Monday start of another without contract ....

[nicofars]

Because you only work 8 months of the year?

Because you don't have a boss telling you what to do?

Because you like the variety that a permanent job wouldn't give you?

Thanks for reminding me.
My main reasons is to NOT have all the internal politics b**llsh*t, 360 rounds and brown-nozing to manager so that you can get your £200 bonus.
At least as contractors we see it, but I can "pretend" that I care when I obviously only care to which gadget am getting next (exageration .. or is it;-)

[SteelyDan]

If you can easily get gigs locally it's still worth contracting, but if not I think these days you're better off with a permie job.

The positive side is that you have several months off between contracts, but if that means you have to travel 200 miles to get a gig for the other nine months of the year, I don't really feel that it compensates.

Yep, as I get older, this is starting to resonate.

[curtis]

But question is: - what's the point of being contractor and making sh** lots more than perm when we actually.. make the same as them, if we have - like 4 months Benchtime in a year

Because for that same amount of money a permie has worked 12 months you have worked 8 so had more time to actually have a bit more of a life. Unless your the sort that stresses a lot on benched time or has a very low war chest.

Obviously money is a big draw to contracting and for some its the main and only thing but like a few others have said there are so many other positives like no reviews, less politics, knowing you have that escape, variation of work, people etc. Now especially as I get older now I also realise there is more to life than money.

[jmo21]

I don't miss arsing about with IR35 and invoicing a bit

Are these things that much hassle?

Invoicing is a piece of cake, create a document, send it (or currently for me, even easier, it's self invoicing using the agents portal)

IR35 - get my contracts reviewed, keep an eye on my working practices.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Not sure what is happening, I have had lots of pimps calling me 2 weeks ago and telling me interview to happen Monday after, then when I chased them last week the lead went dead or client takes time to delay, we all know that... sometimes it can take weeks.
But last week and apparently today (ok, it's 11:30am yet but am not very confident if pimp don't call me at 9 like they do on a good day) may be another dead day for me and therefore no contract this week still.

I am a SharePoint specialist and know my technology pretty well including latest so I don't know what is happening.
I hear from recruiters that "most SharePoint guys are contractors" when they try to get me names of other good guys, so why not me ...!
OK, yes I know I have refused a few gig because outside London, true ... ! For now I just want to understand why there are thousands of companies in London and I would have to go in Durham or the like .. ;-)

BTW: I read in the forum some worse case than me, so I am not just crying loud since I am still ok for a while using my previous gig income from my Ltd co but actually .. it's good to let it out !
thanks for reading, have a good day/week and be happy you have a gig even when you are bored in it !

Enjoy the break dude. I am looking forwards to my next bench period, once work is started you will be wishing you made better use of your free time. You only live once YOLO

[psychocandy]

Enjoy the break dude. I am looking forwards to my next bench period, once work is started you will be wishing you made better use of your free time. You only live once YOLO

LOL. Warchest allowing of course. If you're absolutely minted then its not a problem.

Personally, with a modest warchest it stresses me to see it being eaten away.

One thing - if you want a break why not just take one now?

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

LOL. Warchest allowing of course. If you're absolutely minted then its not a problem.

Personally, with a modest warchest it stresses me to see it being eaten away.

One thing - if you want a break why not just take one now?

Trying to build up the warchest after being stung by student loans company...... They took over 2 months of my warchest. I am happy at around 8-9 months warchest, currently back down to around 5 monthish. Once I am back up to 9 I will take a nice break again.

[riffpie]

Not sure what is happening, I have had lots of pimps calling me 2 weeks ago and telling me interview to happen Monday after, then when I chased them last week the lead went dead or client takes time to delay, we all know that... sometimes it can take weeks.
But last week and apparently today (ok, it's 11:30am yet but am not very confident if pimp don't call me at 9 like they do on a good day) may be another dead day for me and therefore no contract this week still.

I am a SharePoint specialist and know my technology pretty well including latest so I don't know what is happening.
I hear from recruiters that "most SharePoint guys are contractors" when they try to get me names of other good guys, so why not me ...!
OK, yes I know I have refused a few gig because outside London, true ... ! For now I just want to understand why there are thousands of companies in London and I would have to go in Durham or the like .. ;-)

BTW: I read in the forum some worse case than me, so I am not just crying loud since I am still ok for a while using my previous gig income from my Ltd co but actually .. it's good to let it out !
thanks for reading, have a good day/week and be happy you have a gig even when you are bored in it !

I was ostensibly "benched" for 4 months last year. What actually happened was, I didn't renew in June, and actually had a summer holiday like when we were at school. Except for longer. Didn't bother applying for anything, told pimps I wasn't available until autumn, did a lot of travelling around. Loved it. Enjoy the time off, providing you have the war chest to get through it. Shame it's during such cruddy weather though.

[VectraMan]

Are these things that much hassle?

Invoicing is a piece of cake, create a document, send it (or currently for me, even easier, it's self invoicing using the agents portal)

IR35 - get my contracts reviewed, keep an eye on my working practices.

That's up to you, but it's still easier to have money turn up in your account every month without having to do a thing.

[nicofars]

That's up to you, but it's still easier to have money turn up in your account every month without having to do a thing.

lazy git ;-) lol ...