Reply to: perm offer

[Robinho]

When i stated my career and had no experience whatsoever, i earn't 23k.

I understand the rhetoric of gaining experience but 23k is painful low. Especially if you presumably live in London.

In addition, bottom feeder jobs can sometimes leave you doing donkey work, which don't add a lot of experience at all.

Personally i'd look for a better perm job.

[SPURSN17]

well this is a 2nd line role.basic desktop support. Doesnt seem to be a great deal of progression in this role IE training etc only bonus really is the location.With the wage being quite low im tempted to take the chance and start looking around for other contracts near the end of this.

ive done my MCITP windows 7 just in the middle of doing my MCITP EA 2008.after this probs do the CCNA or CEH course so im looking to progress further into maybes security type role eventually.

Ive got nothing else lined u at the minute so aware of the fact that i may end up out of contract for a while or on a lower rate anyways.Just the drop in pay would be too hard for me to take and it would just be to looking for the next higher paid role.....

[Scrag Meister]

Not all client cos are happy to be paying contractors to learn on the job.

I thought I was on a winner back in December with the option to learn C# while also doing my main job of VB/VBA. The client then decided that they were going to rewrite in C# with a skilled C# dev and so I got the boot and pure C# dev was bought in leaving the VBA to fend for itself.

Depends on the client though.

[MarillionFan]

Hang on a tick...18 an hour and 23K are indiciative of low skills.
Take the perm role and use it as a way to learn and upskill. You'll seldom get a chance as an out and out contractor.
Before you know 23 becomes 30 becomes 40 then can decide whether a perm life is for you or jump ship into 40 or 50 an hour contract roles.

...take the perm and milk it for the skillllllzzzzzzzz

WHS

I know a guy who has done front line support for the last 20 or so years. He's on a low wage and when mentioned to him he should go niche and skill up he was pretty indignant about it.

He enjoys his job but knows it's not well paid, but also doesnt want the hassle or have the inclination to do anything else. At the end of the day some people want to do that job and some people don't want to always keep changing roles/skills etc. Good all around skills for support is fine.

As he said, we can't all go around earning £400 per day+

In this case. Keep the contract.

[nomadd]

Not necessarily, most of the contractors I have worked with have been able to upskill through a combination of training, picking things up on the job, certification and research. I have been to move up the "skill ladder" through the above.

+1

I've been contracting continually for the last 21 years. Can't imagine there is any market for the stuff I was doing 10 years ago, let alone 15 or 20.

If you don't know how to "up-skill on the job" as a contractor, you're dead. Or permie, which is worse than being dead.

[Fred Bloggs]

But........ in a £23k job are you going to get the hands on experience that you need to build on those courses? I think not.

[northernladuk]

Not necessarily, most of the contractors I have worked with have been able to upskill through a combination of training, picking things up on the job, certification and research. I have been to move up the "skill ladder" through the above.

Very true but as I said you need some luck and unless you are in a position to turn down contracts until you get one that might offer you the skills you are after you are aren't in control of the skills you want. It is going to take time to make a major change as Olly says. Yes you might have picked up a bit of experience on a different technology but to make a major change to your rate you need a major change to team lead, manager and so on. This is possible but much much harder, takes time and depends on luck.

Upskilling is one thing, career advancement/change is different.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Very nice answer. It isn't all about the cash, this is a career. I think the option mentioned above to enable you to get a much better rate for the remainder of your working life is most definately one to be considered. Are you going to be happy at that rate for the next 10-15 years? If so then go for it. If you want to improve your rate take some time out for some free training. Upskilling in contracting is a very difficult thing to do and requires a nice dollop of luck.

Not necessarily, most of the contractors I have worked with have been able to upskill through a combination of training, picking things up on the job, certification and research. I have been to move up the "skill ladder" through the above.

[DaveB]

Currently in contract and have been offered the role perm .18ph at min but perm role will only offer 23k and no more. its local so considering it but dont think its worth the drop in pay. contract runs until middle of May.not sure if its worth it...

Tell them you'll take it but you want it included in the deal that you will get a selection of training courses of your choice in the first 18 months as compensation from the drop in income.

Pick the ones you want to skill up in and take it from there.

[northernladuk]

Hang on a tick...18 an hour and 23K are indiciative of low skills.
Take the perm role and use it as a way to learn and upskill. You'll seldom get a chance as an out and out contractor.
Before you know 23 becomes 30 becomes 40 then can decide whether a perm life is for you or jump ship into 40 or 50 an hour contract roles.

...take the perm and milk it for the skillllllzzzzzzzz

Very nice answer. It isn't all about the cash, this is a career. I think the option mentioned above to enable you to get a much better rate for the remainder of your working life is most definately one to be considered. Are you going to be happy at that rate for the next 10-15 years? If so then go for it. If you want to improve your rate take some time out for some free training. Upskilling in contracting is a very difficult thing to do and requires a nice dollop of luck.

[Support Monkey]

Hang on a tick...18 an hour and 23K are indiciative of low skills.
Take the perm role and use it as a way to learn and upskill. You'll seldom get a chance as an out and out contractor.
Before you know 23 becomes 30 becomes 40 then can decide whether a perm life is for you or jump ship into 40 or 50 an hour contract roles.

...take the perm and milk it for the skillllllzzzzzzzz

WHS however it depends if your happy with your lot and your not chasing a career or the big money then stick with contracting

[SueEllen]

Hang on a tick...18 an hour and 23K are indiciative of low skills.
Take the perm role and use it as a way to learn and upskill. You'll seldom get a chance as an out and out contractor.
Before you know 23 becomes 30 becomes 40 then can decide whether a perm life is for you or jump ship into 40 or 50 an hour contract roles.

...take the perm and milk it for the skillllllzzzzzzzz

WHS

[Olly]

Hang on a tick...18 an hour and 23K are indiciative of low skills.
Take the perm role and use it as a way to learn and upskill. You'll seldom get a chance as an out and out contractor.
Before you know 23 becomes 30 becomes 40 then can decide whether a perm life is for you or jump ship into 40 or 50 an hour contract roles.

...take the perm and milk it for the skillllllzzzzzzzz

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

I would always take £18/hour above 23k. At least with 18/hour you can take the vast majority out in expenses and a small nearly tax free salary/dividend. 23k will just drain the life out of you, I know it did with me in my first job.

[pmeswani]

Currently in contract and have been offered the role perm .18ph at min but perm role will only offer 23k and no more. its local so considering it but dont think its worth the drop in pay. contract runs until middle of May.not sure if its worth it...

Depends on whether you have anything lined up, or if you are happy to take a few months off on the bench until something comes up or if you want to ride the perm wave until something better comes along.