Why I love contracting..

[Troll]

Of course back in my day we 'ad it tough

Contracting wasn't the "done" thing and giving up a permie role with company car + salary + holidays for an uncertain lifestyle was considered madness

What is surprising these days is the amount of low grade contractors around who still carry the permie mind set

[seanraaron]

Money and being able to not give a toss about the company without being accused of not being a "team player." Can't think of much else positive about it thus far since it mainly seems to be a ruse to avoid a lot of employment law for large companies.

"Love" is definitely too strong a word to use for contracting.

[NigelJK]

Contracting wasn't the "done" thing and giving up a permie role with company car + salary + holidays for an uncertain lifestyle was considered madness

What is surprising these days is the amount of low grade contractors around who still carry the permie mind set

+1
+1

And, odd to admit, but being able to make a difference with my skillset.

[2uk]

Contracting now sucks to me in comparison to an easy, multi-day work-from-home perm job in central Europe outside of major town, with easy going colleagues.

[MrMarkyMark]

Contracting now sucks to me in comparison to an easy, multi-day work-from-home perm job in central Europe outside of major town, with easy going colleagues.

Sounds like you just have experience of basic, fairly unskilled, contracts then?

I don't find mine hard work at all, usually negotiate a good rate, wfh etc. then I usually get a few of my own people in.

Sounds like you haven't been doing it right, hence your disillusionment.

[OwlHoot]

I was taking our cow to market ...

thats the way I became a contractor

Oh, so you're one of those cow workers everyone talks about.

[Bee]

1. Good adrenaline.
2. Work in several projects.
3. Work in different countries.
4. Work with different clients.
5. Work with different cultures
6. Learn a lot.

...

and move on...

...

next...

[MrMarkyMark]

1. Good adrenaline.
2. Work in several projects.
3. Work in different countries.
4. Work with different clients.
5. Work with different cultures
6. Learn a lot.

...

and move on...

...

next...

Is this some kind of self help therapy?

[PurpleGorilla]

I started contracting after 14 years of permiedom. I had it in my head that I wanted 10 years experience before I started, and I had some other commitments to tidy up before I was ready to go contracting.

I met some nice friendly contractors over the years, and thought to myself that one day I would like to give it a go.

So many people get trapped in a permanent role to pay the mortgage, to get the final salary pension. It makes for a very boring, uncreative, unchallenged existence. I got sick of working with people like that, and I didn't want to become one.

Two years on, it's been great. I have learnt loads, earned loads, and met some lovely people.

I am looking at a permie role at the moment. It is at a level far higher than the level I was at when I left permie. I think contracting can leap frog you up the career ladder if you want to. I am really not sure if I want it, but it is a great opportunity, close to home. I am going to see if they want me and I want them.

If not, I will keep contracting, keep saving (and start investing). I don't really have 'a plan'. I just do what I can to stay fresh and ahead; keeping all options open and taking the opportunities as they come.

[NibblyPig]

Can I just say

I started contracting when I realised that permiedom is contracting by another name (with less money)