View Single Post
Old 8th July 2008, 13:10   #14
Dow Jones
Fingers like lightning
 
Dow Jones's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Islington
Posts: 860
Default Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fairly New graduate View Post
On average how long after uni did you start contracting? I have recently graduated and I am due to start work with a large IT service company as a BA but have always wanted to work for myself and after reading posts on this forum contracting seems very attractive to me. Is around 4 years experience them move into contracting a fairly standard thing to do? What would people say the pros and cons I need to look out for are?
How long is a piece of string? It seems a fairly stupid question even from a fairly new graduate. For a start, most contractors that I know of haven't been to University, as they are either self-taught or had a brief spell at college.
What you mean by '4 years experience' is that 'is this enough to give you the confidence you need to do it?'
Again for some (as you've seen) it wasn't this long, others took longer. Contracting is not just a career, it's a new lifestyle, often working away from home, often doing the hardest or worst jobs that nobody else would do, not just about earning more money (again that may arguably not be the case long-term). It seems that you've got a well-paid job with a large co which is ideal for a new starter, first try and learn the ropes, see how you go, how the market is at the time, then decide. What can I say?
Dow Jones is offline   Reply With Quote