u/Correct-Form-6916

Curious what everyone’s favourite OE combination is and why.
Personally, I really like 1 permanent role + 1 contract. The permanent role gives me things like paid annual leave, sick pay, pension contributions, learning budgets, paid certifications/courses and the general stability that comes with being an employee. Then the contract gives me the higher earning potential and flexibility.
I’m interested to hear what setup others prefer. For example:

2 permanent roles
2 contracts
Permanent + contract
Contract + contract-to-hire
Any other combination

If you’ve tried different setups, which did you prefer and why?

Was it because of:
Better income?
Lower meeting load?
Easier to manage?
Better benefits?
Lower risk if one role ends?
Better work-life balance?
I’m still relatively new to OE and curious to hear what experienced people have settled on after trying different combinations and what trade offs you’ve found

Has anyone here successfully managed OE while working in an SC cleared role?

I’m considering my next move and one of the opportunities I’m looking at requires SC clearance. I’ve been OE since Feb (1 perm role + 1 contract), and it’s worked well enough that I want to continue doing it long term.

A few questions:

Did having an SC cleared role change how you approached OE?

Did you encounter any issues with background checks, references or onboarding because of OE?

Are there any additional things I should be thinking about or considering before taking an SC-cleared role while planning to remain OE?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s navigated this successfully. I’m trying to understand the practical realities and any pitfalls to avoid.

Hi all,

I’ve been lurking for a while and have read a lot of the posts here, but this is my first time posting.

I’ve been overemployed since March. My setup is:

J1: Permanent role (been here almost 2 years)

J2: Inside IR35 contract, started in March. It’s been extended a few times and is currently due to finish in September.

The experience has gone well enough that I’ve decided I’d like to continue being overemployed long term. My current thinking is to leave J1 around December and start the new year with two completely new roles.

I’m not looking to be spoon fed information or told whether I should do it—I know there’s plenty of information online. I’m more interested in hearing from people who’ve successfully transitioned from one set of OE jobs to another.

A few things I’m curious about:

How do you handle references when replacing both jobs?

Do you only use one employer for references and leave the other off entirely?

Are there any background check issues you’ve run into when starting two new roles around the same time?

What mistakes did you make when moving from your first OE setup to your second?

Is there anything you wish you’d known before trying to maintain OE long term?

Any general tips for making OE sustainable over multiple years would also be appreciated