Classic agent quote!

[Mustang]

Open to both permie work and contracting (need to feed the family after all!) Imagine the words from my lips when I got the following response from an agent.......

"the role I am currently recruiting for is with a client that is fussy about career path and therefore your recent freelance work would mean I couldn’t put you forward."



I wrote back and said that was discrimination..........no reply as yet!!

[RichardCranium]

Is that fthe first time you have come across that? Trust me, it will not be the last. And it is not a form of discrimination you can do anything about.

Many employers will not consider contractors for permie roles.

I have been applying for permie roles on and off for ten years and the norm is rejection because "You've been contracting".

You see, you're a dodgy contractor now and not to be trusted not to clear off to another client for an extra £50 a year.


You need to big up how you see contracts through to the end, that you have never walked, and some appropriately plausible story as to why you will just die if you don't get into permie work.

[Jeebo72]

It's pretty valid, there's plenty of permie jobs out there, that they don't want filled by "ex" contractors, because they (rightly) fear that as soon as the market picks up they'll be off. And let's face it, you prob would...

[Jeebo72]

You need to big up how you see contracts through to the end, that you have never walked, and some appropriately plausible story as to why you will just die if you don't get into permie work.

Usually "starting a family and need stability" etc etc is quite good.

[DimPrawn]

You are the career equivalent of a crack whore.

Stick to giving clients a quick blow for £20.

[RichardCranium]

Usually "starting a family and need stability" etc etc is quite good.

Really?

"So, you want to be a permie here so you can claim paternity leave? You cheeky sod. Get back to your dodgy contracting."

I would not have expected "Starting a family" to work for men these days, just as it has always been the wrong thing for women to say.

[Mich the Tester]

Do something else, for yourself. I'm a qualified personal fitness trainer; it gives me another option, and if next week's interview doesn't turn out positive, I'm going to do it. I'll do it anyway, it would just be nice to have a bit more money first.

Look around and think of what you can do as a self employed person. Really I think that even buying a chip van and driving around council estates is probably better than permiedom.

[gingerjedi]

You need to lie on your CV, stretch dates and turn old contracts into perm roles.

Your recent contracts could be seen as proactive in a tough market whilst you've been looking for another job.

I've been too honest all my life and it's got me nowhere, time to live up to image they already have of contractors.

[Jeebo72]

Really?

"So, you want to be a permie here so you can claim paternity leave? You cheeky sod. Get back to your dodgy contracting."

I would not have expected "Starting a family" to work for men these days, just as it has always been the wrong thing for women to say.

Paternity is a week. You have a nice little lady sitting at home playing wifee while you earn the crust as the only bread winner. IE you'll work your nuts of for your family. A lot of businesses like this...

[RichardCranium]

Paternity is a week.

Two weeks, apparently. Anyway, sorry, my mistake, for some reason I was under the impression paternity leave had been upped to six months.

Link proving myself wrong:

Paternity Leave & Pay

The right to paid paternity leave under the Employment Act 2002 is in addition to the 13 unpaid weeks' parental leave entitlement. The entitlement is two weeks paid leave. The leave is paid at the same rate as Statutory Maternity Pay, £123.06 per week (or 90% of the employees average weekly earnings if this is less). An employer is entitled to reclaim Paternity Pay from the government.