our choice to stay small

Just because you go perm doesn't mean you're not in control of your destiny. In fact I would argue that taking a perm role from a contract is exactly being in control of your destiny as I have cemented continuity in my present gig and been rewarded to do so. It's better than being benched IMHO and I can quit & take a contract anytime I want. I see slipping into perm part of the whole journey.

[MyUserName]

Been a contractor for a mere 15 months - currently on my second extension of my second contract.

Have managed to pay off thousands of pounds worth of credit card bills, redo the living room, buy new toys for my hobbies (almost two grand in living history kit) and generally worry about money a lot less. Also feel a lot more focussed and happy at work which makes me happier at home.

[The Spartan]

Me too, I'm much happier being a contractor and it shows. I have also been having work done to my property and as a permie it would have taken years or I would have had to take out a very large loan, balls to that.

[ctdctd]

OK, so the results for day 2 of this alternative to IACGMOOH are in...........
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Crickets and other bugs a buzzing
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7 permies
34 contractors
1 AndyW

So 17% permies, 3% mods, estimated 70% sockies, leaves me, gingerjedi, NickFitz, and Suityou01 () as real contractors