Reply to: Conversion to perm?

[Ruse]

These are two BIG factors for quite a few of us.......!!

Very true, I have been out for 6 months and have 3 dependents at home with a monthly rent bill which is much higher than most mortgages. Not to mention high council tax etc etc.

My preference now is to get a permie job for the security. I have 2 interviews coming up, one for a permie job with a good basic salary and the other for a 3 month contract with "probable renewals". I know which one I'll be taking if I am lucky/good enough to be offered both. I have heard too many stories recently of budgets being suddenly cut or restructuring/consolidation plans suddenly appearing. I could take a 3 month contract then find their plans have changed and there will be no renewal and I could be back on the bench for another 6 months....

[nomadd]

These are two BIG factors for quite a few of us.......!!

1. Get kids sweeping chimneys.
2. Take money from kids.
3. Pay mortgage with children's wages.

Sorted.

Nomadd

[Mustang]

It's also worth noting I don't have kids and I don't have a mortgage, so my situation might be somewhat easier than others. Nomadd

These are two BIG factors for quite a few of us.......!!

[nomadd]

Im still new at this. Is 6 months normal? Or is it the financial mess we are in?
Im still getting calls for permie jobs at, what I now consider cr@p pay. I really cant bring myself to do it. Id rather wait a year! Its scary cos Im in the middle of buying a house and would never do that if I was a permie type and was out of work. Being with a good umbrella company means Im still and employee! Im luvin it. Just hope another gig comes up...some time....relatively soon.

I guess it depends what type of contractor you are. I've never had any qualms about taking 3-6 month breaks, and have done so at least 5 times in the 20 years I've been contracting. Also, I'm a fussy b'stard over where I will work (won't work away from home) and what type of work I will do; I'm also fussy about rate as well. So, as you can see, with a picky attitude like mine, you can't ever hope to be in work full time.

I use 50% of the time I have off to re-train myself, and the other 50% to enjoy myself. Seems to work out OK for me. Then again, once I'm on contract, I pay myself only enough to live on and accumulate the rest in the company account. At the end of my current gig (mid-April 2010), the warchest will be back to £120k. So I won't give a damn about taking a break again!

It's also worth noting I don't have kids and I don't have a mortgage, so my situation might be somewhat easier than others.

Nomadd

[SueEllen]

Well, Im into the 3rd month and still nuthin'!
Had a few interviews but finding that I have to go back for 3 times at the same place inorder to be short listed! Its like going for a permie job!

1. Learn something while you are benched tweak your CV , and then repeat.
2. Do up your house, garden and/or car
3. RELAX - a contract will turn up when you are not expecting it

[pin00ch]

Still no contract

Well, Im into the 3rd month and still nuthin'!
Had a few interviews but finding that I have to go back for 3 times at the same place inorder to be short listed! Its like going for a permie job!

[Gonzo]

Im still new at this. Is 6 months normal? Or is it the financial mess we are in?

6 months between contracts would be unusual except during a recession. During a recession it has not been unknown for people to spend twelve months or more between contracts.

hth

[tim123]

Im still new at this. Is 6 months normal? Or is it the financial mess we are in?
.

In each of the previous two recessions, I know people who were benched for 24 months.

tim

[fatsuperman]

Hi peeps,

Interesting discussion going on here. I'm actually in the opposite scenario to you pin00ch, On Oct 1st I started my first contract in 10 years. As others have said it's really down to your circumstances. If you've got some money saved up (I don't!) and can see it thru, then it might be best to be brave - if you dive back into permdom you may be under for a lot longer than you expect.

It's only been a few days but boy am I happy to be out of company quiz nights, team meals and farewell drinks. Instead I just do that with the other contractors and the odd clientorg person on our wavelength.

[pin00ch]

I've been on the bench 6 months. And here, "darn sarff", it's been pleasantly dry.

Nomadd

Im still new at this. Is 6 months normal? Or is it the financial mess we are in?
Im still getting calls for permie jobs at, what I now consider cr@p pay. I really cant bring myself to do it. Id rather wait a year! Its scary cos Im in the middle of buying a house and would never do that if I was a permie type and was out of work. Being with a good umbrella company means Im still and employee! Im luvin it. Just hope another gig comes up...some time....relatively soon.

[mrdonuts]

Originally Posted by Boycie
Wow - what does she do?

I can think of a few things


Its what she doesnt do at those rates

[nomadd]

Another way to look at it is they need to be able to build up a rainy day fund because there will be rainy days.

I've been on the bench 6 months. And here, "darn sarff", it's been pleasantly dry.

Nomadd

[shoes]

Funny, when it's mentioned contractors earn way more than permies they try to explain it only appears that way due to NI, IR35, etc. But apparently despite this they can work 6 months a year and still build up a ton of savings.

Another way to look at it is they need to be able to build up a rainy day fund because there will be rainy days. Stability versus risk. "You take a chance either way, I leave it to you [Mr Anderson]"

[d000hg]

If you are contracting at least 6 months out of 12 I don't see how you can be better off in a permie position. Job security? A new starter in this climate?

If it takes you 6 months on the bench to get your next role you're still better off than permie. Plus you've had a nice long break. Something to dream about at your next permie company motivational meeting!

Funny, when it's mentioned contractors earn way more than permies they try to explain it only appears that way due to NI, IR35, etc. But apparently despite this they can work 6 months a year and still build up a ton of savings.

[the_rangdo]

Don't do permie, I did back in Jan and I'm pretty much at the point of jacking it in - as soon as a gig comes up I'm off, s0d the notice period.

9 months of IPC (individual personal contract) & management capability grids, meeting after meeting to discuss how we can all be better engaged with each other (group hug), the usual corporate training courses supposedly designed to further your career but are actually carp (2 days of presenting with impact - communication can have positive or negative messages, go figure!!), being sent off to paint a charity shop or build a fence, team events with people you'd rather not associate with - the list is endless.

Then you take them up on the offer of training to further your career (as they continually say how committed they are to helping you further your career) to be told it's not directly related to exactly what you're doing so tough luck, then get grief for not doing your real job (like when is there time with all the fluff you keep getting us to do).

TFI Friday