Should I stick to Financial Services/Investment Firm?

[imsm1]

Hi folks,

I am fairly new to contract world providing software development services. I have been working in IT industry for 8 years for a well-know global financial services firm and since last year I have moved to Dublin to work as a Contractor for a global Investment company. For almost a year I am commuting every week and living away from my family. I am blessed with a lovely son who I miss the most . That's a loss.

There is going to be a potential contract next to where I live in North West of Ireland bordering NI. This client is world's leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology.

My greatest motivation to get this role is so as I can live with my family. That will be a win-win situation for me. There is a possibility that the contract will roll over for approx 2 years. Note that there ain't many IT companies around where I live with my family. However, I am career focused and wondering if it the change of industry can badly affect my CV. One of my friend who works in a bank advised me that I will have better prospect staying in the current role and possibly my daily rate will increase if I move to another client - bank/financial services. I will also have better prospect to work in banks and financial services firm in UK if I decide to move.

Will my decision to move to Air transport IT can negatively affect my CV and damage any future prospect to work for top tier investment banks? I am sincerely seeking guidance and perspective.

Many thanks.

[portseven]

i always thought a bit of variety on the cv is the best thing long term

[oracleslave]

Hi folks,

I am fairly new to contract world providing software development services. I have been working in IT industry for 8 years for a well-know global financial services firm and since last year I have moved to Dublin to work as a Contractor for a global Investment company. For almost a year I am commuting every week and living away from my family. I am blessed with a lovely son who I miss the most . That's a loss.

There is going to be a potential contract next to where I live in North West of Ireland bordering NI. This client is world's leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology.

My greatest motivation to get this role is so as I can live with my family. That will be a win-win situation for me. There is a possibility that the contract will roll over for approx 2 years. Note that there ain't many IT companies around where I live with my family. However, I am career focused and wondering if it the change of industry can badly affect my CV. One of my friend who works in a bank advised me that I will have better prospect staying in the current role and possibly my daily rate will increase if I move to another client - bank/financial services. I will also have better prospect to work in banks and financial services firm in UK if I decide to move.

Will my decision to move to Air transport IT can negatively affect my CV and damage any future prospect to work for top tier investment banks? I am sincerely seeking guidance and perspective.

Many thanks.

Well, if you're seeking perspective, mine would be, "Why the fook do you care about a possibly negligible risk of multiple industries on your cv versus the possibility of contracting close to home and seeing family which are clearly important to you?"


It's a flipping no brainer

[Batcher]

i always thought a bit of variety on the cv is the best thing long term

Me too. I've got a wide variety from public services, energy companies, financial services companies and more.

None of it was planned which is the beauty of contracting for me. I've just blundered along for the past 18 years

PMs, testers, developers, etc are doing virtually the same thing on the same software tools on the same operating systems no matter the client or the industry.

[JRCT]

I don't think it matters. Financial Services, generally, will like you to have 'some' experience in the industry - not always the case. I've never heard of a client wanting someone who has only ever worked in Finance.

I agree with the previous comment. Being close to the family and still working on a good contract has to be a no-brainer.

[uk contractor]

If you work in banking stay in it if possible. They always favour candidates who are currently in banking if you step outside quite often they decide its purely because you cannot find another banking role . I have had this first hand when I once stepped away from banking to work in another industry took me longer to get back into banking. I have also heard this off the record from agents who recruit for the financial services sector many have told me over the past 20 years they just favour candidates currently working in financial services.

I do not agree with this practice but its the way the sector works just the same as if you work in oil, retail or defence sectors they will favour those candidates first so it reduces your overall chances of getting the interview.

I would chose my family everytime but financial services sector also pays a lot more than other sectors so you need to decide whats more important (your family by the sounds of it which is the right answer ).

[Roger Mellie]

Banking isn't everything, and that's from someone who can't get into the sector

[BolshieBastard]

Hi folks,

I am fairly new to contract world providing software development services. I have been working in IT industry for 8 years for a well-know global financial services firm and since last year I have moved to Dublin to work as a Contractor for a global Investment company. For almost a year I am commuting every week and living away from my family. I am blessed with a lovely son who I miss the most . That's a loss.

There is going to be a potential contract next to where I live in North West of Ireland bordering NI. This client is world's leading specialist in air transport communications and information technology.

My greatest motivation to get this role is so as I can live with my family. That will be a win-win situation for me. There is a possibility that the contract will roll over for approx 2 years. Note that there ain't many IT companies around where I live with my family. However, I am career focused and wondering if it the change of industry can badly affect my CV. One of my friend who works in a bank advised me that I will have better prospect staying in the current role and possibly my daily rate will increase if I move to another client - bank/financial services. I will also have better prospect to work in banks and financial services firm in UK if I decide to move.

Will my decision to move to Air transport IT can negatively affect my CV and damage any future prospect to work for top tier investment banks? I am sincerely seeking guidance and perspective.

Many thanks.

You'll always find work in financials. Ive worked in utilities, commercial off the shelf and financials for the last 13 - 14 years. A few years back I said to an agent I was considering moving into something else. He advised to stay in financials.

Have a friend who's been in pharma for 10 years. He wanted to move back into financials or rather out of pharma. Found he couldnt as no one would touch him in financials.

Doesnt mean you can never get back in but, although the market goes up and down like any sector, there's always something going on somewhere. Its just whether you're prepared to move for it.