Reply to: Doing non IT work inbetween IT contracts

[squarepeg]

Has anyone ever maybe due to a long period between contracts taken a non IT job. I don't mean helping a mate for £20 type work but though an agent calling or seeing a temporary role advertised?

I'm on the bench currently no major panic with that but I got a call out the blue from an agent asking if i was interested in a 3 week temp assignment non IT related. I can wait for a contract but the place is where someone I know really well works and actually in a way would make a nice change and brings in a bit more pocket money.

I'm under an Umbrella and so used to using them but for this instance would it be better to work through the agent for this type of thing as it will be a normal low temp type pay so thinking with the extra NI and their admin fee would it be worth it. In which case if not would I just keep setup via the umbrella for when I finish and continue with the job through the agent or would I have to leave the umbrella,get my P45 then rejoin?

Cashflow is king. I used to do work for less money between contracts and simply didn't put those jobs on my CV, if they were not IT-related.

[ladymuck]

I've got three gigs in December.

It was more about having a nice run down to the end of the year than thinking the market would be dead. I too have picked up several gigs in December (and that's partly why I didn't work in PC World in the end).

[SimonMac]

I've got remember that one!

I'll add it to the SimonMacCommentGenerator

[northernladuk]

16 year old gloyts with less ambition and drive than body hair

I've got remember that one!

[Hobosapien]

Hang around the local Polski Sklep and whilst trying to work out what the food is in the tins by the pictures ask the 'locals' where they get the cash in hand temp jobs.

Should be loads of vacancies with all the hoo-ha about brexit 'scaring them all back home'. Might find some interesting stuff to eat/drink in there too, and probably some eye candy as well.

[curtis]

Some of my best jobs were temp roles, most were leave your brain at the door roles but they were no stress, good banter, leave the end of the day forget, money in the bank.

The more I think of it the more I find it appealing to try and mix things a bit more. I do think though would agencies take me seriously as even the temp world they want seasoned temps who they can rely on bit like entering the contract world, your not taken seriously and can be hard to get work until a few gigs under your belt. You hear nowadays to stack shelves they want 5 years experience.

Right off to dumb down my CV.

[SimonMac]

I'd be willing to bet you aren't the only one!

Funnily enough my other half has burnt out from teaching and wants to leave. One of her colleagues works at ASDA now and is happy as a pig in't muck. We sat down for a long discussion about this not so long ago.

SWMBO - I can't carry on. Can I quit teach and go working a in a supermarket?
ME - Can you f**k.
SWMBO - <some other stuff about me being a taxi driver or something that I didn't listen to>

Sorted.

Back in the days of being a permie I took a second job with Sainbury's to make a bit of extra cash for Christmas, was fantastic met MrsMac while working there and was easily the best job I have had, sociable and zero pressure, only down side was working with 16 year old gloyts with less ambition and drive than body hair

[SimonMac]

CBA to read the whole thread but the idea is a goer, keeps you from getting bored, only thing I would watch for is the more you earn the less dividends etc you can take without having to pay top rate tax on it, something to consider at least

[northernladuk]

I've often thought about doing voluntary work between contracts, just never got so far as deciding what type I'd like to try that doesn't require some basic skill/aptitude to make it easy to get into.

At least then there's no messing about getting P45s/46s to sort out multiple income when still being paid via Ltd while on the bench or worrying about higher tax thresholds over the year.

For now I'm enjoying plan b, doing b****rall.

Try volunteering as a driver for the Ambulance service. They pay you 45p per mile for using the car so if you have a contractor banger you can make a bit more money out of it as well as doing a good deed for sick kids etc.

[Hobosapien]

I've often thought about doing voluntary work between contracts, just never got so far as deciding what type I'd like to try that doesn't require some basic skill/aptitude to make it easy to get into.

At least then there's no messing about getting P45s/46s to sort out multiple income when still being paid via Ltd while on the bench or worrying about higher tax thresholds over the year.

For now I'm enjoying plan b, doing b****rall.

[northernladuk]

My plan was to pay off the mortgage and then stick 2 fingers up at the Government and HMRC for killing contracting by stacking shelves in Tescos while claiming every benefit I could lay me hands on

I'd be willing to bet you aren't the only one!

Funnily enough my other half has burnt out from teaching and wants to leave. One of her colleagues works at ASDA now and is happy as a pig in't muck. We sat down for a long discussion about this not so long ago.

SWMBO - I can't carry on. Can I quit teach and go working a in a supermarket?
ME - Can you f**k.
SWMBO - <some other stuff about me being a taxi driver or something that I didn't listen to>

Sorted.

[SlipTheJab]

We've got a local taxi firm that uses decent black Passats that are always very smart and the drivers are all local guys and well turned out. Bit like a Stobart of taxi firms. Everyone that works for them says they enjoy it and they are always on the look out for a drivers. Every time the bench looms I always consider having a pop at that just to say I've done it for a giggle. My other half won't let me though as she'd be mortified if I had to pick any of her friends up. They will probably go bust soon anyway.

I'd also to go back to doing a bit of metalwork on the lathes and the like as well for a bit of fun but it's been a very long time since I did that so I'd be more a hindrance than a help.

My plan was to pay off the mortgage and then stick 2 fingers up at the Government and HMRC for killing contracting by stacking shelves in Tescos while claiming every benefit I could lay me hands on

[northernladuk]

We've got a local taxi firm that uses decent black Passats that are always very smart and the drivers are all local guys and well turned out. Bit like a Stobart of taxi firms. Everyone that works for them says they enjoy it and they are always on the look out for a drivers. Every time the bench looms I always consider having a pop at that just to say I've done it for a giggle. My other half won't let me though as she'd be mortified if I had to pick any of her friends up. They will probably go bust soon anyway.

I'd also to go back to doing a bit of metalwork on the lathes and the like as well for a bit of fun but it's been a very long time since I did that so I'd be more a hindrance than a help.

[SlipTheJab]

I knew a permie dev who used to do a bit of roofing on the side, all cash in hand

[vwdan]

My brother drives trucks and I must admit, I've had similar thoughts. Get my license (It's a bucket list item anyway, cos I'm sad like that) and do a bit of agency work for laughs. Would be fun doing a job that doesn't need to feature on my CV (I.e., I can say stuff it whenever I like)