Reply to: Confusion

[SueEllen]

WHS...I am in a similar situation. 400 a day to surf the net for the past 3 months while the permy get the interesting work and extension has been granted for another 3. Some body say Chi ching

The 1 guy who is permie is actually doing work at the moment on this project. I'm reading a document and researching.

[curtis]

Better the devil you know I suppose

No its not!!! If your finding it soul destroying and dread going there thats obviously bad and you should be looking for something else. The next one might be much better, yes it might not be but you then look for another one when that one is over.

Thats one of the big positives for me in contracting, no longer do I feel stuck anywhere now if the jobs terrible I know I can move on after, it still effects you, as a contractor you suddenly do not become immune to tulip but you know you have that escape a lot easier than if in a permanent job.

Move on life's too short you won't win any brownie points for staying...

[slickcontractor]

JoJoGabor that's uncalled for outside of Light Relief and General.



Freemind76 you seem to have missed a few realities and important points about contracting.

1. As contractors we're brought in to fill gaps and cover for skill shortages in the clients permie ranks, as a result the most interesting projects tend to go to the permanent staff that the client has a vested interest in keeping them happy. Interesting work helps that.
2. If the rate is decent, you like the place and they offer an extension then it's better than being on the bench.
3. Being in contract = INVOICE = MONEY = Being a contractor

As Sockpuppet said smile and invoice

WHS...I am in a similar situation. 400 a day to surf the net for the past 3 months while the permy get the interesting work and extension has been granted for another 3. Some body say Chi ching

[TykeMerc]

Thats what I've been doing for nearly 3 years now - but after a while it becomes absolutely soul destroying. My contract ends in 6 weeks - I've been offered yet another 1 yr extension - I really am thinking seriously about turning it down. I've paid off my mortgage and lined the bank with a healthy sum. I'm just hate the feeling of dread I have every morning as I walk across the car park. Theres got to be more to life surely?

Jeez, sorry, juat a moment of pre-caffine weakness. Of course I'll sign the extension and tell myself that I'll keep going until something better comes up on jobserve. Problem is, nothing ever does. Better the devil you know I suppose.

In that circumstance I'd politely refuse the extension, I work to live and not the other way round. If you've got a decent warchest and want a change then do it. Smile and invoice only goes so far and dreading going to the place is way past that point.

[rd409]

Hi Guys,

I am a contractor, presently working in a company and my contract is due to expire in April end. When I joined this contract, I was given lot of good work and I finished all of the work on time and that too with quality. Few defects were reported but that is the part of the movie .

But somehow for last couple of months, I've been given very small work and extremely simple work while permi guys are given all meat. I talked with manager asking why such kind of work to me. His response was friendly and conveyed to me that this is all work left with them (I don't believe this though).

Last week, he walked to me and informed me that they are going to extend my contract till this year end. I am getting paid a good rate on this contract.

I am confused what to do as I am NOT happy with the work but happy with the money.

Any expert suggestion/comment ?

I guess you are not alone in this situation. I was a permie, and was given tulip projects. After a while, I was bored, and thought I would get better and challenging projects if I turned to contracting. Well here I am, and the client I am working for right now, gives interesting projects to permies, and not the contractor. All I am suppose to do is fill in gap, maintain and fix applications. But guess what, I am happy now, as I am getting a shed lots of more money for the same.

So the moral of the story is : It depends on the company and management, how to assign projects. If you are not happy with Money AND Projects, leave. The weightage of the prior is 99% and the later is just 1%. The first and probably only thing I am looking for in a contract is money.

You can enjoy your work, and keep on working till you drop dead as a permie, or you can work like a dead for few decades as a contract and then enjoy your life. Choice is yours.

And lastly, you are lucky that even after moaning about projects you have been offered an extension. As a contractor if you are not happy with the contract, just find another one. I am sure, the client would have started looking for your replacement by now.

[SueEllen]

Thats what I've been doing for nearly 3 years now - but after a while it becomes absolutely soul destroying. My contract ends in 6 weeks - I've been offered yet another 1 yr extension - I really am thinking seriously about turning it down. I've paid off my mortgage and lined the bank with a healthy sum. I'm just hate the feeling of dread I have every morning as I walk across the car park. Theres got to be more to life surely?

Jeez, sorry, juat a moment of pre-caffine weakness. Of course I'll sign the extension and tell myself that I'll keep going until something better comes up on jobserve. Problem is, nothing ever does. Better the devil you know I suppose.

Why don't you say yes to the extension and take some holiday first. Then when you get back work on your plan B/novel/script from your desk as long as it doesn't involve making loads of phone calls you should be all right.

[Normie]

Smile and invoice. Would be rather be bored with £60k in the bank or happy and skint. I hear the bench is a pretty boring place too.

Thats what I've been doing for nearly 3 years now - but after a while it becomes absolutely soul destroying. My contract ends in 6 weeks - I've been offered yet another 1 yr extension - I really am thinking seriously about turning it down. I've paid off my mortgage and lined the bank with a healthy sum. I'm just hate the feeling of dread I have every morning as I walk across the car park. Theres got to be more to life surely?

Jeez, sorry, juat a moment of pre-caffine weakness. Of course I'll sign the extension and tell myself that I'll keep going until something better comes up on jobserve. Problem is, nothing ever does. Better the devil you know I suppose.

[cojak]

I've already warned one poster on this thread

If you want to abuse newbies save it for General...

[MarillionFan]

WTMS

Unwritten rule. We don't dick about outside General.

OP. One of the issues with contracting is that you are not a perm member of staff. You are a resource. A square hole in a square box. Down the pecking order.

Rightly or wrongly, it is perserved(sic) that you should not be trained, retain or learn company IP and that you will leave at the drop of a hat. While your perm colleague(who is on shed loads less cash, has to have reviews of their performance and basically gets tulip on and has no control over their life) is more likely to put 110% into the role than you as a money grabbing opportunist ever will.

This is of course rubbish on the whole. In my experience, contract or perm, people in IT want to deliver projects/applications/results etc. It is actually what drives them and that is reward within itself. It gives individuals a sense of pride & worth.

But I am afraid you (as I) will have to get used to it. You get paid well, but in the eyes of the business you are a risk and a commodity. If you want to get better work, go perm, but don't expect any money for it.

hth

MF

[TykeMerc]

JoJoGabor that's uncalled for outside of Light Relief and General.

Hi Guys,

I am a contractor, presently working in a company and my contract is due to expire in April end. When I joined this contract, I was given lot of good work and I finished all of the work on time and that too with quality. Few defects were reported but that is the part of the movie .

But somehow for last couple of months, I've been given very small work and extremely simple work while permi guys are given all meat. I talked with manager asking why such kind of work to me. His response was friendly and conveyed to me that this is all work left with them (I don't believe this though).

Last week, he walked to me and informed me that they are going to extend my contract till this year end. I am getting paid a good rate on this contract.

I am confused what to do as I am NOT happy with the work but happy with the money.

Any expert suggestion/comment ?

Freemind76 you seem to have missed a few realities and important points about contracting.

1. As contractors we're brought in to fill gaps and cover for skill shortages in the clients permie ranks, as a result the most interesting projects tend to go to the permanent staff that the client has a vested interest in keeping them happy. Interesting work helps that.
2. If the rate is decent, you like the place and they offer an extension then it's better than being on the bench.
3. Being in contract = INVOICE = MONEY = Being a contractor

As Sockpuppet said smile and invoice

[Sockpuppet]

Smile and invoice. Would be rather be bored with £60k in the bank or happy and skint. I hear the bench is a pretty boring place too.

[pmeswani]

Hi Guys,

I am a contractor, presently working in a company and my contract is due to expire in April end. When I joined this contract, I was given lot of good work and I finished all of the work on time and that too with quality. Few defects were reported but that is the part of the movie .

But somehow for last couple of months, I've been given very small work and extremely simple work while permi guys are given all meat. I talked with manager asking why such kind of work to me. His response was friendly and conveyed to me that this is all work left with them (I don't believe this though).

Last week, he walked to me and informed me that they are going to extend my contract till this year end. I am getting paid a good rate on this contract.

I am confused what to do as I am NOT happy with the work but happy with the money.

Any expert suggestion/comment ?

Are you for real? I don't know how much you are getting paid, but if you are getting a reasonable rate, just enjoy the ride. Surf the internet most of the day, do whatever little work you are given and carry on invoicing. You are brought in for your expertise. Your client wants you to stay on for the head count, just turn up and keep on invoicing. Don't frigging complain.

[stek]

Are you a Bob?

[Mr.Whippy]

I've been given very small work and extremely simple work while permi guys are given all meat. I talked with manager asking why such kind of work to me. His response was friendly and conveyed to me that this is all work left with them (I don't believe this though)

A lot of managers want to keep their permanent employees happy so give them the good work while giving the tulipe to contractors. That's just the way it is in a lot of places.

[JoJoGabor]

Hi Guys,

I am a contractor, presently working in a company and my contract is due to expire in April end. When I joined this contract, I was given lot of good work and I finished all of the work on time and that too with quality. Few defects were reported but that is the part of the movie .

But somehow for last couple of months, I've been given very small work and extremely simple work while permi guys are given all meat. I talked with manager asking why such kind of work to me. His response was friendly and conveyed to me that this is all work left with them (I don't believe this though).

Last week, he walked to me and informed me that they are going to extend my contract till this year end. I am getting paid a good rate on this contract.

I am confused what to do as I am NOT happy with the work but happy with the money.

Any expert suggestion/comment ?

change career, you sound tulip