I get better work as a contractor than I did as a permie, what do others think?

[Fred Bloggs]

Thanks for the thoughts, generally my experience is reflected above. Though I do have to sometimes remind the "management" that I'm not one of their staff if I've been somewhere more than a few months. Point taken about IR35 fodder.

[NotAllThere]

... I generally try to do something of value to the client during these phases, there are times when I get good rates for doing very little, as my post count in TPD demonstrates

IR35 fodder

When I have little work to do, I take a few days off, or work for another client. Keeps the interest going.

[NickFitz]

I find that the work I get is more interesting, in that I don't usually have to do much maintenance - obviously, the corrollary of this is that I try to ensure that my code is easily maintainable for those who come after.

So if, to take an actual example, I end up working round one of the limitations of XSLT 1.0 by an exceptionally exotic technique that owes a lot to FORTH programming techniques (and which took me a couple of days to dream up), I document it in depth, in a comment, right there in the code, and explain how it could be done more efficiently using XSLT 2.0, in case they ever upgrade.

Actually I've often found that, although I get the interesting work, I get less of it per unit of time - it's not unusual for me to be taken on, and for the project to then suffer delays from other parts of the organisation. I'm usually kept on with repeated extensions, because they don't want to lose me. Although I generally try to do something of value to the client during these phases, there are times when I get good rates for doing very little, as my post count in TPD demonstrates

[TykeMerc]

it's far more interesting being a contractor
do you think the longer you are at a site the longer you can potentially stay there because you know the people and systems so much better than a fresh contractor from outside?

I agree that I find life as a Contractor more interesting, but I abandoned the perm workplace 17 years ago.
In my experience the answer to your question is an emphatic yes as I've had many renewals.

[contractor79]

it's far more interesting being a contractor
do you think the longer you are at a site the longer you can potentially stay there because you know the people and systems so much better than a fresh contractor from outside?

[NotAllThere]

As a SAP developer, the only way up as a permie was management. Did that for a few years, even a spot of senior management. Enjoyed the power and the team building, motivational side, but got sick of politics (dealing with no-nothing dumbos), went back to programming as a contractor. More money, no stress, more holiday. And the work's interesting, what I really enjoy doing and what I feel I'm very very good at. And I've had the opportunity to gain new skills on client time. And, finally, for the last 2.5 years I've been working within 30 minutes of home.

[Fred Bloggs]

Thanks for those thoughts. I'm in Engineering. My CEng and MIMechE (got them the hard "non degree" way) has proven very valuable as a contractor. I have found I often get the jobs that the permie guys find a bit risky or a bit off the wall out of the ordinary.

[Cyberman]

Can't say my work is any worse, but can't say it's much better (apart from getting nearly 3x the cash).

My work in the vast majority of cases was far more interesting as a permie. I just happen to put freedom, flexibility and money above the interest in the work. It's a trade-off.

[bellymonster]

Can't say my work is any worse, but can't say it's much better (apart from getting nearly 3x the cash).

[lilelvis2000]

Having a long relationship with a client can usually lead to working of varied projects within thier organisation. At least that's what's happened to me.

I've had to change the relationship to avoid IR35.

Now I'm learning ASP.net for a demo next week to a potential new client.

[TykeMerc]

It's the benefit of experience. To a client you're more suitable now for the challenging and interesting work because you have a track record.

Educational qualifications become less and less important the more real experience you have, they're really only a tie breaker in the event of two closely matched candidates.
Professional qualifications can make a difference, it depends how common they are though, for instance a decade+ ago MCSE counted for a lot, but these days there are so many MCSE's available it's become hugely devalued, Prince2 Practitioner is heading that way a bit too.

[Spacecadet]

as a contractor my interesting bits are as interesting as the most interesting times as a permie.

The difference is between how often I get to work on new stuff. As a permie so much time is spent getting bored supporting the same old crap.

As a contractor you generally leave before boredom sets in. Then you get to do everything again learning from the past and introducing any new concepts which might make liofe easier.

[Fred Bloggs]

Generally, I get far better, more interesting work being on the dark side than I ever got offered as a permie. I think that it's because I lack some of the paper qualifications needed nowadays but I'm older and carry a lot of experience and that's what most clients seem to want from me. Only once have I been black balled because I didn't have a degree.