Starting out in contracting

[oyohbb]

Hi,

I hope you all are well, this is a great forum. I have lurked on this forum for a while without having the balls to actually write a post but here goes....

I have worked in IT for a major retail organisation for the last 5 years. I started off in various helpdesky, desktop support roles but for the last 2 and a half year I have been working in their operations department, utilising a whole load of skills. I have been using Windows 2000 server, SQL, Sybase, Unix etc. on a regular basis and have an understanding of these systems/skills without being an indepth systems specialist. Basically I am a jack of all trades, master of none.

This suited me fine until last month when I found out that our jobs are being outsourced to India, and that I would be out of a job in October. Having lost all faith in permanent IT jobs in the UK, I have been thinking of contracting. My company have offered to pay for IT training in one skill before I go, so I have 2 questions please:

1) Is there any particular skill/training that would be worth getting under my belt before I leave my job, that will make me more desirable.

2) With my skill set, will it be possible to get contracting jobs (obviously I don't expect the big money with the skills I currently have but it would be nice to get some roles that would enable me to learn some new skills or expand my existing ones).

I will have my redundancy money to keep me going if I have quiet months but I just want to know if its feasible. Sorry if this post doesn't make much sense but it is 3 in the morning


Thank you.

[Diestl]

Hi,

Try doing searches on Jobserve for your skills or skills you might want to learn, then make a choice based on number of contracts and rates.

[DaveB]

In general terms try to get the training in more specialist areas if you can. As you have already found out general IT admin roles are more and more likely to be sent off shore.

[thunderlizard]

You might do better as an industry specialist rather than a technology specialist.

[oyohbb]

Thanks for your advice, I'm going to look on Jobserve now. Hopefully I'll find something appropriate.

Cheers

[lukemg]

Try to find something that holds at least some interest for you and suits your skills. e.g. if you quite enjoyed the SQL stuff, get stuck into this big time. If you rate your comms/relationship building - consider doing an ITIL course and shifting to Service Delivery (maybe more perm roles though). Or maybe Prince and do Project mgmt.
Whatever you do, get the hell out of support asap, don't even try to go down this route, it's dead, commodity based, first to be outsourced, McD wage paying cack.
No guarantee that anything will stay good long term - except SAP !

[oyohbb]

Try to find something that holds at least some interest for you and suits your skills. e.g. if you quite enjoyed the SQL stuff, get stuck into this big time. If you rate your comms/relationship building - consider doing an ITIL course and shifting to Service Delivery (maybe more perm roles though). Or maybe Prince and do Project mgmt.
Whatever you do, get the hell out of support asap, don't even try to go down this route, it's dead, commodity based, first to be outsourced, McD wage paying cack.
No guarantee that anything will stay good long term - except SAP !

Thanks for that mate, that was basically what I wanted to confirm. I do want to get out of support as soon as I can. Thanks again.

[ratewhore]

1) Is there any particular skill/training that would be worth getting under my belt before I leave my job, that will make me more desirable.

To women, probably not.

To the market, I would suggest looking at security training. You are obviously a hands on person so look at checkpoint training to start off with or perhaps the GIAC courses, they are well thought of.

Security rocks - it's one of the better parts of the market. Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably a sad code monkey...

[oyohbb]

To women, probably not.

Oh. I was told that contracting was they way to get women, that was why I was considering it. I was planning on getting my hair cut in a fashionable way and buying a designer suit as well. Suppose I'll do it for the money then like everyone else!

[2uk]

To women, probably not.

To the market, I would suggest looking at security training. You are obviously a hands on person so look at checkpoint training to start off with or perhaps the GIAC courses, they are well thought of.

Security rocks - it's one of the better parts of the market. Anyone who tells you otherwise is probably a sad code monkey...

Do you think a ~ 27 years old person can get a Security management position ever ( CISSP/CISM etc stuff ). I am trying to decide between this and expanding my firewall knowledge ( i.e focusing on perimeter security ).

For the record - most of the jobs out there that deal with firewalls expect - Checkpoint/PIX knowledge ( both together ) plus extensive networking knowledge.