Reply to: Permanent to Contract... Please help!

[northernladuk]

Haha ..well self belief is everything right - especially as a contractor (easy for imposter sydrome to creep up)

True enough but there is also not knowing what you don't know. Every 5 year grad thinks they are the dogs danglies but they have no idea what they don't know. There are some extremely capable ones I don't deny but there are also a raft with over inflated egos thinking they are due massive wages for just 5 years of work.

Probably just me being overly negative but spending decades working with the old Anderson grads and all the other big suppliers lot tends to make you like that.

[Bluenose]

The contract market for BA's has not been great for years (pandemic excluded), the market ebbs and flows but make sure there really is a market for contract BA's that pays above minimum wage.

[T1994]

Need to grow some, hand your notice in and start looking. If you are scared of a gap between work then you've got a bigger problem coming. We have a saying that your second contract is the hardest to get. You'll have no income with only one gig behind you so the worst place in your contracting career.

At the moment you've got it super cushy. You should start looking about 2 weeks before you leave which is how long the majority of clients are willing to wait. If you don't get a gig then fair enough, you start contracting the proper way with zero income looking for work. That's what we do. If you aren't ready for that don't jump in I am afraid.

The problem is every one 5 years out of uni thinks they are the great whatever



And there we go. The same reason as always. To be fair he gave it a bit more guff before we got to the nitty gritty of the situation but it's always there at the end.

Haha ..well self belief is everything right - especially as a contractor (easy for imposter sydrome to creep up)

[d000hg]

NLUK they really like quoting your post

[T1994]

Need to grow some, hand your notice in and start looking. If you are scared of a gap between work then you've got a bigger problem coming. We have a saying that your second contract is the hardest to get. You'll have no income with only one gig behind you so the worst place in your contracting career.

At the moment you've got it super cushy. You should start looking about 2 weeks before you leave which is how long the majority of clients are willing to wait. If you don't get a gig then fair enough, you start contracting the proper way with zero income looking for work. That's what we do. If you aren't ready for that don't jump in I am afraid.

Permie interview
They are checking to see if you are a good asset to the business long term
Looking to see what your attitude is as well as your skills as you'll be doing lots of different things over your employment
They'll be looking to see what your career aspirations and that kind of soft thing as well.

Contractor interview
They are looking to see if you have the skills to do the task they have and if you've done it before.
They'll tell you more about the project and see how you can deliver
They could be doing a face fits for the team as well

Remember as a contractor you will be going in to apply your skills to a specific piece of work and nothing more so will be looking to see if you can deliver.

The slight issue here is not very many people are any good at interviewing at the best of times let along being able to switch gears between perm and contractor ones so all that said above it's quite likely it will look and feel exactly the same as a perm one. It shouldn't, but it can.

Very Helpful! Thank you!

[T1994]

Need to grow some, hand your notice in and start looking. If you are scared of a gap between work then you've got a bigger problem coming. We have a saying that your second contract is the hardest to get. You'll have no income with only one gig behind you so the worst place in your contracting career.

At the moment you've got it super cushy. You should start looking about 2 weeks before you leave which is how long the majority of clients are willing to wait. If you don't get a gig then fair enough, you start contracting the proper way with zero income looking for work. That's what we do. If you aren't ready for that don't jump in I am afraid.

if negotiating a new shorter notice period fails, I'd check my contract of employment to see what would give my employer good cause to terminate my employment immediately and then just do exactly that.

I don't know...probably some sort of gross misconduct? Like, take off your pants during a teams call and that's you nice and free

Hahaha will let you know how this one pans out hehe

[T1994]

Need to grow some, hand your notice in and start looking. If you are scared of a gap between work then you've got a bigger problem coming. We have a saying that your second contract is the hardest to get. You'll have no income with only one gig behind you so the worst place in your contracting career.

At the moment you've got it super cushy. You should start looking about 2 weeks before you leave which is how long the majority of clients are willing to wait. If you don't get a gig then fair enough, you start contracting the proper way with zero income looking for work. That's what we do. If you aren't ready for that don't jump in I am afraid.

Don't call in sick. Just don't show up. The worst the employer can do is sack you.

Does this not catch up with you in the future though? i.e. recommendations/reputation etc?

[T1994]

Need to grow some, hand your notice in and start looking. If you are scared of a gap between work then you've got a bigger problem coming. We have a saying that your second contract is the hardest to get. You'll have no income with only one gig behind you so the worst place in your contracting career.

At the moment you've got it super cushy. You should start looking about 2 weeks before you leave which is how long the majority of clients are willing to wait. If you don't get a gig then fair enough, you start contracting the proper way with zero income looking for work. That's what we do. If you aren't ready for that don't jump in I am afraid.

1. find a contract, tell them you can start in 4 weeks
2. hand in your notice from your permie job
3. try to negotiate a shorter notice
4. if point 3 fails, stop showing up/call in sick and in the meantime start your contract. Nobody will know...

Thanks- really practical advise! My only concern around this is burning bridges - the amount of BAs that I have worked with that knows someone that I know that knows someone I will know in the future is insane. Potentially risk. but good suggestion if all fails.

[T1994]

Need to grow some, hand your notice in and start looking. If you are scared of a gap between work then you've got a bigger problem coming. We have a saying that your second contract is the hardest to get. You'll have no income with only one gig behind you so the worst place in your contracting career.

At the moment you've got it super cushy. You should start looking about 2 weeks before you leave which is how long the majority of clients are willing to wait. If you don't get a gig then fair enough, you start contracting the proper way with zero income looking for work. That's what we do. If you aren't ready for that don't jump in I am afraid.

Another way to get contracts is networking. However if you knew how to do that you wouldn't be posting here. Keep that in mind for the future so make sure you are nice to everyone in life as you never know when you will meet them again.

Thank you for your input, as always, every input is appreciated. And yes, networking is v. important agreed. The amount of colleagues that I have worked with and end up knowing another colleague we have both worked with is amazing. For all you know, me and you will be on our next contract together

Again thanks for your input

[T1994]

Need to grow some, hand your notice in and start looking. If you are scared of a gap between work then you've got a bigger problem coming. We have a saying that your second contract is the hardest to get. You'll have no income with only one gig behind you so the worst place in your contracting career.

At the moment you've got it super cushy. You should start looking about 2 weeks before you leave which is how long the majority of clients are willing to wait. If you don't get a gig then fair enough, you start contracting the proper way with zero income looking for work. That's what we do. If you aren't ready for that don't jump in I am afraid.

The thing to remember with contracting is that a lot of organisations will want the contractor to demonstrate exact relevant experience in the recent past (I.e, in the last 2-3 assignments). Looking at what is out there, does your recent experience include all of the areas of expertise they are asking for? If not, you are going to have a tough time as you will always be at the back of the line while more established contractors pick off the best contracts.

Thanks for your input, and I certainly have relevant experience across significant project and and different industries, as well as industry relevant qualifications i.e bcs/prince 2/cloud etc.

Would it be an issue that I have never fully contracted before? Do I need to mention this on my CV?

Thanks again for your input.

[d000hg]

Many large firms will only confirm periods of employment in a reference.

Officially yes. But if one is threatening legal action against you, or you are "off sick" but still employed, you don't think they can play games? They might refuse to give a reference or tell them you're still employed.
You never know who knows who either.

[TheDude]

But regardless, your current employer is going to be an important reference... you really don't want to start your contracting search with peed-off former employer IMO!

Many large firms will only confirm periods of employment in a reference.

[northernladuk]

I'm not sure this is definitively true - they can certainly make your life stressful with threatening letters and so on and if you started a new gig within your notice period you might be breaching non-compete clauses?

But regardless, your current employer is going to be an important reference... you really don't want to start your contracting search with peed-off former employer IMO!

I agree with all that but also with NAT. It's something that's unlikely to happen to most people and in most cases it's going to be a bit of a storm in a teacup but in theory the risk is always there. I think it's important to understand both aspects to be able to make an informed decision. Is it theoretically possible to get in to legal issues that is going to cost you leaving before notice period is up. Absolutely. You've breached contract. Will it ever actually cost you cash or opportunities, highly unlikely.

If you want to breach and leave before your notice period just be prepared as it is possible to go south in a big way but it's more likely not to.

[d000hg]

Don't call in sick. Just don't show up. The worst the employer can do is sack you.

I'm not sure this is definitively true - they can certainly make your life stressful with threatening letters and so on and if you started a new gig within your notice period you might be breaching non-compete clauses?

But regardless, your current employer is going to be an important reference... you really don't want to start your contracting search with peed-off former employer IMO!

[northernladuk]

Personally it made me the great BA I am today

The problem is every one 5 years out of uni thinks they are the great whatever

And final point being the FINANCIAL benefit being that I need to raise a deposit for a property, which will otherwise take a considerably a long time with the permanant route..

And there we go. The same reason as always. To be fair he gave it a bit more guff before we got to the nitty gritty of the situation but it's always there at the end.