Dilema ditch contracting and go perm.
Discussion
My dilemma is this for last 4 years I have been working as a contractor in civil / structural engineering consultancies. The last 18 months have been very hard to keep my head above the water I have been doing planning and building regulations application for house extensions.
A couple of weeks ago an old employer contacted me with a 9 month contract great, vast reduced rates but all good in this climate.
I had also applied for a permanent job and have just received the offer. Delighted that the offer has been made to me with all the applications they received, but the salary is low less than I was earning 10 years ago.
Permanent jobs in construction are like rocking horse s
t at the moment do I gladly except for the security (mortgage, 3 kids etc).
Stick with my current contract and hope the new year brings an up turn in work, if the climate does improve my contract would get extended I do enjoy the company where I'm currently working.
20 min drive over nice fast A road opposed to 50mins bumper to bumper on the M62.
If I except the perm position I want to stick it out don't just want to go there until something better turns up.
I have the weekend to mull it over.
A couple of weeks ago an old employer contacted me with a 9 month contract great, vast reduced rates but all good in this climate.
I had also applied for a permanent job and have just received the offer. Delighted that the offer has been made to me with all the applications they received, but the salary is low less than I was earning 10 years ago.
Permanent jobs in construction are like rocking horse s
t at the moment do I gladly except for the security (mortgage, 3 kids etc).Stick with my current contract and hope the new year brings an up turn in work, if the climate does improve my contract would get extended I do enjoy the company where I'm currently working.
20 min drive over nice fast A road opposed to 50mins bumper to bumper on the M62.
If I except the perm position I want to stick it out don't just want to go there until something better turns up.
I have the weekend to mull it over.
Edited by Si 330 on Saturday 8th May 17:08
It's a tough one.
I work for an M&E Engineering Consultancy and am permenant.
Whilst it has been tough we have remained busy throughout, but we have lost out on payrises this year and our bonuses for the last 2. You might say that's nothing in this climate but for me as an associate my bonuses is usually 15% of salary!
Meanwhile we have had contract staff working for us during the last 2 years, one guy was let go earlier this year, but tbh it was more to do with him not delivering than not having the work for him. Meanwhile he's had a good run at it and probably earned 1.5times what I have with a lot less responsibility!
What I'm trying to say is, while there are definitely less contract roles around, you have to consider that even with short periods of no work you will probably still earn more than perm, and perm roles are not safe anymore or subject to pay freezes/cuts etc...
It is still a hard decision to make though, and depends much on your personal situation - I am mortgaged up etc so need the regularity of perm (for now), but believe me your job and income is not necessarily all that secure in this situation either.
The wife also works for a M&E consultancy and has been put down to 3 days with no sign of the other 2 days coming back anytime soon.
I work for an M&E Engineering Consultancy and am permenant.
Whilst it has been tough we have remained busy throughout, but we have lost out on payrises this year and our bonuses for the last 2. You might say that's nothing in this climate but for me as an associate my bonuses is usually 15% of salary!
Meanwhile we have had contract staff working for us during the last 2 years, one guy was let go earlier this year, but tbh it was more to do with him not delivering than not having the work for him. Meanwhile he's had a good run at it and probably earned 1.5times what I have with a lot less responsibility!
What I'm trying to say is, while there are definitely less contract roles around, you have to consider that even with short periods of no work you will probably still earn more than perm, and perm roles are not safe anymore or subject to pay freezes/cuts etc...
It is still a hard decision to make though, and depends much on your personal situation - I am mortgaged up etc so need the regularity of perm (for now), but believe me your job and income is not necessarily all that secure in this situation either.
The wife also works for a M&E consultancy and has been put down to 3 days with no sign of the other 2 days coming back anytime soon.
The whole mindset of contracting is to go where the money is.
After a few fruitful years, I found myself in the same position as you last summer. Could barely get a couple of days a month for over six months.
A perm job came along. Good on the salary stakes, but barely a third of my previous day rate.
But it was 'where the money was', because ther was no money for me, at that time, contracting.
It keeps the experience going and your CV topped up. And I've even learned a couple of new things!
It won't be forever. The phone has started ringing again these last couple of months, so who knows where next....?
After a few fruitful years, I found myself in the same position as you last summer. Could barely get a couple of days a month for over six months.
A perm job came along. Good on the salary stakes, but barely a third of my previous day rate.
But it was 'where the money was', because ther was no money for me, at that time, contracting.
It keeps the experience going and your CV topped up. And I've even learned a couple of new things!
It won't be forever. The phone has started ringing again these last couple of months, so who knows where next....?
Contracting in the Structural/Civil, has been through some tough times in the last 18 months, but i have noticed over the last couple of months, ive been getting more emails from agencies, so looks like things are starting to pick up. Ive been lucky and got into one of those gold dust perminent contracts at a mine of all places(3 of us there, 1 for 20 years, 1 15 years, and im comin up on 2 years) Look hard enough and keep tryiing and the work and money is out there
Take the contract.
What makes you think the permie job is any more secure and you wont be given a crap redundancy package in a few months?
I am saying this as a 15yr staffie MEP designer and now PM with one of the worlds largest consultants.
I could easily have been made redundant in the last 2 years and would only have taken 3 months redundancy and 3 months pay in lieu of notice.
I juts paid off one of contract guys in Ab Dhabs and his demob pckg after 18 months was worth more than that.
What makes you think the permie job is any more secure and you wont be given a crap redundancy package in a few months?
I am saying this as a 15yr staffie MEP designer and now PM with one of the worlds largest consultants.
I could easily have been made redundant in the last 2 years and would only have taken 3 months redundancy and 3 months pay in lieu of notice.
I juts paid off one of contract guys in Ab Dhabs and his demob pckg after 18 months was worth more than that.
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