advice on permanent/contract?

[user3284]

Hi,

Am currently a permanent web developer and want to leave as the business is not going in the direction I expected. I was planning on going contracting but handing in notice without a job to move to is quite difficult.

I have been offered a permanent developer role at a law firm but am now having second thoughts, in terms of possibly being stuck in another permanent role plus am not sure how it would be like in a law firm. Is it long hours, lots of documentation, etc?

Also, am planning to maybe change career direction so would that be slightly easier to do by contracting than staying permanent?

[northernladuk]

Hi,

Am currently a permanent web developer and want to leave as the business is not going in the direction I expected. I was planning on going contracting but handing in notice without a job to move to is quite difficult.

That's the risk of contracting. Staying in a job and hoping someone will wait for your 1 month or whatever notice is also difficult. Fortune favours the brave as they say.

I have been offered a permanent developer role at a law firm but am now having second thoughts, in terms of possibly being stuck in another permanent role plus am not sure how it would be like in a law firm. Is it long hours, lots of documentation, etc?

Sounds like you are too chicken to me. If you don't like that you most certainly won't like contracting.

Also, am planning to maybe change career direction so would that be slightly easier to do by contracting than staying permanent?

Absolutely not. As a contractor you are taken on as an industry specialist to supply skills the client doesn't have. You are effectively selling what you are good at. If you are no good at it or have no demonstrable experience they clients are going to go for something else. On the job training and opportunities to switch codes is not what we do. It is possible from time to time but you need to be very lucky. Not something to plan on.

I think you need to understand contracting fully. There are couple of basic assumption there that are pretty wrong. Maybe have a re-think about what you know contracting to be and see if some of the posts and guides will help.

[northernladuk]

You asked almost the same question 3 months ago... Did that thread not help?

[l35kee]

Have a look at this thread, lots of good responses to a similar question...................

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ntracting.html

[BrilloPad]

If you need to ask you should stay permanent.

[radish2008]

Don't listen to anyone. Go for it. Enjoy it. Pack it in. It's all work. It's all dull.

Hahah - I really think I might be turning into Frankie Boyle.