User Profile

[TheDude]

I live in South Essex.

There are a lot of people who are 'not racist but...' and 'not being funny but...'

There are a lot of flags.

[TheDude]

I would tax people based on the complexity of their tax planning.

PAYE pay the lowest. Those whose arrangements involve trusts and/or cross borders pay the highest....

[TheDude]

Presumably they are not paying £20k a term in fees to home school their children....

[TheDude]

I disagree.

We could be invaded by Russia and China from the East, Godzilla from the West and the majority of people on this forum would still claim IR35 is the biggest issue facing the UK....

[TheDude]

I have had three approaches about financial services gigs this week.

Here is a nice one for somebody

Requirements

• Java, Multithreaded systems
• Low latency, front office trading system development.
• Algo experience is highly desirable.
• FIX, Exchange Connectivity
• Flexible

...

[TheDude]

Senior stakeholders will be more interested in covering their own asses than delivering the project.

I would suggest you offer Winston Wolf services to them....

[TheDude]

That's a decent salary for Leeds and if you were local would offer a decent life....

[TheDude]

4 days in now!...

[TheDude]

We all know a lot can go wrong before then!...

[TheDude]

My initial thought is - what happens if there is a dispute and you don't get paid?

Sounds like chasing payment could be very expensive. You can't even get some boys in a van and go knocking on their door....

[TheDude]

I for one was pretty snobby about my day rate.

I have have just taken a day rate that I would have dismissed immediately one year ago when I was in a nice contract at a bank in London. Why - because I was earning £x a day, worked for high profile firms and that was how I viewed my status...

[TheDude]

I am 52. There is no way I am commuting two or three days a week to London unless rates return to where they were in the good old days.

I am happy to do two days a month though even it means commuting from Essex to (say) Leeds for a much lower rate.

The gig I have been offered...

[TheDude]

That's just it - I did feign enthusiasm and humility however some interviewers are aren't interested if you can do the job. They are looking for people who fit their own preconceptions about what makes a good candidate....

[TheDude]

So - I have been offered a contract. 50% the rate of my previous (inside and admittedly well paid) gig but outside IR35 and 100% remote....

[TheDude]

Knocked back for one role - the other is still in process but usually if they want you they are pretty quick to make an offer.

Really annoyed with the first knock back though - the interviewer was a complete gatekeeper looking to impose his status at every step. I think he probably picked...

[TheDude]

Every bank in London seems to have stopped looking for contractors.

Most contracts bank contracts are for half that rate in Northampton, Birmingham, Edinburgh et....

[TheDude]

Two interviews yesterday, both Inside IR35 and both around half the day rate of my previous couple of roles. The upside is that both are largely remote with occasional travel to the office.

Both roles I could do in my sleep but I don't feel that either interview went particularly well so...

[TheDude]

I doubt many people are in a position to care....

[TheDude]

If the role exists of course...

I have seen one advert for a contract role at a bank that has been posted daily for the past six months....

[TheDude]

AI is not yet up to the job but employers are in a state of hiring paralysis waiting to see what will happen....