For the past three years I've been working part time (0 hour contract) as a developer while completing my studies. Now that I'm graduating, I have a choice between going full-time or continuing with the current style of contract.<p>I've been loving the freedom that the 0-hour gives me - and the boost in productivity compared to the 8-hour day - and the possibilities in improving myself in the spared hours. However, considering our current projects, I would still probably keep putting in about 6h/day.<p>There are benefits in full time as well. If I were to take it, I would gain access to paid holidays (meaning Christmas, Easter etc. I do get actual holidays the same as everyone else) and sick-days, as well as maybe improved guarantees and rights. The company argues that it would be easier to manage the bureaucracy as well as estimate the times for each project.<p>If anyone has had any experience in a similar choice, or has any opinions either way, it would be most appreciated.
Random advice from the internet:<p>Get a full time job and build your professional network and learn from more experienced people and gain experience within a business. Doing what you are doing now is not growing. And since you will be doing <i>less</i> than you are doing now because you will not be in school, it might even be the opposite of growing.<p>Keep in mind, zero hour contracts have a low net present value. 6/hrs per day should be discounted by the probability that the contract is gone in two months...perhaps without warning and perhaps without final payment.<p><pre><code> And companies that contract with students often
replace graduating students with current students
because their practice is Using Student Contractors.
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Finally, it makes sense to look at employment opportunities beyond your partner in the current contract. That may vastly increase your professional network, opportunities to learn, and your diversity of business experience.<p>Good luck.