Reply to: Need advice to switch from Perm to Contract

[KRoy]

IMO you seem to worry about only one side of the coin.

Unless I am missing something, you have not told us anything about your background. Have you considered following -

1) Have you investigated contract opportunities in your subject area?
2) Do you feel you have necessary experience and qualification in your domain?
3) Also not sure how long have you been here. When you work as permie, you enjoy certain protection say from a hard customer. Remember when you are in contracting you will be on your own. So you should have necessary soft skills to manage the customer.

Valid point roadsidetree:
I am a Java Tech Lead / Project Manager with Prince 2 certification when I see job openings on sites like jobserve etc I see a lot of good contract options. I tried applying for some but never got any response from any agent. I don't know the reason, may be I need to change my resume and make it more attractive OR may be I lack the skills they are looking for OR may be as my profile says 2 months of notice.

Secondly I am working for my current organization for past 8 and 1/2 years out of which I had spent 4 years in India, 4 years in USA and now in UK from past 6 months.
From past 4 and 1/2 years I am in client facing roles where I interact with them on day-to-day basis supporting requirement gathering to delivery aspects of modules.

[roadsidetree]

IMO you seem to worry about only one side of the coin.

Unless I am missing something, you have not told us anything about your background. Have you considered following -

1) Have you investigated contract opportunities in your subject area?
2) Do you feel you have necessary experience and qualification in your domain?
3) Also not sure how long have you been here. When you work as permie, you enjoy certain protection say from a hard customer. Remember when you are in contracting you will be on your own. So you should have necessary soft skills to manage the customer.

[KRoy]

If you don't know what to do and have been offered a new placement you might enjoy then stick it out and see. Might be the best role ever.

Thanks, but my major disappointment with the organization is not the role its the salary and pay-scale which will not change with the new role.

[northernladuk]

If you don't know what to do and have been offered a new placement you might enjoy then stick it out and see. Might be the best role ever.

[KRoy]

OR
Continue as I am and if I get a good contract and if my employer is not ready to release me then abscond?
Risk: No releaving letter / no experience letter/ no option to join this organization back in future / Dont know if any legal impacts

[KRoy]

Hi,
Thanks a lot for your advice.
First of all I would like to clarify that Tier 1 is atually the HSMP visa and I am allowed to work for any employer. My Visa is valid till 2013

However today morning I got a twist in the situation.
My employer is a giant overseas service based company and currently has several projects running in UK. As from past few months I was showing displeasure to my boss with my current work, he called me today and said that they have found a replacement for me and after 4-5 weeks or so of transition he will take my role and am free to take other suitable role in the project if it works out good for me or other projects in the company if I like. (With this I say that I have a good relation with my boss).

I am more confused now, should I leave this project and be on bench for sometime or should I resign.

[The Spartan]

Sorry, but when the contract market is dead like it is, I dont see why tier 1 applications should even be considered for contract work.

Just my opinion but we need to look to protect our own market at times like these.

And more contractors means more competition with very few roles available

[fullyautomatix]

Sorry, but when the contract market is dead like it is, I dont see why tier 1 applications should even be considered for contract work.

Just my opinion but we need to look to protect our own market at times like these.

I think the Tier 1 visa route is now closed. It was started under Labour as HSMP which then reverted to Tier 1 and then finally closed by Conservatives. The work permit route ( which was a decent visa structure ) allowed a company based in UK to apply for a permit for an overseas employee and the visa came with a restriction that it was only valid for that company. This has led to some companies exploiting the employees but prevented the over seas employees from jumping into whatever role they fancied and what ever rate they wanted.

[cojak]

That's for another thread (in General) BB.

[BolshieBastard]

Sorry, but when the contract market is dead like it is, I dont see why tier 1 applications should even be considered for contract work.

Just my opinion but we need to look to protect our own market at times like these.

[northernladuk]

Resign now. Get to within two weeks of the end of the notice period and then start looking for a new role.

+1 for this. Only decent way to do it.

[fullyautomatix]

I would advise you to resign straight away. Wait till you are into the last week and then tell the agents that you are available immediately. You will get a contract either straight away or maybe a couple of weeks later. Worst case you will sit on the bench for a couple of weeks but at least you have made the transition and planned it properly. Dont start looking for a contract and tell the agents you need two months, its a non starter and the agents will think you are a nutcase.

[MyUserName]

1. Take a risk and resign from my current role and start looking for contracts in my last month of notice hoping to get something good.
Risk: I might not get something before my notice period is over

This is risky but probably what you need, do you have money in the bank to carry yourself for short while? If not then it may not be a good time for you to switch anyway.

2. Tell the agents that I have 3 weeks of notice and if I get a contract then resign and negotiate with to-be and current employer for a date.
Risk: My current employer might not agree to leave me in less than 2 months and to-be employer might not agree to wait for 2 months

This is possible, only you can tell how likely your employer is to let you go.

3. Resign from the company and look for contract and if you dont get anything before the notice period ends then try to take the resignation back
Risk: My employer will not be obliged to take me back.

No way would any sensible employed take you back. You will just do the same thing again in a few months.

4. Take a risk. Resign from current role. Start looking right away for contracts telling that you have 3 weeks of notice. Once you get a job try to negotiate the start date.
Risk: If my employer sticks to 2 months then I would not be able to join the contract and I might not get a new one when my notice actually ends + It might be a bad market reputation.

You may as well do point 1 as this. Although you could look around and keep quiet about your notice period and soak up the interview practice.

[stek]

What does your Visa say?

Visa is Tier 1 Work Permit, previously known as HSMP, OP is free to work for whoever (s)he likes.

[TheFaQQer]

Resign now. Get to within two weeks of the end of the notice period and then start looking for a new role.