Starting out as contractor

[Rob283]

Hi I am considering starting out as programme or project manager on contracting basis. I wondered what those in the £billion pound industry think about the current climate of contracting. Is this still a wise choice considering IR35 and the changes proposed. Or would I be better taking up permanent position. any general advise or considered opinions are greatly appreciated

[NotAllThere]

It's always a bad time. It's always a good time. But at the moment, it seems like a really bad time...

[ladymuck]

Is this a serious question?

[eek]

Hi I am considering starting out as programme or project manager on contracting basis. I wondered what those in the £billion pound industry think about the current climate of contracting. Is this still a wise choice considering IR35 and the changes proposed. Or would I be better taking up permanent position. any general advise or considered opinions are greatly appreciated

You would be better trying to keep your current job at the moment. If you haven't got one just take the first thing that comes along.

The world is very different from how it was a month ago no matter what you may think.

[northernladuk]

Is this a serious question?

Totally this.... Who in their right mind would go contracting right now. Just asking that question alone makes me think they really don't have a clue what contracting is.

[malvolio]

Quite apart from starting contrating now, which is possibly a silly idea anyway, what exactly are you planning on selling? Programming and PM work are entirely different things, need different skills and specific expertise and I'm guessing you don't have loads of expereince of either one.

For now don't jump until you really know what you are doing and can offer the market something they need.

[Paralytic]

Quite apart from starting contrating now, which is possibly a silly idea anyway, what exactly are you planning on selling? Programming and PM work are entirely different things, need different skills and specific expertise and I'm guessing you don't have loads of expereince of either one.

For now don't jump until you really know what you are doing and can offer the market something they need.

"programme or project manager"

[Highland]

Hi I am considering starting out as programme or project manager on contracting basis. I wondered what those in the £billion pound industry think about the current climate of contracting. Is this still a wise choice considering IR35 and the changes proposed. Or would I be better taking up permanent position. any general advise or considered opinions are greatly appreciated

When you say you're considering starting out, do you mean you've been offered a contract? If so, assess the stability of the client and the project and decide via that.

Despite the gloom merchants above, there's still opportunities and money to be made in the right fields.

If you don't have a contract offer...... Good luck.

[malvolio]

"programme or project manager"

Picky picky…

OK, slight reading failure there. Point still applies though, no point going contracting unless you are very clear what it is you're selling. Programme manager is a different skillset to project manager, and both rely on you having evidence of serious delivery.

Also, it's also fair to add that with all the killed off projects recently there are an awful lot of good, experienced PMs (of both persuasions) on the market.

[Paralytic]

OK, slight reading failure there. Point still applies though, no point going contracting unless you are very clear what it is you're selling. Programme manager is a different skillset to project manager, and both rely on you having evidence of serious delivery.

Also, it's also fair to add that with all the killed off projects recently there are an awful lot of good, experienced PMs (of both persuasions) on the market.

Agreed, unless the OP is currently out of work, then they'd be daft to leave some level of certainty and start contracting.