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Coming back to IT after 9 years.

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    Coming back to IT after 9 years.

    Hi,
    I have BTEC and Degree in “Computer Studies” and worked as developer between 1999-2005 in mixture of permanent and contracts works. Then I opened my own business (not IT related) and now selling it for personal reasons. I always loved software development and during this 9 years being away from IT work, I always kept myself updated with latest MS development technologies. Developed an ecommerce site for my wife’s online business in ASP.NET back in 2004 and re-wrote it in ASP.NET2 in 2007 and it has been updated and working on my rented VPS server since. I started a new ASP MVC project last year to learn new stuff.

    I have seen some interesting contracts in Northwest of England and I am seeking advice from you guys with contracting experience in the area. What is the current market like currently? I know this is an open question, but what are my chances these days with my current situation to get decent contract? I am prepared to settle for lower rates to get back in IT again.

    Thanks for your time.

    #2
    Contracting is certainly not the place to be coming back hoping to land a lucky gig that will help you get back up to speed. You need permie land for that. When you apply for these gigs you will be up against guys that have been doing the same work for many years and can hit the ground running. No client is going to take someone that cannot demonstrate recent skills. You need to get back in to a permie role, get some experience and then maybe in a few years come back to contracting.

    Going for lower rates won't really work either and even if you do spend a couple of months finding a gig it's likely you will do the same looking for the second so your income is likely to be considerably less than a permie role.
    'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
      No client is going to take someone that cannot demonstrate recent skills.
      I have developed couple of commercial projects from ground-up(frontend, backend, database, server config GUI administration, shopping cart integration etc. during that time. It has been working since 2004. I know it is not many, but can demonstrate on laptop at interview. Would that be waste of time?

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by CyrusTPK View Post
        I have developed couple of commercial projects from ground-up(frontend, backend, database, server config GUI administration, shopping cart integration etc. during that time. It has been working since 2004. I know it is not many, but can demonstrate on laptop at interview. Would that be waste of time?
        Problem is getting in front of a client to demo this... And do you think something that is 10 years old going to impress a client?
        'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

        Comment


          #5
          not necessarily 10 years old the existing ecommerce is being updated on regular basis with latest MS technologies, with added new features. and the new MVC5 project I have done is the latest MS ASP.NET tool which many companies are trying to migrate to and many vacancies on jobsites are asking for this set of skills. I am not trying to be too optimistic, but in my past interviews demonstration of my skill set on laptop in interviews were the key success of getting the job offers. I show them what I am capable of and they made their decision whether I was suitable for the job/project.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by CyrusTPK View Post
            not necessarily 10 years old the existing ecommerce is being updated on regular basis with latest MS technologies, with added new features. and the new MVC5 project I have done is the latest MS ASP.NET tool which many companies are trying to migrate to and many vacancies on jobsites are asking for this set of skills. I am not trying to be too optimistic, but in my past interviews demonstration of my skill set on laptop in interviews were the key success of getting the job offers. I show them what I am capable of and they made their decision whether I was suitable for the job/project.
            Job offers possibly, as they want to see what your attitude is like and whether you as a person would be an asset to the company going forward not just your technical skills. As a contractor they are looking for an experienced professional.
            'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

            Comment


              #7
              I think it's a positive that you have done some development work in the time you have been away from dev work. You mention ASP.NET, MVC which are good skills to have but it's rare that contracts just require these skills. I'm expected to be competent in JQuery, C#, SQL Server, TSQL, IIS, design patterns, dependency injection, TDD/BDD, Entity Framework, Micro ORMS etc.

              Do you have any of these skills? If not perhaps you can work them into the projects you have done at least to get your foot in the door. Pluralsight has some excellent courses to get you started with these technologies.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by woohoo View Post
                Do you have any of these skills?
                My last project(4 tier model EF, DA, BLL & UI) using MVC5, EF6, MSSQL and IIS. My other ASP.net project which is running on my own rented VPS server has more than 200 Stored Procedures some transactional based for bank/card payments, using OOP, business objects etc. I have had full control over the IIS and SQL server and administered/configured it since 2004 which has been operating commercially. MVC was a bit hard to digest at beginning but once I got hold of it, it is a very interesting tool. In terms of JQuery I have used it in my last project but I must admit not my speciality, I only learn enough to use it in my applications i.e. pop-up data entry forms, validations etc. The bottom line, todays technology is so vast, it is impossible to have knowledge of everything. Above are my set of skills that I am confident in, but I can always adopt to the technologies that the client/employer require.

                Thanks

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by CyrusTPK View Post
                  Above are my set of skills that I am confident in, but I can always adopt to the technologies that the client/employer require.
                  A client will expect you to know them unless they are very new.

                  An employer won't.
                  "You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JR

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