Career path?

[KentPhilip]

I thought that the older you get the less likely you'll be a permie, because of age discrimination (amongst other things).

I have no plans to go permie. A fate worse than death!

[MyUserName]

I might consider leaving contracting for an interesting well paid permie job within walking distance of my house.

However, the gig I have now is interesting, nice colleagues who are also clever, I am learning new techs and it is about a 25 minute drive from my house so I am staying here for as long as I can!

[sasguru]

Why are the only options: "techie contractor" and "political high-level permie"?
You could be a bit of both, run your own consultancy co, picking and choosing your work g
With mortgages paid off and money not an issue, my main priority is interesting and stimulating work, which I have for the moment. The only permie job I would be interested in is if I was working in academia in a cutting edge area- but I'd probably have to get a PhD for that and can't be bothered.

[d000hg]

I'd like to be retired or running my own business by 45. It might even happen, it's a long way off for me but on the other hand it will happen scarily fast.

[mickey]

Why are the only options: "techie contractor" and "political high-level permie"?
You could be a bit of both, run your own consultancy co, picking and choosing your work g
With mortgages paid off and money not an issue, my main priority is interesting and stimulating work, which I have for the moment. The only permie job I would be interested in is if I was working in academia in a cutting edge area- but I'd probably have to get a PhD for that and can't be bothered.

I was thinking like that when I was 22.

Are the options you are describing still open to you?

What services can you offer so that no fresh grad next door could do for a fraction of a price?

[d000hg]

What services can you offer so that no fresh grad next door could do for a fraction of a price?

Anything based on decades of domain experience/expertise.

[doodab]

Why are the only options: "techie contractor" and "political high-level permie"?

I think a lot of people struggle to see themselves working outside the sort of organisations they usually find themselves in as a contractor, and only high level permies get paid anything like the same as a good contractor, so that's seen as the only viable alternative.

Personally I know I lack the mentality that a senior role in most organisations would require, I'm glad I'm not one of those people and I don't see giving up something I often enjoy for something I wouldn't for a few extra pounds as "progress" at all. So I'm happy contracting.

Maybe one day I will find another way of making money that I prefer. I'm sure we all have various ideas of things we'd like to do to make money, for some it's largely fantasy and others actually invest the time and energy to get those off the ground. I've got friends who've lost houses and marriages and others who now employ 40-50 people, whether they succeed or fail those people deserve respect for trying. Having seen what's involved I think I would need to be very convinced of and committed to what I was doing, and I just haven't had that idea yet.

[sasguru]

What services can you offer so that no fresh grad next door could do for a fraction of a price?

1. Not enough grads coming through with the requisite technical skills. 2 reasons (1) a fooked up education system (2) only a small fraction of the population would have the requisite mathematical ability anyway.

2. Years of experience in blue-chips doing everything you can think of from development to PM to senior management.

3. Probably most importantly: excellent comms and presentation skills at board level.

In short I'm a strong techie with credibility and the gift of the gab.
Rare as gold dust we are.

[mickey]

1. Not enough grads coming through with the requisite technical skills. 2 reasons (1) a fooked up education system (2) only a small fraction of the population would have the requisite mathematical ability anyway.

2. Years of experience in blue-chips doing everything you can think of from development to PM to senior management.

3. Probably most importantly: excellent comms and presentation skills at board level.

In short I'm a strong techie with credibility and the gift of the gab.
Rare as gold dust we are.

Name 3 areas where math skills are really in demand these days.

[d000hg]

Name 3 areas where math skills are really in demand these days.

Are you joking?