What If You Don't Have Any One Skill?

**Cowboy Bob** · 16 January 2007, 12:37

Personally I don't like the niche contracts. I will always hold out for the kind of contract that you're doing at the moment. I'm primarily a lead developer/architect, but I like to get involved in all aspects of the project from design all the way through coding and on to deployment. I refuse point-blank to be a code-monkey or Excel/Visio producer. There are plenty of contracts that fit this criteria, especially with smaller companies, which is where I prefer to work as well. The rates may not be as high, but job satisfaction is a hell of a lot higher than working in some cube in a tower block in central London.

**DanTheMan** · 16 January 2007, 12:52

Ah yeah. I mean when I first thought about contracting I had grand ideas of working for an investment bank in the city earning shed loads. But now I know that I couldn't do that. My network security skills are quite good and I could maybe swing something but I still like to be involved with as much as possible because I'm still relatively young (27). I really don't mind too much about working for the big names, I've always preferred the smaller companies but I thought these kind of contracts were quite rare. I'm actually at quite a big name now but the working environment is brilliant for me. I can't see another big company (especially in the city) being as flexible which is why I've always preferred the smaller companies when I was a permie.

Good to know that these kind of contracts do exist though.

**Spacecadet** · 16 January 2007, 13:00

Niche contracts bore me stupid. First ever gig was a T-SQL developer. 5 months doing nothing but T-SQL development, its going to take years for the mental scars to heal

**freakydancer** · 16 January 2007, 13:18

Originally posted by DanTheMan

OK I know this is a fairly obvious statement but contracting really is quite niche. If you're a good coder you can get a programming contract, CISCO = network or design position, etc. I understand this is why people go contracting; because they have a certain skill which is desirable to companies who are willing to pay for that skill to be usied in a project.

But is there much work out there for the IT people that are kinda like Jack of all trades? I mean, I'm not the best in the field of Unix admin but I know enough to get by. Same with MS products and Linux, CISCO, firewalls, etc. but I've been working in the kind of permie jobs where I've needed to be flexible and adapt to different technologies rather quickly. No time for training courses or anything like that, just Google it and go from there! Well, before Google it was even tricker

I'm on my first ever contract and it is exactly the kind of job I love. Daily challenges with new systems. Office admin, documentation, client meetings, etc. But without being overly technical. Basically it pulls together all of my experience and is very suited to how I have worked in the past. But it's coming to an end and I don't think that it will be easy to find this kind of contract again and now I'm concerned because I don't have enough bits of paper with MS stamps all over them and I can't point to anything that I'm the best at other than the fact that I'm willing to learn, will dive into new things and do whatever it takes to sort crap out.

Heh, reading this back it looks like I'm pimping myself. I'm not. Just wanted to know if any of you guys with more experience have felt like this....?

Ta

I'm pretty much in the same boat mate.

Been in the IT game 6 or so years, did my CCNA early in my career, and along the way have picked up working knowledge Firewalls, Unix, HPOV, MRTG, SMARTS etc but without specializing in any one particular field.

I'll go in to a new contract and be totally upfront with them, and anything I don't do, I'll do my best to work it out. There are plenty of contracts out there for this type of work mate, and the rate is still far better than your average £45k full time support role.

I know that I'm not gonna go out and earn £500+ a day, but to honest, that doesn't bother me in the slightest, as I'm happy with my lot at the rate I'm on now.

**Cactus** · 16 January 2007, 13:19

Originally posted by DanTheMan

Basically it pulls together all of my experience and is very suited to how I have worked in the past. But it's coming to an end and I don't think that it will be easy to find this kind of contract again and now I'm concerned because I don't have enough bits of paper with MS stamps all over them and I can't point to anything that I'm the best at other than the fact that I'm willing to learn, will dive into new things and do whatever it takes to sort crap out.

Heh, reading this back it looks like I'm pimping myself. I'm not. Just wanted to know if any of you guys with more experience have felt like this....?

Ta

Your post is pretty similar to my circumstances. (So much so it's as if I wrote it!) I've been contracting 3 years and I too don't have the M$ stamps on my C.V either.

I have got by though by getting lucky, securing contracts (2) with a companies that keep asking me back and usually have taken crappy, lower paid contracts in between. Although I know that this will dry up eventually.

I think the way forward for you (and myself once my current contract comes to an end) is by having to taylor your C.V to each role that you apply for (which is a right royal pain in the ass) rather than just have the 1 generic C.V.

Obviously giving more details about the work that you've done in the past that fits the job that you're going for. These might not be your perfect job (like the contract that you're on) but I can't think of any other way. I'm not willing to commute into London so the contracts (like the 1 you have) don't come up very often in my area

All the best and Good luck.

**DanTheMan** · 16 January 2007, 13:39

Well I'm actually commuting away from London at the moment. I'm not fussed if I get a contract there or not. I'm based in the South East so am pretty flexible though.

I think tayloring my CV is the way forward and I was nothing but honest in the interview I had for this contract. Even when it got technical and I thought I screwed things up I seem to have gotten through purely on personality. I think they could see that I'm willing to do a lot of stuff where as if they got someone in to do one thing then it'd get messy if something else came up. I don't get pushed around but my visibility in the company has increased due to the fact that a lot of PMs are realising that I exist and that I actually do what I say I will on time. This seems to go down well.

I just thought that the very nature of contracting means that there aren't as many oppurtunities for someone like me/us. But this thread is increasingly encouraging.

**morphman** · 16 January 2007, 19:48

Come on guys. You can do better than that. You need to be entreprenurial (spelling?).
Either pick an in-demand skill, and specialise in it (pay for a course, read freebies on the net etc..)
Alternativeley, go for the "analyst" positions, which usually require good problem solving skills, with a few examples in your locker from a certain business field.
If your any good at accountancy, be a freelance accountant and make your money of us lot who cant be bothered to do our own accounts. lol

**Sockpuppet** · 16 January 2007, 20:00

Learn and repeat: "Of course, that is exactly what I am doing now".

Almost caught me out when I applied for a job as a PM / Solutions Designer for the London 2012 people.... £650/day none the less....2 weeks till interview

**marcus2704** · 17 January 2007, 10:15

Since I started out contracting a year and a half ago, Ive had a steady stream of work. I too am concerned about the future, I have a quite generic Windows skillset but no recognized qualification. The sort of contracts Ive been getting have been on the lower end of the scale, I feel I need to bolster my skillset but am unsure as to where to start.

Either I plod along on bread and butter-type contracts of 20-25ph, and hope that I continue to land jobs based on past experience, or I work out some way to earn myself a skill which can pull me out of that generic support technician role Im increasingly tiring of (the other day I had a call to replace a mouse - I died a bit inside).

Its good to know there are at least a few other people in a similar boat, I get the impression that the vast majority of posters here are devs/coders on 4-500 a day

What If You Don't Have Any One Skill?