3 ms·

I don't know where you live, but I'm guessing you're in the US. I'm 43 as well, been mostly the startup world for 20+ years - similar journey (worked, founded,

by harel 7y ago

I don't know where you live, but I'm guessing you're in the US. I'm 43 as well, been mostly the startup world for 20+ years - similar journey (worked, founded, etc). After my last startup got sold (not at best terms), I also took the time to relax a bit (and ended up rebooting another business and starting another instead). Anyway, after my timeout I got back into contracting. First of all, I've never encountered ageism and my experience was always appreciated. It could be to do with my attitude, or maybe ageism is not a thing in the UK as it is elsewhere. I think attitude helps and if you come across as a friendly experienced person you will be able to get in. My question to you would be why go for the "Larger" tech companies? Why not focus on established smaller companies? I personally equate those with start-up level stress but less ability to affect things. Again, just my personal perspective. Second point - do try contracting. It's quite liberating not being tied to a place in a long term mental-bond. The market is great for contracts (at least in the UK).

cutthegrass2 7y ago
This is a great perspective and resonates a lot for me. Curious though, to hear your thoughts on the incoming off-payroll legislation and how you feel it will effect the UK contracting market.
- harel 7y ago
  We've just been talking about this yesterday and today in the client's office, where most of us are contractors. It's an agency, most tech staff is on contract, the client is a government body where almost everyone there are contractors because gov pay is low and nobody will take the work on their PAYE rates. Spoke to my accountant who told me this whole IR-35 malarkey is under review at the moment and might or might not happen come April. He made a good point regarding IR-35 "insurances" saying that they are only offered because the chance of being hit by HMRC for that are slim to none which is why they are passing the buck to the clients. The problem is not HMRC vs the Contractor but now HMRC scaring the clients from hiring contractors. Another friend told me his current client wants them all inside IR-35 which means a mass contractor exodus. He also told me banks are cutting the contractors as well. The problem for banks is that a LOT of their tech staff are contractors at high rates. To be perfectly honest, I'm concerned to a degree. Both for contractors like me, and to clients who rely on contractors - come April, if this is not retracted, there will be a mass shortage of hands. Being inside IR-35 is like being PAYE without benefits and PAYE pay is significantly lower than contract one. This is quite a problematic situation.

by harel 7y ago

cutthegrass2 7y ago

This is a great perspective and resonates a lot for me. Curious though, to hear your thoughts on the incoming off-payroll legislation and how you feel it will effect the UK contracting market.

harel 7y ago
We've just been talking about this yesterday and today in the client's office, where most of us are contractors. It's an agency, most tech staff is on contract, the client is a government body where almost everyone there are contractors because gov pay is low and nobody will take the work on their PAYE rates. Spoke to my accountant who told me this whole IR-35 malarkey is under review at the moment and might or might not happen come April. He made a good point regarding IR-35 "insurances" saying that they are only offered because the chance of being hit by HMRC for that are slim to none which is why they are passing the buck to the clients. The problem is not HMRC vs the Contractor but now HMRC scaring the clients from hiring contractors. Another friend told me his current client wants them all inside IR-35 which means a mass contractor exodus. He also told me banks are cutting the contractors as well. The problem for banks is that a LOT of their tech staff are contractors at high rates. To be perfectly honest, I'm concerned to a degree. Both for contractors like me, and to clients who rely on contractors - come April, if this is not retracted, there will be a mass shortage of hands. Being inside IR-35 is like being PAYE without benefits and PAYE pay is significantly lower than contract one. This is quite a problematic situation.