Reply to: Would you do a crap contract short-term if needs be?

[Bellona]

I make sure I have walked into town and am sat down by 9 am in a coffee shop with my laptop to do my job search activities.

Good idea - i'll take it with me tomorrow, and try and persevere with that.
Have the discipline not to turn on the tv, but may not have the discipline not to "comfort shop" while i'm out , but i'll leave bank cards at home and just take enough cash for the coffee / stamps.

Thanks OG

[Old Greg]

I know you're right, but sadly but sadly) my new hobbies include spot the answer to the DNA/Lie detector results on the Jeremy Vile show, Lara Croft Guardian of Light and Rayman Legends..........

Xmas cards ( mone and Mum's ) still on the to-do list, so will write them in the morning and make the effort to walk into town (15 mins) to the post office to get them out. Tomorrow, definately. If you see me on here before lunchtime, throw me off

I make sure I have walked into town and am sat down by 9 am in a coffee shop with my laptop to do my job search activities. The TV never goes on. If you don't have the discipline with the telly, remove the critical cable and post it to yourself second class. That may break the habit.

[Bellona]

Get out, don't stay in watching Jeremy Kyle et al, that's enough to depress anyone, find a new hobby (I have become addicted to Chess - Red Hot Pawn ) get to your local gym, do some exercise, anything to get the blood pumping/endorphins kicking in.

qh

I know you're right, but sadly but sadly) my new hobbies include spot the answer to the DNA/Lie detector results on the Jeremy Vile show, Lara Croft Guardian of Light and Rayman Legends..........

Xmas cards ( mone and Mum's ) still on the to-do list, so will write them in the morning and make the effort to walk into town (15 mins) to the post office to get them out. Tomorrow, definately. If you see me on here before lunchtime, throw me off

[quackhandle]

ditto
(Working) Day 71 on the bench.
war chest dwindling - will expire March
Motivation gone
Confidence low

If something short term comes up local ( so no extra expense) I'll take it regardless of rate

Even my to-do list is sitting ignored while I watched daytime telly and trawl forums

Get out, don't stay in watching Jeremy Kyle et al, that's enough to depress anyone, find a new hobby (I have become addicted to Chess - Red Hot Pawn ) get to your local gym, do some exercise, anything to get the blood pumping/endorphins kicking in.

qh

[psychocandy]

ditto
(Working) Day 71 on the bench.
war chest dwindling - will expire March
Motivation gone
Confidence low

If something short term comes up local ( so no extra expense) I'll take it regardless of rate

Even my to-do list is sitting ignored while I watched daytime telly and trawl forums

Same as you mate. After a bit you do lose confidence in yourself.

I was destined for no contract before xmas but this one came up out of the blue. And saying that this past week has been nuts with other stuff coming in and I've had one or two really positive interviews.

[Bellona]

Good luck with it, no point being precious about it, if earning keeps the wolf from the door is better than sitting on the bench hemoraging money on living expenses.

ditto
(Working) Day 71 on the bench.
war chest dwindling - will expire March
Motivation gone
Confidence low

If something short term comes up local ( so no extra expense) I'll take it regardless of rate

Even my to-do list is sitting ignored while I watched daytime telly and trawl forums

[Barley]

Last few contracts have been somewhat in the middle of this range. And yes, the top end of £600 is in london and is a pretty senior unix architect sort of role. £150-£200 roles are mainly windows roles (I also do this) and include places like NHS, local government etc.

Yes, I did save some of the money from the past few years. Not on the bones of my arse just yet but my warchest is being eaten away. Would have liked to have saved a bit more but left permiedom with some credit card debts also so these also had to be paid.

Been on the bench for 3 months pretty much now. Need to get out there and do something. If it turns out to be low paid contract then so be it because:-

1. Its better than nothing.
2. There still experience to be gained.
3. Its local anyway.
4. I can still look for something else.

Good luck with it, no point being precious about it, if earning keeps the wolf from the door is better than sitting on the bench hemoraging money on living expenses.

[quackhandle]

And by God there's some awful gigs out there.

qh

[psychocandy]

Im struggling to understand this? 3x, 4x the rate? Am I correct in the assuming this implies a broad range from say £200 to £800 pd? If so I find it astounding, London £800pd is Lead Architect / Programme Manager money, what particularly astounds me is that people in those roles are considering opportunities for £200pd, it begs the question what did you do with the money when you were earing £400-£800pd (£100k-£200k) annual equivilent that means you are so desperate to take the crap contract and not enjoy a bit of time on the bench with the fruits of your labours?

Last few contracts have been somewhat in the middle of this range. And yes, the top end of £600 is in london and is a pretty senior unix architect sort of role. £150-£200 roles are mainly windows roles (I also do this) and include places like NHS, local government etc.

Yes, I did save some of the money from the past few years. Not on the bones of my arse just yet but my warchest is being eaten away. Would have liked to have saved a bit more but left permiedom with some credit card debts also so these also had to be paid.

Been on the bench for 3 months pretty much now. Need to get out there and do something. If it turns out to be low paid contract then so be it because:-

1. Its better than nothing.
2. There still experience to be gained.
3. Its local anyway.
4. I can still look for something else.

[psychocandy]

I'd guess it's closer to £100 - £400 than £200 - £800.

£150-£600 is closer.

[kal]

I thought this was primarily a problem with government contracts, not the wider public sector. No sign of this in the NHS as far as I can see.

Aren't they cracking down at the Beeb with freelancers as well and forcing them to become permies (read the likes of Paxo etc are working through their own Ltd's and Cleggy had convinced/bribed/blackmailed Dave to do something about it)... I could be wrong

[Old Greg]

+1

I wouldn't go near a public sector contract these days (got a mate at the BBC and one in the NHS), asking for trouble!

I thought this was primarily a problem with government contracts, not the wider public sector. No sign of this in the NHS as far as I can see.

[Barley]

I'd guess it's closer to £100 - £400 than £200 - £800.

Money is money at the end of the day, I can understand the circumstances when contractors will need to swallow the pill, ive come close but the differential is much much narrower in my specialty, low and high being about 30% either side of the average.

[DirtyDog]

Im struggling to understand this? 3x, 4x the rate? Am I correct in the assuming this implies a broad range from say £200 to £800 pd?

I'd guess it's closer to £100 - £400 than £200 - £800.

[Barley]

Well, a crap contract has come through. Crap rate but on the plus side, pretty easy going (its NHS), flexible hours etc, hourly paid so its just 37.5, and some of the experience will be quite good. And one week notice. 45 mins by train, 5 min walk.

Only problem is - sods law strikes. Had two interviews recently which are looking quite good. One is 3x the rate (and although 100 miles from home is 4 days office, 1 day WFH), the other is 4x rate (albeit london not sure about WFH yet).

Im struggling to understand this? 3x, 4x the rate? Am I correct in the assuming this implies a broad range from say £200 to £800 pd? If so I find it astounding, London £800pd is Lead Architect / Programme Manager money, what particularly astounds me is that people in those roles are considering opportunities for £200pd, it begs the question what did you do with the money when you were earing £400-£800pd (£100k-£200k) annual equivilent that means you are so desperate to take the crap contract and not enjoy a bit of time on the bench with the fruits of your labours?