Java dev transition to contracting

[malvolio]

The other side of NLUK's post that you may not have picked up is that there is no certain career progression in contracting. Get a couple of gigs as a Java guru and that's what you will be forever, if you're not careful and lucky in equal measure. So the obvious risk is going in under your skill level just to get work means you risk staying at that level.

And to expand on that slightly, I've been asked for a reference for someone who had applied for a role as a PM. When working for me he had delivered a couple of projects - small scale stuff, desktop upgrades, that kind of thing- and in all honesty I could not justify calling him a PM, since he had none of the soft skills and budget experience they need (note; I didn't tell the agency that, just in case he got the gig and was good at it). Personally I went from tyro ITIL consultant (foundation cert only!) building a workable service desk to Service Architect for a major integrator, but it took 20 years and a fair bit of luck, as well as some other roles delivering real stuff in between to widen the skillset, to do it.

You make your own career - but you have to have both drive and good luck as well as experience to progress. Especially in software when you need a complete tech refresh every couple of years.

[hugebrain]

I guess that's the reality check I needed... not only what's above but the whole answer, I appreciate that.



I understand this is written from a point of view of someone who is highly experienced and capable, but is all contractinig like this? I read in another thread that someone started contracting after spending 2 years after graduation doing perm roles. I understand this kind of start may mean lower rates etc. Or is this kind of scenario impossible at all?

Lots of people start with no experience at all and just read a book on whatever programming language it is on the tube on the way into work.

The advice you are getting is Dilbert-style you should consider dry cleaning instead (competition keeps the price of getting our shirts ironed low AND keeps our contracting rates up).

So, I’ll go with that. Try dry cleaning instead.

[northernladuk]

Lots of people start with no experience at all and just read a book on whatever programming language it is on the tube on the way into work.

In permie land yes because the asset is the person not the skills. Co's want good people they can invest in and will be a long term asset. In contracting they need specialist knowledge. If you mean contracting they you are talking tulip.

The advice you are getting is Dilbert-style you should consider dry cleaning instead (competition keeps the price of getting our shirts ironed low AND keeps our contracting rates up).

So, I’ll go with that. Try dry cleaning instead.

Absolutely no idea what that is supposed to mean either.

[Paralytic]

Do you think you could elaborate a bit on the 'reasonable standard' part?

One example: in my distant pass when I recruited a team, we asked candidates for any open source projects they had contributed towards. If they didn't have an automated unit test suite aligned to the codebase (with a decent level of coverage), the CV was filed in the bin. I'm not saying all clients would be like that, but that was a red flag for me, so you've got to look at your code with outside eyes and honestly ask yourself what it says about you (professionally). What is reasonable may differ by client.

[malvolio]

In permie land yes because the asset is the person not the skills. Co's want good people they can invest in and will be a long term asset. In contracting they need specialist knowledge. If you mean contracting they you are talking tulip.

Absolutely no idea what that is supposed to mean either.

It means "I have no idea what I'm talking about but I fancy an argument". Best ignored, both as advice or commentary.

[hugebrain]

In permie land yes because the asset is the person not the skills. Co's want good people they can invest in and will be a long term asset. In contracting they need specialist knowledge. If you mean contracting they you are talking tulip.

Absolutely no idea what that is supposed to mean either.

Of course contractors can do this. Just tell the client you have whatever specialist knowledge is in the job spec then go to duck duck go and search for whatever it is interview questions. It’s not like it’s hard. Best combined with a big smile and a firm handshake.

The second bit was merely pointing out that some of our less able contractors don’t like the competition so might try to steer newbies in another direction.

[malvolio]

Of course contractors can do this. Just tell the client you have whatever specialist knowledge is in the job spec then go to duck duck go and search for whatever it is interview questions. It’s not like it’s hard. Best combined with a big smile and a firm handshake.

I recognise the words but the meaning rather escapes me, assuming there is one.

The second bit was merely pointing out that some of our less able contractors don’t like the competition so might try to steer newbies in another direction.

Exactly what competition does a java jockey offer to a pair of service management specialists?

[hugebrain]

I recognise the words but the meaning rather escapes me, assuming there is one.



Exactly what competition does a java jockey offer to a pair of service management specialists?

Try and keep up. He could go to duck duck go and search for “service management interview questions” and then take your next contract away from you.

Anyway, I thought you were a recruitment agent?

[malvolio]

Try and keep up. He could go to duck duck go and search for “service management interview questions” and then take your next contract away from you.

Anyway, I thought you were a recruitment agent?

No, still makes no sense. And I was a senior service architect (which, incidentally, demands a far wider range of skills that any given programming specialist would ever need).. Anyone who's been paying attention over the last dozen years or so will have very little doubt as to my feelings about agents.

Still, keep on trying to make your point stick, it is providing some entertainment value if nothing else.

[hugebrain]

No, still makes no sense. And I was a senior service architect (which, incidentally, demands a far wider range of skills that any given programming specialist would ever need).. Anyone who's been paying attention over the last dozen years or so will have very little doubt as to my feelings about agents.

Still, keep on trying to make your point stick, it is providing some entertainment value if nothing else.

So you designed warships? Impressive if true.

Anyway my main point was that you don’t need to have any particular skills to go contracting, and the OP should have a go if he wants to.