Boomed

[ChimpMaster]

You'd have to be there and draw a comparison between where you've been for several years and where you are now. At times it felt as if I'd achieved absolutely nothing whatsoever in my career, whereas the opposite is totally true. Just another Jo like these chumps, out of school and into a job where they've stayed for a couple of decades, worked nowhere else, no other experience. Unrounded individuals. Then there's the contractors graveyard - men who have given up and go through the motions just for an easy life, surviving on a skill set that is hopelessly out-of-date and a day rate that is pitiful. 10 years after the event they just discovered scrum and you can see all these noddy teams of nobodies all congregating against a wall with their little coloured post-it notes. It's like a game of Let's Pretend. Actually it's like Playschool or visiting a Whacky Warehouse. Grown men with their little pads. One of the teams had a little horn that the 'SCRUM Master' would sound if somebody was late. Same guy throw a coloured ball at team member to signify it's their turn to talk. I'm peering from behind my monitor, glad I'm not in that stand up because I'd probably kill the guy. Then there's the penny pinching aspect. Some contractors were renewed for rolling '1 week extensions'. I was direct and forever chasing invoice payments. Hell on earth.

Sounds like exactly where I am contracting at the moment. In fact, I've been there quite a while now... and I'm almost one of them in 'the contractors graveyard - men who have given up and go through the motions just for an easy life, surviving on a skill set that is hopelessly out-of-date and a day rate that is pitiful'. The only difference is that I have negotiated the rate up so high that it's become a handcuff to keep me here. I'll ride it out and then hopefully get a permie job to retrain out of my dying tech skill into another skillset

[oliverson]

.....Sorry Londoners but management are more likely to be c***s than elsewhere....

I've found it to be the total opposite. In 12 years of contracting, (5 north, 7 London), I've only ever met two managers who 'hate' contractors. Bizarrely, both of them were in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Both were very short as well. Strange.

[SuperZ]

It's always a difficult decision, location vs career and the other similar comparisons. I escaped a role 10 mins from my house for a "better opportunity" in Finance in London (290 miles away) and was worried about career suicide after being with the company for a while but London has it's own issues too. Firstly it's a dive when you're used to the sticks and it's much more cut throat environment in the workplace or at least my recent experience was. So, my next gig is now a little more commutable weekly at least (rather than renting away and not returning for weeks) and hoping the people are nicer .Sorry Londoners but management are more likely to be c***s than elsewhere.


Not that I had a rubbish experience or anything as overall the experience was good but I'm not fond of the whole London thing, personally or professionally. With more competition for contracts in London I think you feel a bit more like a piece of meat too in my opinion or something on a conveyor belt.

Finally gave up on London after going to a "meet the directors" evening interview and was given a time slot of 5 mins on the day. After being a contractor for many years and always integrating into teams easily I was surprised to hear someone come to the conclusion after 5 mins that I was not a perfect fit for their small team. Sure, you take it and move on but I just thought it was BS I wouldn't waste my time for. So looked in nicer parts of the country. That company keep on advertising for the same position too,for weeks and the actual work isn't complex either.

[oliverson]

I would happily put up with these factors for a 15 minute commute.
Not sure though how there would be lack of 'me time', or why this would equate to career suicide ?

You'd have to be there and draw a comparison between where you've been for several years and where you are now. At times it felt as if I'd achieved absolutely nothing whatsoever in my career, whereas the opposite is totally true. Just another Jo like these chumps, out of school and into a job where they've stayed for a couple of decades, worked nowhere else, no other experience. Unrounded individuals. Then there's the contractors graveyard - men who have given up and go through the motions just for an easy life, surviving on a skill set that is hopelessly out-of-date and a day rate that is pitiful. 10 years after the event they just discovered scrum and you can see all these noddy teams of nobodies all congregating against a wall with their little coloured post-it notes. It's like a game of Let's Pretend. Actually it's like Playschool or visiting a Whacky Warehouse. Grown men with their little pads. One of the teams had a little horn that the 'SCRUM Master' would sound if somebody was late. Same guy throw a coloured ball at team member to signify it's their turn to talk. I'm peering from behind my monitor, glad I'm not in that stand up because I'd probably kill the guy. Then there's the penny pinching aspect. Some contractors were renewed for rolling '1 week extensions'. I was direct and forever chasing invoice payments. Hell on earth.

[GB9]

This is my second week on the bench but I'm in the process (have been for a few days) of going through compliance again for a role back in London finance. Having been out of the sector for 18 months I'm really looking forward to going back. Thought I'd done it to death with a 7 year stretch but all that was needed was a break, totally burnt out when a chance to contract on my doorstep instead of 250 miles away came along. But with the convenience of a 15 minute commute comes other issues - unprofessionalism of colleagues, lack of prestige, lack of excitement, lack of money, lack of 'me time', a feeling of worthlessness, career suicide, etc. They say a change is as good as a rest and this experience of misadventure has absolutely proved that. Onwards and upwards. Time to fill that bank account back up again (and empty it on the £ 5+ beers and stripper bars).

I understand where you're coming from. Have the same thing here. Gone from finance to small retail where nothing is done properly and the people are generally of a lower standard. But closer to home.

It will do for a while but longer term I need something far more demanding.

[VillageContractor]

I would happily put up with these factors for a 15 minute commute.
Not sure though how there would be lack of 'me time', or why this would equate to career suicide ?

More time with my family makes all of those things worth it

[kaiser78]

This is my second week on the bench but I'm in the process (have been for a few days) of going through compliance again for a role back in London finance. Having been out of the sector for 18 months I'm really looking forward to going back. Thought I'd done it to death with a 7 year stretch but all that was needed was a break, totally burnt out when a chance to contract on my doorstep instead of 250 miles away came along. But with the convenience of a 15 minute commute comes other issues - unprofessionalism of colleagues, lack of prestige, lack of excitement, lack of money, lack of 'me time', a feeling of worthlessness, career suicide, etc. They say a change is as good as a rest and this experience of misadventure has absolutely proved that. Onwards and upwards. Time to fill that bank account back up again (and empty it on the £ 5+ beers and stripper bars).

I would happily put up with these factors for a 15 minute commute.
Not sure though how there would be lack of 'me time', or why this would equate to career suicide ?

[oliverson]

This is my second week on the bench but I'm in the process (have been for a few days) of going through compliance again for a role back in London finance. Having been out of the sector for 18 months I'm really looking forward to going back. Thought I'd done it to death with a 7 year stretch but all that was needed was a break, totally burnt out when a chance to contract on my doorstep instead of 250 miles away came along. But with the convenience of a 15 minute commute comes other issues - unprofessionalism of colleagues, lack of prestige, lack of excitement, lack of money, lack of 'me time', a feeling of worthlessness, career suicide, etc. They say a change is as good as a rest and this experience of misadventure has absolutely proved that. Onwards and upwards. Time to fill that bank account back up again (and empty it on the £ 5+ beers and stripper bars).