What a result!

[northernladuk]

Fair play OP. Well done.

Yes. Polite calling them loudmouths. Quite a lot of people on here who seem to get a kick out of being a tw*t. Its anonymous so no danger of getting chinned by someone in real life.

Who are you? Ronnie ****ing Pickering?

And of course, I think there are some on here who have such sad lives that they really do enjoy thinking they're important.

[MrMarkyMark]

And of course, I think there are some on here who have such sad lives that they really do enjoy thinking they're important.

Ahem.....pots, kettles, black

[psychocandy]

Ahem.....pots, kettles, black

Yes but I AM IMPORTANT.

[moneymoney]

I would just like to inform that I started my new contracting job today After 3 months of hard searching I finally hit the jackpot. I am absolutely delighted with the contract: good money (£550pd!!!), close to home, interesting work - it ticks all the right boxes.

The reason for my post is to thank all those people who offered constructive advice a few weeks ago when I first arrived on CUK. It was all wholeheartedly appreciated and I think the best advice was just to keep on persevering. I am glad I did. I am also glad I did not listen to those who lambasted my experience and skill set.

The one thing I have noticed on CUK is that there seem to be a few loudmouths on here who try to make newbies feel inadequate in their decision to try contracting - why are you discouraging others from following the same path as you? Scared of the competition? Some will sprout on about ‘being a specialist’ - all bull. If the client is looking for a certain skill set and you can fill that skill set then that’s what matters. I am a BAPM with a technical development background and excellent business knowledge. This is what the client wanted. Knowing the right people also helps (although I landed this contract on my own merit and experience - without the help of having friends in the right places).

My first contract - at an IB - and I couldn't be happier, given how much the finance industry has shrunk over the last few years, this is a tremendous start. Here’s to a very bright future!!



I also have a serious question out of all this - just why do most agents insist on knowing what your previous salary / rate was? It seems to me it is more about being nosey and gauging just how much they’ll be able to slice off the top of the rate for themselves. Is there any legitimate reason for this question? My experience in this particular case was that the agent actually didn’t even ask about my previous salary before we negotiated the rate and he put me forward for the role. However in the majority of cases, this was one of the first questions an agent would ask me.

As a relative newbie myself, I agree with the OP about the negativity on here from quite a few of the regular posters, if I had read this forum before going contracting, I might well have given it a second thought before jumping in. They do tend to exaggerate all the negative aspects and make it sound like without 10-15 years experience you won't ever get a contract gig, which is clearly far from reality

saying that, there is no need to gloat......you got a gig, well done but remember, in the current climate it could disappear at any minute!

the forum is what it is, like anywhere on the internet you get a bunch of keyboard warriors who say a lot of not particularly useful stuff, but you also get a bunch of genuine people who can give you good advice, you'll struggle to get one without the other so if you can't handle the negativity then maybe avoid internet forums

[northernladuk]

As a relative newbie myself, I agree with the OP about the negativity on here from quite a few of the regular posters, if I had read this forum before going contracting, I might well have given it a second thought before jumping in. They do tend to exaggerate all the negative aspects and make it sound like without 10-15 years experience you won't ever get a contract gig, which is clearly far from reality

saying that, there is no need to gloat......you got a gig, well done but remember, in the current climate it could disappear at any minute!

the forum is what it is, like anywhere on the internet you get a bunch of keyboard warriors who say a lot of not particularly useful stuff, but you also get a bunch of genuine people who can give you good advice, you'll struggle to get one without the other so if you can't handle the negativity then maybe avoid internet forums

Some good points and just to add (not aimed at you, just general musings) if we have caused you to think again and it's still for you then you are much better prepared so the advice has actually been invaluable. The regular posters see loads of you starry eyed guys on here day in day out and there is a fairly good number that screw it up spectacularly. Some examples are people that have run their finances so badly they end up owing 10's of K. People not understanding the legislations and rules running at high risk of some severe penalties. People not understanding what they are doing and not being able to secure further work so contracting just doesn't work for them. We've seen it all many times over.

The regular posters will give you it warts and all. If after all that you want to go then do it. It's your business after all. If you want a welcome hug and a nice fuzzy feeling with no indication of the pitfalls then go to Mumsnet. We will advise you of areas to look at and plenty of words of caution. You look in to it, deal with it and are therefore much better prepared. If you don't want to hear that then don't ask on a forum of your much more experience peers.

These are keyboard warriors that are teaching more than you could ever by yourself judging by some posters and they do it for free. You take the advice or leave it. If it's going to upset you or put you off contracting then you are better off out. The OP hasn't helped himself with his attitude that he's the king dick because he's spent three months trying to get a gig, kicks the people that have tried to help and then asks a pretty basic question to finish off. He's hardly endearing himself to anyone...except to Psychocandy.. but make of that what you will....

But yes, we can be harsh, if you are big enough to take it and learn from it then you are off to a flying start.

[MrMarkyMark]

Yes but I AM IMPORTANT.

A legend in your own life time, unique, that's for sure

. They do tend to exaggerate all the negative aspects and make it sound like without 10-15 years experience you won't ever get a contract gig, which is clearly far from reality

It actually used to be thus, but, the market has changed, due to hire freezes etc.
Sometimes, getting a contractor in, is the only way company will get extra headcount in, these days.

IMO, the contractor quality has suffered considerably, in my game.

[LucidDementia]

Porsche? I know Osbornes got it in for us but it can't get that bad surely?

Nowt wrong with Porsches. You don't expect me to put all these miles on the Aston surely?

[northernladuk]

Nowt wrong with Porsches. You don't expect me to put all these miles on the Aston surely?

Very good point well made. COTBAC for sure.

[LucidDementia]

I also have a serious question out of all this - just why do most agents insist on knowing what your previous salary / rate was? It seems to me it is more about being nosey and gauging just how much they’ll be able to slice off the top of the rate for themselves. Is there any legitimate reason for this question? My experience in this particular case was that the agent actually didn’t even ask about my previous salary before we negotiated the rate and he put me forward for the role. However in the majority of cases, this was one of the first questions an agent would ask me.

Why do agents do anything? Greed baby. All any agent wants to do is skin you; the good few have figured out you keep growing wool so they just fleece you.

[jmo21]

Well done!

I also have a serious question out of all this - just why do most agents insist on knowing what your previous salary / rate was?

First thought is that they do not have a real role, and they are just searching for market info.

If they had a real role, they will more likely ask what your rate is for that role, once they've told you about it.