Reply to: Thinking about handing my badge

[Old Greg]

Cheers. Yes, it provides a good quality of life on the research side. Just not so sure lecturers get the same lack of corp bs.

But HTF can I even apply if all they will possibly offer is £30K.

Then again if it was all about the money I could've become an agent.

They might offer more. Apply and find out and it could be the best thing you ever did. Check out the institution's financial position. Some unis are in absolute crisis.

[conned tractor]

No, she's an academic cognitive neuroscientist. It's easy to look at it and think that we live in a mad society where Estate Agents get paid more, but she went into this knowing it. She has a fantastic amount of freedom in research, with little corporate crap.

Cheers. Yes, it provides a good quality of life on the research side. Just not so sure lecturers get the same lack of corp bs.

But HTF can I even apply if all they will possibly offer is £30K.

Then again if it was all about the money I could've become an agent.

[conned tractor]

It's all about quality of life. As a contractor you can earn more and that gives you a certain quality of life... Working close to home lets you spend more time with loved ones and that gives you a certain quality of life. Unless you can get a gig working close to home you need to balance these against each other and make the decision that is right for you.

Personally I only take gigs which are commutable from home. If there aren't any around then I would look for a permie job. My personal life is far more important to me than my income level - although given the chance to have both I gladly take it!

The contracting jobs near my home are paying lousy rates, a lot of agents advertising roles circa £21 p/h, which is certainly not waht i'm earning in my current contract.

Normal perm jobs are not high on the list, but this one came along and it ticks a lot of boxes in terms of quality of life.

[Old Greg]

That's not good. I have several less years experience and could do with at least more than the bottom end of the scale. Did she have any industry experience, if you don't mind me asking.

No, she's an academic cognitive neuroscientist. It's easy to look at it and think that we live in a mad society where Estate Agents get paid more, but she went into this knowing it. She has a fantastic amount of freedom in research, with little corporate crap.

[Zippy]

That's not good. I have several less years experience and could do with at least more than the bottom end of the scale. Did she have any industry experience, if you don't mind me asking.

I think the public sector works like that. When working on a contract in the NHS they wanted to recruit a permie and advertised at (something like) £30-£35k. Guess what the successful applicant got? On enquiring why he was told "because of no NHS experience" etc. etc

[conned tractor]

I'm feeling like I want a permie job too. Must be something in the air!

Have been contracting for almost 10 years now... saved enough, paid off major debts and have put investments in place to hopefully generate enough residual income so that I don't have to worry about the bills too much.

I'm just very very tired right now!

Chin up buddy.

To be honest, I feel like becoming a doley. Very tired also. Why bother when so many others get to sit on their fat arse and do f' all and get enough to live on whilst i'm busting a gut driving half the country twice a week to earn a decent, but not exactly extravagant, wage.

[lje]

It's all about quality of life. As a contractor you can earn more and that gives you a certain quality of life... Working close to home lets you spend more time with loved ones and that gives you a certain quality of life. Unless you can get a gig working close to home you need to balance these against each other and make the decision that is right for you.

Personally I only take gigs which are commutable from home. If there aren't any around then I would look for a permie job. My personal life is far more important to me than my income level - although given the chance to have both I gladly take it!

[conned tractor]

Mrs OG is a University Lecturer with a PhD and 7 years post-PhD research and some lecturing experience. I think she started pretty near the bottom of the scale. You don't do it for the money.

That's not good. I have several less years experience and could do with at least more than the bottom end of the scale. Did she have any industry experience, if you don't mind me asking.

[conned tractor]

feck's sake,

been a contractor for two years

the engine's not even run in yet


well, us oldies are sorted if the newbies are giving up after a couple of years

more of it I say

Milan.

Almost three i'll have you know.

[ChimpMaster]

I'm feeling like I want a permie job too. Must be something in the air!

Have been contracting for almost 10 years now... saved enough, paid off major debts and have put investments in place to hopefully generate enough residual income so that I don't have to worry about the bills too much.

I'm just very very tired right now!

[kaiser78]

Been offered my current contract role on a permie basis a couple of times now - very good package as well. But have turned it down - contracting lifestyle is for I me thinks...

[milanbenes]

seconded


Milan.

[SimonMac]

Its a no brainer, do what you think is right for your family.

I am under no illusions that I will contract long term, the kids are still young enough for me not to be missed during the week, they are happy with phone calls/skype etc.

When it comes to the time I might start missing big events in their life, school plays, sports days etc I hope I would have built up enough of a nest egg to be debt free and pay off a large chunk of my mortgage if not all and "settle down" into permiedom.

Work to live, not live to work!

[Old Greg]

Academic qualifications also come into it, I believe. Enough good ones can overcome at least some of the yearly increments.

Mrs OG is a University Lecturer with a PhD and 7 years post-PhD research and some lecturing experience. I think she started pretty near the bottom of the scale. You don't do it for the money.

[Sysman]

Can you live on £30k a year? I can safely say you ain't going to get to the higher end as that upper limit will be based on yearly increments.

Academic qualifications also come into it, I believe. Enough good ones can overcome at least some of the yearly increments.