IT work that's *not* in the City

[BMWBen]

I'm contemplating my options for getting out of the City. Madness I know, given the squillion ££ bonuses I've been receiving of course...

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone could give an indication of what it's like working in the *real* world, as I've only ever done IT Infrastructure in financial services.

I'm guessing a pay cut would be in order - but could I offset with a jump in responsibility/seniority?

What are benefits packages like outside of FS? I get annual bonus, share scheme (god that's cost me a lot of money), life insurance, VERY comprehensive health insurance (covers for chronic and pre-existing conditions - important for me).

I quite fancy the oil industry for some strange reason - I'm guessing the fact that they're strewn all over the world makes for some interesting IT challenges...

Anyone got any useful experiences to draw on?

[dodgyviper]

A bit more detail on your skillsets will help...

[thehawk]

Well it depends, I think you may find that your pay could actually go up in some circumstances, particularly if you work on government contracts.

[jesta1865]

you will be lucky if you get paid mate in local (i.e. outside the city) IT.

my only perk is no-one else here knows what I do so they think I am some sort of wizard

[elster]

Reasonable good money is from police, stripping computers and mobile phones.

Security systems are quite good, but most people I know are either ex forces or ex civil servants. Although I don't really see the need with the awesome Tin Hat distribution.

You wanting to work for a small firm, large firm, medium sized company, contracting? WHat kind of salary are you wanting?

[HundredthIdiot]

The last time I worked in IT outside of a capital city, I earned £70k a year, circa 2001. That was in Bristol, and I was below director level.

Which I still think is a reasonable wedge, if you don't think about housing costs.

I've no idea what people earn any more - it sometimes seems a bit random.

[Thirsty Camel]

What's your skill set, we are looking for some AIX and storage people and based in watford if your interested. Good fun compnay too.

[thehawk]

Thirsty Camel said:

Good fun compnay too.

In a "You don't have to be mad to work here, but it helps' way? I shudder at the thought.

[Gazzab]

Do you mean relocate elsewhere in the UK?
There are financial services roles in IT throughout the UK eg Surrey, W Sussex, Norwich, Manchester, York, Leeds, Bristol, Cotswolds etc etc
Many places are still recruiting perm roles and a few are looking to gain contractors.
The perm salaries can be 10% to 30% lower depending on the location and companies policy. Contract rates can be about the same reductions. But there are always exceptions to the rules.

[aclivity]

I left the square mile ... erm ... lots of years ago (around the time of the Equitas project; my last "city" IT was transferring data to Equitas) and worked in Camden for a holiday company. For a pay rise. After 9 years or so I moved to the telecoms sector ... took a pay cut for that one, but the rise in quality of working life was worth it.

It's very easy to be inward looking when working in the city, but there are lots of big companies outside - for example, if you worked in data warehousing and BI, a career aspiration could be to work on the Tesco Clubcard. Their head office is in a small industrial estate in Cheshunt. If you want to do slightly more cutting edge IT stuff, working for one of the medium to large ISP's could be your thing?

It really depends on your skill set - don't be constrained by financial services, that's the best thing about IT in that your skills should be transferrable across market sectors.

IMVHO of course.

Edited by aclivity on Tuesday 14th October 11:56

[SirTainly]

thehawk said:

Well it depends, I think you may find that your pay could actually go up in some circumstances, particularly if you work on government contracts.

Not necessarily, hence why I need to make a phonecall this lunchtime.

[5pen]

aclivity said:

I left the square mile ... erm ... lots of years ago (around the time of the Equitas project; my last "city" IT was transferring data to Equitas) and worked in Camden for a holiday company. For a pay rise. After 9 years or so I moved to the telecoms sector ... took a pay cut for that one, but the rise in quality of working life was worth it.

Off topic, but I worked on the Equitas project circa 1995...

As you were.

[james_tigerwoods]

There's plenty of big IT companies - EDS, Capgemini, Fujitsu, etc that are sited up North - if your skillset is right, then there's always possibilities there.

Just don't go to BT Lynx

[Gazzab]

james_tigerwoods said:

There's plenty of big IT companies - EDS, Capgemini, Fujitsu, etc that are sited up North - if your skillset is right, then there's always possibilities there.

Just don't go to BT Lynx

Not exactly great co's to work for that lot.

[james_tigerwoods]

Gazzab said:

james_tigerwoods said:

There's plenty of big IT companies - EDS, Capgemini, Fujitsu, etc that are sited up North - if your skillset is right, then there's always possibilities there.

Just don't go to BT Lynx

Not exactly great co's to work for that lot.

There are worse, but in the right areas of the company with a good manager, you stand half a chance...

[JonRB]

Plenty of IT work outside of London. I've lived near the M3/M4 corridor for 9 years now and seldom need to go into London to get contracts.

[mr_spock]

Depends what you mean. If by "outside the City" you mean not in financial services, there's lots of it and it can pay very well. I'm at a telco based in Docklands, we're looking for Biztalk people now. Also looking for Siebel developers, business analysts and Sharepoint people to relocate to Prague. Lots of IT in the M3/M4 corridor too.

[ewenm]

I've earnt more outside the City of London since leaving a few years ago. Government contracts are good, or there are lots of companies in the Thames Valley corridor (Slough, Reading, Newbury, Swindon) that have large IT requirements.

Try www.jobserve.com for what's out there now.