Is there really no security in contracting?

[BlasterBates]

Never forget the story of the permie who openly cheered as some senior manager bank he was working at gave a speech about how they all should be pulling together to get through hard times and was made redundant a week later.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

One is job security, the other is career security... Different things so can't really compare with the permies. Also different outlook to work and expectation of that work so again can't compare. What a permie looks in a secure job is different to what a contractor considers secure...

Pretty flawed observation all round IMO. Time to ditch that client and get a new gig somewhere else so you can see if your observation still holds true or not.

You wanting to take over my role or something? What ever happened to completing the contract?

[MyUserName]

Security means different things to permies and contractors.

To a permie it means that they can stay safely with that company and probably rise up through the ranks eventually.

To a contractor it means having enough money in the bank to pay living expenses for the next, say, 6 months.

I have witnessed contractors staying when permies were chopped but I have also witnessed the other. I have seen the case where they were paid for out of different budgets, at one point we had a different budget for another guy - he was a consultant but not a contractor etc.

He had been there 7 years and was the expert in one of the systems. Budgets got cut and he had to go on the spot, they could not rehire him due to the recruitment freeze - it was quite a blow to the department *shrug*

[deanosity]

Is he a tightarse?

No problems with paying on time and approving expenses if that's what you meant.

I also get to sleep with his missus to.

[Kelstar]

I'm restructuring client co at the moment... says it all.

[northernladuk]

One is job security, the other is career security... Different things so can't really compare with the permies. Also different outlook to work and expectation of that work so again can't compare. What a permie looks in a secure job is different to what a contractor considers secure...

Pretty flawed observation all round IMO. Time to ditch that client and get a new gig somewhere else so you can see if your observation still holds true or not.

[DodgyAgent]

You think that's bad, I have to sleep with my boss!

Is he a tightarse?

[Kelstar]

You think that's bad, I have to sleep with my boss!

[d000hg]

What's the average length a contractor stays with each client? What's the average length of time a permie is employed by each company?

[Robinho]

You can earn as much in 4 months as a permie can get all years. So as long as you always save a warchest there's never an issue.

[deanosity]

Same here however my boss is a slave driver and a tight&rse

You think that's bad, I have to sleep with my boss!

[Support Monkey]

I am very secure, I am certain my LtdCo won't ever fire me

Same here however my boss is a slave driver and a tight&rse

Seriously though i am more secure as a contractor, when my contract ends i am ready i know how to interview i know the questions and answers, permies don't have the same mentality unless their actively looking to move

[SimonMac]

I am very secure, I am certain my LtdCo won't ever fire me

[Moose423956]

The more I work contracts and see contractors around me, the more I realise that security for permies is just a myth...

If you are a contractor with sought after skills, then you tend to be kept on. Permies in cushie jobs are the ones that tend to go first. Not only that but I have found in big organisations that for every permie there is a contractor doing the real work......

Not only that but because you are in a "risky" profession, you will tend to work yourself into a very strong position, ironically

Welcome to the secure way to work - contracting (only if you are any good that is)!

Presumably you don't work at 2e2.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

The more I work contracts and see contractors around me, the more I realise that security for permies is just a myth...

If you are a contractor with sought after skills, then you tend to be kept on. Permies in cushie jobs are the ones that tend to go first. Not only that but I have found in big organisations that for every permie there is a contractor doing the real work......

Not only that but because you are in a "risky" profession, you will tend to work yourself into a very strong position, ironically

Welcome to the secure way to work - contracting (only if you are any good that is)!