Software developer contractor

randomshenans said:
So I thought I'd knock this is here rather than another thread.

I'm on contract at the moment, I like it. I've been here since Oct '11, so coming up 18months now. We have some interesting stuff coming up, such as our SharePoint 2013 project, but you can get samey, you try and make a change and get nowhere, often and I don't think my team is run well, at all. I'm trying to change that though.

This week I was called about another contract, until the end of the year (what my current contract is anyway) only about a mile further down the road in Basel for an Architect position, another pharma company and they're very keen.

Now, the money in the other role is good (880CHF a day, plus 4 weeks paid holiday, which I don't get now!) and the position is nice. They have a business case, know what they're hoping to achieve and have a greenfield installation they want. Bonus. On the flipside though, I get some great benefits here (phone paid for, flexible working, travel about all paid, laptops, tablets etc etc.) as well as I currently have a great agent as well, who I'd lose.

I'm torn at the moment on what to do, but I think I'll see if they're interested and then use that to try and barter with my current employer and agent. We have just lost 2 members of our small team, and I'm the nuts (2 awards since I've been here, takes a bow) and the agent won't want to lose me either, as he'll lose his cut.
I don't just want to ask for more money though, that's the easy part, I want to ask for more in my role, so I get more out of it, but obviously I can't go nuts with this.

I'd like them to allow me more time to do my PMP studies and them to pay for my exam (it's only 500EUR but still) and I would like to ask them for more strategic focus in the job, defining what we're doing and why in the bigger picture. When I write this though, it sounds much like I want my managers job haha and so how to phrase it when bringing it up is a toughie, especially as a contractor!
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So you are mid contract with ClientA. What does your contract say about a notice period? not sure on the IR35 equivilent over there but expecting your client to pay for your exam? - that would be a no-no over here on those grounds.

If your contract allows you to quit mid contract then I'd check out Client B - evaluate both side and either stay or leave. I wouldn't expect you will be able to change your contract details mid contract - you arent a permie....
 
It's quite different over here. I can expense the exam and they'll pay for it as an expense, just like all my flights and other stuff related to the job. I pay my taxes in France, work in Switzerland, so it's a different kettle of fish. I have a 10day notice period, for me to give them or them to give me. I'm going to pop along to the other place I think, see if the grass is greener.
 
jimjamuk said:
Whats that got to do with job security? Its not a job is a contract between two companies but in essence you wouldn't do this much more than a few days mid contract or as an option when you want to leave early. Either way the client normally has to approve the substitute if its an onsite gig.
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You tell a client mid contract that you're substituting and they're almost certaintly going to let you go unless you have a real good relationship with them. You'd be better off just taking the time off if it was only a few days. Too right too, what good is subbing in a software dev mid contract for a few days?

Similarly, my contracts should give me leave to work your own hours and from your own location (unless theres a good reason otherwise) but again, clients tend to have expectations that'll you need to follow or they'll just let you go, regardless of what the contract says.
 
Bad news. Was going to start my contract role this friday and i got a call from the agent stating how the client has canceled it due to the project being canned.

this is shocking news. i am gutted, angry and upset as i have waited a few weeks to start.

Missus aint happy either.

Thinking of just finding a perm role and forget about this contract. feel really ****ed. i've gone nearly 3 weeks without a job. cant stay out of job for too long.

sad this is. destroyed my day
 
Bad news dude. This is the downside of contracting its just a shame it's happened at the start. Personally I'm perm ATM as I've just bought a house and the security is worth more than the extra money every month at this point in time. Hope you find something soon and don't let it get you down too much.
 
Yup it's a crap thing to happen :(

One of the risks of contracting sadly, chin up though and get cracking to get the next role.
 
Yes it could well happen in a perm role, but really not as likely.

It's one of the risks as said, that's why you get the £££ when it does work.

Higher risk, higher reward.

I've done it before and prefer perm work at the moment as it suits me much better lifestyle wise.

If you just want a job now then apply for anything, perm or contract, and see what happens.

I'd have thought there was quite a bit of development work out there.
 
Hello all. After my first contract got canned at the last minute, i was very dissapointed and sad for a while. i almost gave up with fustrations but finally this week i managed to get another offer for a super large company!

I signed contract and start next week!Only had interview on wednesday and got offered the job a few hours later!

I also had a tele interview for another place and they also offered me too but because i already signed contract with the other place i did not pursue although the recruiter tried to call me like 10 times last night!

i don't wanna get a bad rep by tearing down this contract i signed for the other which offers a bit more and more lengthy contract. Also, the other company is a direct competitor to the previous place i worked and cant join a competitor for 12months.
 
Well done, stick with it and as you have found it has its risks so it is very important to build a war chest so you can sit out the lean times should there ever be one. If not you have a decent amount stashed away.
 
Well done - Once you've got your first contract under your belt being between contracts will be far less of an issue. I use the opportunity to put my feet up or take a holiday :p

You need to be prepared to be flexible though and possibly follow the work. How long is the contract for? Remember, if the project direction changes or backs out completely they can terminate your contract at the drop of a hat.

Nice work for getting into a big company though, they usually always have projects kicking off and might end up just shifting you around when your assignment ends.

Did you end up setting up your own company? I just let an umbrella do it all for me (CXC), they take 6% weekly but save me heaps on tax etc.
 
AmDaMan said:
Did you end up setting up your own company? I just let an umbrella do it all for me (CXC), they take 6% weekly but save me heaps on tax etc.
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Do you put a lot on expenses? Otherwise where is the tax benefit?

I recently had a couple of meetings with a university researcher about improving some software they have to automate a novel detection/prediction algorithm, but haven't heard anything since my cohort sent them the proposal maybe a month ago. Shame really, as it was pretty interesting.
 
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*equivalent rate of tax

Yeah there's a fair amount of expenses, I'm also contracting out of the UK so there's an equivalent of LAFHA involved.
 
AmDaMan said:
Well done - Once you've got your first contract under your belt being between contracts will be far less of an issue. I use the opportunity to put my feet up or take a holiday :p

You need to be prepared to be flexible though and possibly follow the work. How long is the contract for? Remember, if the project direction changes or backs out completely they can terminate your contract at the drop of a hat.

Nice work for getting into a big company though, they usually always have projects kicking off and might end up just shifting you around when your assignment ends.

Did you end up setting up your own company? I just let an umbrella do it all for me (CXC), they take 6% weekly but save me heaps on tax etc.
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contract is for 2months with view of extension. Yea i set up my own LTD :)
 
Well done man. Must have been so tempting to apply like mad to perms, but once you're in it's a better place to be. :D Contract positions can move so quickly too! Unless I was in a position currently, I'd never agree to a 3 week wait. Turnaround in a couple of weeks max is what I'd expect normally!
 
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