Pros
Flexibility on where and how to do your work. Decent size territories and achievable targets.
Cons
The standard 12 months contract appear to be a tool for arbitrary managerial power play. Over the course of 2.5 months leading up to the end of my term, I was told by my manager on several occasions that my contract would be extended to a permanent one: 'You will have your contract by the end of the week', 'keep doing what you are doing', 'no reason to worry' etc. The last of these conversations took place 3 days prior to the minimum notice period adding 'you can rest assured I have been working on your contract in the background'. This was swiftly followed by a 6pm-before-a-bank-holiday call with my manager and manager's manager informing me that my contract would not be extended after all. Pointing out the professional assurances offered over the last months and asking the reason why, I was told that a decision to extend a contract is based on 1) feedback from the extended team and 2) performance. And while 'feedback obviously had been great, there was the performance...'. Being a top performer in the sales org this explanation was pure bs (I could not help it but laugh at the time). Furthermore, I experienced having productive and healthy working relationships with peers and stakeholders, and the work of my lateral team was promoted and replicated by others (after I left). It is not clear to me why such an approach was chosen. Perhaps just as a way to maximise short term sales revenue? Or not having the guts to have a conversation? Or maybe something more malicious? Without any dialogue or explanation I can only speculate (and use this forum to share some factual events so others are in the know).