IT Contracting
Discussion
Been thinking recently about ditching the permanent role that I've currently got in IT and moving in to contracting. Looking at the various recruitment websites there are some bits and pieces around, which is encouraging, but want to know if there's any contract recruiters people can recommend?
If anyone can suggest some good websites as well that can help with reading up on starting contracting would also be handy.
Also what are the pros and cons of being a Contractor?
If anyone can suggest some good websites as well that can help with reading up on starting contracting would also be handy.
Also what are the pros and cons of being a Contractor?
PandaEyes said:
Been thinking recently about ditching the permanent role that I've currently got in IT and moving in to contracting. Looking at the various recruitment websites there are some bits and pieces around, which is encouraging, but want to know if there's any contract recruiters people can recommend?
If anyone can suggest some good websites as well that can help with reading up on starting contracting would also be handy.
Also what are the pros and cons of being a Contractor?
http://www.contractoruk.com/ will give you all you need to know. Good luck. If anyone can suggest some good websites as well that can help with reading up on starting contracting would also be handy.
Also what are the pros and cons of being a Contractor?
Don't go to specific recruiters, you need to get your linked in profile sorted, and apply for jobs on Jobserve. Contract jobs are fast moving and recruitment can be very quick. For mainstream jobs don't bother with adverts over a few days old, you really need to be applying for stuff on the day it comes out.
The pro's are obvious...higher pay. the con's are you don't get paid for anything other than the days you work (no holidays sick etc) and you obviously may have voids between jobs (can you survive for months without an income?)
The pro's are obvious...higher pay. the con's are you don't get paid for anything other than the days you work (no holidays sick etc) and you obviously may have voids between jobs (can you survive for months without an income?)
Thanks for the tips so far.
Haven't got a linkedin profile yet so will get this sorted and will also take a good looks at Jobserve.
Biggest issue on my mind at the moment would be to resign from my current role and then lining up a contract towards the end of my notice period although this won't be an issue if the big R hits me.
Haven't got a linkedin profile yet so will get this sorted and will also take a good looks at Jobserve.
Biggest issue on my mind at the moment would be to resign from my current role and then lining up a contract towards the end of my notice period although this won't be an issue if the big R hits me.
I've frequently considered contracting but it's the move from a permanent role and taking the jump into the unknown that is a little scary. I'm pretty sure I'd get something but my Mrs is risk averse so worries about the idea of contracting.
We'll see, maybe in a few year I'll try London for a bit and do some contracting.
We'll see, maybe in a few year I'll try London for a bit and do some contracting.
There seems to be a conception that people are either permies or contractors as a type. I personally have always gone with what job I wanted to do at the time, consequently I have started in Testing in '96 as a permie, got a contract in '98, converted to perm in that role in '01, got made redundant and went contracting again in '03, moved back to perm for career reasons in '04 and remained that way until last year, now I'm contracting again. It's not a one way trip and I think working on both sides of the fence gives me a much more rounded view of the world 
As has been mentioned definitely head over to http://www.contractoruk.com
This has loads of information especially for first timers.
The IT Contracting market is tough at the moment as rates have been slashed.
So you have to be reaaly proactive
But if you can get a good gig its well worth it.
This has loads of information especially for first timers.
The IT Contracting market is tough at the moment as rates have been slashed.
So you have to be reaaly proactive
But if you can get a good gig its well worth it.
I've been contracting within IT for the last three years now. Not as technical but more as Service Improvement / Service Re-Design. Its a tough market and like mentioned already you need to do a lot of networking to get the good contracts. You could end up moving from 3 month to 3 month doing nothing but install contracts....
PandaEyes said:
Been thinking recently about ditching the permanent role that I've currently got in IT and moving in to contracting. Looking at the various recruitment websites there are some bits and pieces around, which is encouraging, but want to know if there's any contract recruiters people can recommend?
If anyone can suggest some good websites as well that can help with reading up on starting contracting would also be handy.
Also what are the pros and cons of being a Contractor?
Just make sure you have 6 months money in the bank. Market is gash at the moment.If anyone can suggest some good websites as well that can help with reading up on starting contracting would also be handy.
Also what are the pros and cons of being a Contractor?
First contract you will be ok but if you lose that early or are not renewed it's going to be tough.
Fittster said:
It's not a one way street, it's possible to go back to a permie role.
I would argue that if you have been a contractor for a long time, people are less willing to give you a permie role in a downturn.This is because most contractors will leave the perm role once the market picks back up.
Also, contractors who have a history of doing short assignments will not have the mental focus to last more than 18 months in a perm role and end up leaving.
I have been in situations where I have reviewed a pile of CV's and have binned them based on these assumptions.
Carl_Docklands said:
Fittster said:
It's not a one way street, it's possible to go back to a permie role.
I would argue that if you have been a contractor for a long time, people are less willing to give you a permie role in a downturn.This is because most contractors will leave the perm role once the market picks back up.
Also, contractors who have a history of doing short assignments will not have the mental focus to last more than 18 months in a perm role and end up leaving.
I have been in situations where I have reviewed a pile of CV's and have binned them based on these assumptions.
Fittster said:
It makes going permie more difficult but I know of many that have swapped between permie and contractor status many times in their career.
Me, as I already stated in this thread One of the most common ways of going back to perm is to convert in the role that you are in at the time, as I did once.
Nick Grant said:
There seems to be a conception that people are either permies or contractors as a type. I personally have always gone with what job I wanted to do at the time, consequently I have started in Testing in '96 as a permie, got a contract in '98, converted to perm in that role in '01, got made redundant and went contracting again in '03, moved back to perm for career reasons in '04 and remained that way until last year, now I'm contracting again. It's not a one way trip and I think working on both sides of the fence gives me a much more rounded view of the world
I think that's the experience of many people who have contracted to be honest.That said, I've met lots of (usually rather envious) people who say that they wouldn't want to take the 'risk' of being a contractor.
In reality, there's little more risk, more reward and loads more flexibility.
The people who are usually really frightened of contracting are those who doubt their own ability (whether rightly or wrongly).
I've not done it for a few years and I must admit the IR35 thing discourages me, but I wouldn't rule it out.
Carl_Docklands said:
I would argue that if you have been a contractor for a long time, people are less willing to give you a permie role in a downturn.
This is because most contractors will leave the perm role once the market picks back up.
Also, contractors who have a history of doing short assignments will not have the mental focus to last more than 18 months in a perm role and end up leaving.
I have been in situations where I have reviewed a pile of CV's and have binned them based on these assumptions.
Wow - You're either spoilt for choice or very prejudiced to discount people with the get up and go to trust in their own skills enough to be a contractor so easily.This is because most contractors will leave the perm role once the market picks back up.
Also, contractors who have a history of doing short assignments will not have the mental focus to last more than 18 months in a perm role and end up leaving.
I have been in situations where I have reviewed a pile of CV's and have binned them based on these assumptions.
I might discount someone on the suspicion of such a viewpoint after an interview, but if they had the skills we need I wouldn't discount them based on such negative assumptions about people's motivations.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Friday 8th June 17:09
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