How to get a City contract?

[Ender]

I'm an .NET Web/Backend dev with ~10 years experience. I have some financial industry exposure (a contract with an insurance company, permanent role with a FinTech startup), but have mostly done media and public sector work. I'm in the North and it's very hard to get rate above 400 over here. I'm hearing about those City contracts that pay 600+ and would like to try my luck.

I went to JobSite, Monster, etc. but there are very few such ads. My understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the agencies, that the banks and the funds use, prefer to contact perspective contractors directly instead of advertising the positions. But that makes it hard to find what technologies/skills are in demand.

I have some free time in the next 2 months and plan to spend it mostly reading technical books, watching Pluralsight/CodeAcademy and playing with stuff. I'm looking for advice on what to learn, that will improve my chances of getting a well paid City contract.

[northernladuk]

You are aware of the potential shîtstorm that is going to land in a day or two? No travel and subsistence claimable is going to seriously eat in to that extra 200 a day....

[Ender]

I'm single, so I can manage quite cheaply - e.g. rent a room for £500 per month in East London.

Plus at this point I don't really care that much about the money. I want to check what life in London is like, if I can survive the pressure, etc. If I like it I may move over.

[Lola C]

If you don't live too far away, travel and subsistence are not so important. In fact, not important at all.

[BrilloPad]

A mate left pharmaceuticals as he was not being challenged enough. He doubled his pay. He was shocked to find that the work was half as difficult.

City types earn there money for putting up with the commute. Being shouted at. And putting up with the tedium.

Keep applying. Eventually someone will take you on. You will then regret it. Most do one contract then leave.

HTH BISDI

[northernladuk]

If you don't live too far away, travel and subsistence are not so important. In fact, not important at all.

Do you try and make yourself look like an utter moron on purpose? Am sick of your diatribe. Try reading the OPs question. He lives in the North and wants to work in london. How is your advice even remotely relevant.

Please. Just stop posting.

[BlasterBates]

Try jobserve there are plenty of contracts and perm jobs advertised for banking. A ".NET" might not result in any jobs appearing, as that is not usually the main qualification they're looking for. Try Java, C++ or C#. Most jobs are Java and C++, C# tends to be "and C#", but there are one or two advertised.

Banking contracts are not hidden, if they're available the agencies will be recruiting hard.

[stek]

If you don't live too far away, travel and subsistence are not so important. In fact, not important at all.

Are you on crack?

[Elliegirl]

All these things can be so much subject to chance.
I was wondering at one point how to get some private sector experience as I was finding it quite difficult to make the transition. I found a role on Indeed with a global insurance company based in the City which had been posted over 30 days ago, so it looked as if the role had expired. Checked it out and it was directly through the company and had not been filled. Applied and got it.
I know for a fact that no agency would have put me forward for the role as I didn't have private sector experience at the time, even though I had the exact experience the client was looking for.

[uk contractor]

City jobs are neary always for contractors with existing financial services experience good luck & all that jazz but what can you possibly offer that an existing candidate (there are always lots of city benchwarmers nowadays due to downsizing/outsourcing) is not going to be able to offer?