Reply to: State of the Market

[oliverson]

So, finally my security clearance appears to be coming to an end and I'll be free to go 'on site' (my home office) from early next week it seems.

Aside from the cash, I'm looking forward to getting back in the saddle again and building on my long track record of delivery for my client. I say client (singular) because the other opportunity, delivering it alongside my main contract, hasn't transpired. Guess that leaves me free to dedicate that time to my plan B's. All good.

Great weekend everybody.

[oliverson]

That's funny. I just got renewed for another year. Few of my colleagues ever go to the office the one "onsite day" at the Dutch big four bank I contract to. I've been there exactly twice so far in 4 1/2 years. A third attempt to go into the office turned into just a weed run and I ended up working from the Dutch hotel as there was nobody on the team there that day.

Two of my team members just got promoted this week and new staff will come onboard to replace them. From what I hear my team is not an exception.

I just read the Dutch government plans to expand immigration to make up for a massive labour shortage.

You really don't think the issue might be this little mistake they call brexit? The government seems to think so but can't seem to change enoigh of the public's mind. Instead, they are left with tacing the citizens to death.

^^^^Permie disguised as contractor right here!!! ^^^^

Throwing in the Brexit reference as well. Laughable. Is it any surprise that HMRC thinks we are all disguised employees with this kind of thinking/approach?

[oliverson]

You aren't out of WORK. You are out of CONTRACT. Your work is running your business. Is a guy running a shop out of work when he's not selling something to a customer? Is he out of work when he's closed the shop and can't sell anything doing inventory, cash etc?

Ha ha ha.

[oliverson]

I'm 100% WFH, and have been for over 10 years (well before it got popular with unprofessional shirkers and the like).
no downturn here i'm happy to say.

Would that be 100% WF 'old peoples' Home?

:-D

[hobnob]

Outside rates also mean + vat.

What difference does that make? I.e. if a company is VAT registered, they just hold onto the extra money to give to HMRC. The contractor doesn't get an extra 20% bonus on their daily rate!

It's useful to be able to reclaim VAT on what your company spends, but I doubt that this would be anywhere near £200k/year (i.e. the difference between £500k from your post and £300k from my post).

[herman_g]

I do.feel.thag WFH, is one of main contributors to the downturn.

That's funny. I just got renewed for another year. Few of my colleagues ever go to the office the one "onsite day" at the Dutch big four bank I contract to. I've been there exactly twice so far in 4 1/2 years. A third attempt to go into the office turned into just a weed run and I ended up working from the Dutch hotel as there was nobody on the team there that day.

Two of my team members just got promoted this week and new staff will come onboard to replace them. From what I hear my team is not an exception.

I just read the Dutch government plans to expand immigration to make up for a massive labour shortage.

You really don't think the issue might be this little mistake they call brexit? The government seems to think so but can't seem to change enoigh of the public's mind. Instead, they are left with tacing the citizens to death.

[avonleigh]

Of course you did. £500k per year.

The people I have met at 300/400k per year are normally director C level who have a PA organising their lives for them.

BS on here is next level. I don't understand it. It's not like we know who anyone is. Hiding behind usernames.

Anyway, I have done my applications. Interview this afternoon doing some new tech, not sure how I will progress but let's see how it goes. Based on plantier tech (Defence AI). Perm job but does sound a new way of progressing my skillset. Crossed fingers and all that

I can believe £1400 a day for developers with niche skills. My friend was working on openlink endur roles and was getting close to £1000 a day. And that was 10 years ago. So not sure what it would be now. SAP developers were getting £1500 a day 20+ years ago.

[northernladuk]

It's a disgrace to pay national insurance and then when out of work, to claim JSA? It's this a tough-man thing.

Next you'll be telling me real men don't use ISAs and don't postpone their dividends to avoid paying higher rate tax...!

You aren't out of WORK. You are out of CONTRACT. Your work is running your business. Is a guy running a shop out of work when he's not selling something to a customer? Is he out of work when he's closed the shop and can't sell anything doing inventory, cash etc?

[sadkingbilly]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e4lyz77jqo

Well that's encouraging, that is if they do build it. I do.feel.thag WFH, is one of main contributors to the downturn.

I'm 100% WFH, and have been for over 10 years (well before it got popular with unprofessional shirkers and the like).
no downturn here i'm happy to say.

[oliverson]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e4lyz77jqo

Well that's encouraging, that is if they do build it. I do.feel.thag WFH, is one of main contributors to the downturn.

I do miss some aspects of no longer working down there.

[unixman]

Advert: "...must be eligible for SC clearance..."

Agent: "sorry I won't forward your CV because you don't have existing SC clearance"

Me: "but your ad says "must be eligible for clearance", not "must have"...

Agent: "yes, we have to word it like that"


Harrumph. Where is the emoji for that angry little red fella...

[SchumiStars]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e4lyz77jqo

Well that's encouraging, that is if they do build it. I do.feel.thag WFH, is one of main contributors to the downturn.

[SchumiStars]

I agree with your main point about people showing off. However, I think your sums are a bit wrong here.

£1,400/day x 365 days/year = £511,000/year
However, most people aren't going to work 7 days a week.

£1,400/day x 220 days/year = £308,000/year
That's probably a more realistic starting point, then you'd have to deduct the company's running costs before anything can be taken as salary/dividends.

Outside rates also mean + vat. Anyone with a PA is not on this bulletin board I would imagine.

[rocktronAMP]

Of course you did. £500k per year.

The people I have met at 300/400k per year are normally director C level who have a PA organising their lives for them.

==////==

If one wants to earn income of £500,000 per year, giving 220 working days in the year, the annual contract daily rate by is .... (drum roll) £2,272.72p

[hobnob]

Of course you did. £500k per year.

I agree with your main point about people showing off. However, I think your sums are a bit wrong here.

£1,400/day x 365 days/year = £511,000/year
However, most people aren't going to work 7 days a week.

£1,400/day x 220 days/year = £308,000/year
That's probably a more realistic starting point, then you'd have to deduct the company's running costs before anything can be taken as salary/dividends.