Reply to: Has anyone ever...

[19HoursADay]

I'm also 25, chana; and have just made the jump to contracting though I'm in a slightly different position - I was in a job paying £55k, and jumped straight to £450+ rates. I'm confident that this year I'll clear a lot more than £55k; and without office politics that can come into play when you're a very senior member of staff at a relatively young age (and in my line of work although training was "available", I never got to do it because I was so busy).

Personally, I'd say you've made the right decision especially as you don't (appear to) have a mortgage, wife, kids as I do. One thing I'd make sure is that you're confident that the market for your skills is flush with contracts; and particularly in the areas that you're willing to travel. If, after this contract, you needed to go to London, for instance, would it make financial sense for you?

If you can answer these questions, and are confident that they'll be plenty of roles in the future in places where you can afford to stay without incurring massive costs; then I'd say it's a great decision.

Hope the future goes really well!

[MCC7]

Right, I am going contracting. Thanks for the advice everyone. Im unsure whether contracting is the long term goal.....whatever will be will be.

[contractoralan]

Contracting when young has its advantages. You can be flexible on location, get a varied experience and will be less stressed between contracts. If you are financially prudent, you can also build up a decent sized deposit for a mortgage. When you want to start a family and want some extra securiy, you can try permidom. At that stage it will be easy to explain to the employer why you want to go permie.

In the current situation, I do not have an idea of the legal position. But if you decide to go permanent, you can always give a notice(4 weeks usually) on day 1, which is within your rights. It is better to explain to the agency your intention of going permanent. They may 'threaten' legal action etc, but if you are strong in your stance, they will give in.

Good luck with whatever you do.

[kingmob]

Not sure fully what you are saying here? The last line is suggesting that I do it now as I may not get a chance further down the line at which time I will need the security?

Now my gut is saying go for the contract.....crazy

I'd say take the contract - unless you can be sure that when you want to leave the permie then that will be hassle free. Unless they really will provide training and all the rest? (which some companies do)

Take more money, save it and take the courses at your leisure

[MCC7]

hmmm - not sure either way but I do totally disagree with the assertion that Contracting makes permanant roles more difficult to get. I've done both and when you go for a permie interview and they see a bunch of short term roles you have to explain them and tell them why you've applied for a permie and why you would like to stay with them.

But being a permie and going contracting means getting out of the permie in the first place. Unless you have a client who is happy to wait around for your notice period. Fortunately my employer allowed Secondments and the client was a major software company which the experience would have helped me develop in my role - not that I ever went back!

Fast forward to 27/30 with a mortgage and a kid on the way and you may never go contracting?

Not sure fully what you are saying here? The last line is suggesting that I do it now as I may not get a chance further down the line at which time I will need the security?

Now my gut is saying go for the contract.....crazy

[kingmob]

For me this is a no brainer.


The grounding you will get from going perm in this case will set you up for the future. You can always choose to go contracting later. Contracting first makes it much more difficult to go the other way.

Take the perm role.

hmmm - not sure either way but I do totally disagree with the assertion that Contracting makes permanant roles more difficult to get. I've done both and when you go for a permie interview and they see a bunch of short term roles you have to explain them and tell them why you've applied for a permie and why you would like to stay with them.

But being a permie and going contracting means getting out of the permie in the first place. Unless you have a client who is happy to wait around for your notice period. Fortunately my employer allowed Secondments and the client was a major software company which the experience would have helped me develop in my role - not that I ever went back!

Fast forward to 27/30 with a mortgage and a kid on the way and you may never go contracting?

[Scrag Meister]

Yep well both offers are definitely on the table now and I am having a stressful Sunday evening deciding which to take.

Right now...at 25 (I think my age is relevant here)

1) 40k for a senior BA role in a relatively small (but incredibly successful) financial services company (180 employees, so high visibility), Agile training, completion of my ISEB diploma. Would mean settling for a couple of years I would imagine.

2) £300 a day, 3 month contract, for a massive financial services company. No training/development etc but keeps options open

Both are local so not an issue. Gut feeling is saying perm role....

I think you have already decided. If you are looking long term then go the perm route and contract later, but then again over a year contracting you'd gross 32k more than the perm role and that would easiliy cover some training.

GL.

[MCC7]

Yep well both offers are definitely on the table now and I am having a stressful Sunday evening deciding which to take.

Right now...at 25 (I think my age is relevant here)

1) 40k for a senior BA role in a relatively small (but incredibly successful) financial services company (180 employees, so high visibility), Agile training, completion of my ISEB diploma. Would mean settling for a couple of years I would imagine.

2) £300 a day, 3 month contract, for a massive financial services company. No training/development etc but keeps options open

Both are local so not an issue. Gut feeling is saying perm role....

[Sockpuppet]

Nice to see the younger end looking at careers long term rather than just $ signs at the monthly rates.

Pah. Follow the $$$$ signs they're never wrong!

[Jeremiah]

Be careful about that.

If the agent happened to have recorded it then there is nothing stopping them taking you to court to enforce the contract as in England and Wales verbal contracts can be enforced.

This is unlikely unless the money involved was a good wack.

Does this not depend on the extent of the verbal agreement though? As in, whether or not all terms and conditions - notice period, right to substitution etc - were verbally agreed?

Curious to know the point of law here as the link appearing below seems to suggest that unless a verbal agreement can be considered to be 'complete' then it is merely an agreement 'in principle' and this would not be legally enforceable.

The Law & Verbal Agreements - Contracts And Agreements

[MCC7]

Be careful about that.

If the agent happened to have recorded it then there is nothing stopping them taking you to court to enforce the contract as in England and Wales verbal contracts can be enforced.

This is unlikely unless the money involved was a good wack.

Oh SueAllen why do you have to get all serious on me!

[SueEllen]

A verbal agreement isn't worth the paper it is written on.

Be careful about that.

If the agent happened to have recorded it then there is nothing stopping them taking you to court to enforce the contract as in England and Wales verbal contracts can be enforced.

This is unlikely unless the money involved was a good wack.

[eek]

As an aside speak to the agency if you are planning to take the perm offer.

It may well be that you can convert that contract role into an even better perm offer (this doesn't apply in most places but as I know where you are off to it may well be the case).

[MarillionFan]

For me this is a no brainer.

£300 is better money. £40k to get a solid grounding as a BA in a finance organization with everything a perm career entails.

The grounding you will get from going perm in this case will set you up for the future. You can always choose to go contracting later. Contracting first makes it much more difficult to go the other way.

Take the perm role.

[northernladuk]

40k at 25 isn't to be sniffed at. If you are also planning on using this perm time to upskill and come out looking at £400+ jobs in a few years it is a very good and sensible investment indeed.

Nice to see the younger end looking at careers long term rather than just $ signs at the monthly rates.