Advice for a noob

[malvolio]

Thanks James; I guess for UX and user research - the academic side would be a selling point.

Are you glad you made the leap? For me, it's coming down to money; I'd have to do so much work to become a reader/professor, and there would still be no guarantees

Don't do contracting for the money. Do it because you like what you do and the way you do it and the freedom it gives you - not just time but keeping out of office politics and all the usual Human Remains nonsenses.

Money is only ever a comfort factor and while having a solid income is always desirable, you can get too focussed on keeping that going at the expense of the good stuff. Look at how many posts we see on people trying to screw every last penny out of what is already a top 5% income stream or stressing because they are forced to have a week or two off or their invoice is two days late.

You will find plenty of stresses in being a contractor these days anyway. Live to work, not work to live.

[jamesbrown]

Agree with the above, but it is literally impossible to find a more stressful job than being an academic in the current UK university environment, so less stress is basically guaranteed for the OP. It's a different type of stress, wondering where the next gig is coming from, but you get used to that and a warchest provides confidence.

[eek]

Agree with the above, but it is literally impossible to find a more stressful job than being an academic in the current UK university environment, so less stress is basically guaranteed for the OP. It's a different type of stress, wondering where the next gig is coming from, but you get used to that and a warchest provides confidence.

A warchest is the f*** u money that allows you to control your own destiny...

[northernladuk]

Clients get contractors in to fill fill a need they don't have. They look for someone that has delivered exactly what they want over and over and can hit the floor running and give some value add. You will be up against many people that have done that role over and over. You need to be able to demonstrate you have delivered everything on the role spec to the letter. They don't want 'could do' or 'i'll have a go' they want an industry specialist. Think about when you want an extension building at home. Do you get a guy in that could do it or has read the book or someone that has delivered many builds to clients before. If you can't demonstrate you've delivered what they want before then you've no chance.

I am in no rush, so I can build up a specialism; I like tinkering with WEB3.0. I used to work in investment banking (moving money around) - worse job ever; however, it may get me a foot into a ok contract.

As per the above this is wholly wrong. You can't build up a specialism unless you are delivering it. You don't get foots in doors with a bit of old experience. You are either very good at it and can demonstrate it recently or it's useless. There is a saying that you are only as good as your last gig so some historic experience is worthless.

Contracting doesn't always deliver the flexibility people think it does. Many perms are WFH at the moment and companies are looking at 4 day weeks and all sorts. You can always leave a perm gig and go to another. It's not like you are tied in for life.

WFH appears to be the norm at the moment but who knows where we will be in the future. I imagine it will be a mix of a few days in the office for most roles but I am sure there will start to be more and more that require more office time than now. Putting ill thought out blockers like being in an office in the way it's going to restrict the number of gigs you get which means you will spend more time on the bench with no pay. Contracting does offer some levels of flexibility but not to the extent you can be so picky you put yourself out of work. If you are really good this shouldn't be too much of a problem as another offer will be along shortly but when you are starting out it isn't helpful.

[sirus21]

Presumably you're currently employed and have time to look for something. When your first contract comes to and end (and that can be immediately with zero notice on day 1 of your contract), you have to find something else with zero income, potentially with very little/no savings. It's why us slightly more vintage contractors have war chests.

This makes a lot of sense; also, I guess you are still learning the money management stuff on the first contract.

[northernladuk]

This makes a lot of sense; also, I guess you are still learning the money management stuff on the first contract.

Not really. You need to learn and understand before you start. Being a contractor isn't about doing the work. Anyone can do that, even the permies. As a contractor your job is running your business, understanding it's accountand and managing it properly. If you see it as just a luctative way to do what you already do then you are a disguised permie not a contractor. If you don't know it before you start then you should consider using an umbrellla for the first 6 months while you get to grips with it.

[lecyclist]

There are contracts working for the university/ further education sector, where your breadth of skills may be appreciated. Easiest way starting from zero knowledge to understand whether you are capable of landing a contract, would be to do some generic searches on Jobserve for example, and review all contracts returned for your key skills. Also create a list of the agencies with skills that are compatible with your profile, and give each of them a call. If you can get past the gatekeeper (agent) the end client may view your sector experience positively.

[ConsultingTechArchitect]

Don't do contracting for the money.

it's not 100% the reason but most contractors would never make the same in perm work. The most I was ever offered for perm was 135k plus bonus. I can take over 200k as a contractor in a normal year.

it is literally impossible to find a more stressful job than being an academic in the current UK university environment

Mate...... This is the kind of low resolution thinking you get when you've lived the same year of your life over and over again. I was in Singapore trying to sell professional services to an energy company and I saw Indian labourers laying bricks in the boiling heat.. they looked far more stressed than any of the academics that lecture my kids.

[northernladuk]

There are contracts working for the university/ further education sector, where your breadth of skills may be appreciated. Easiest way starting from zero knowledge to understand whether you are capable of landing a contract, would be to do some generic searches on Jobserve for example, and review all contracts returned for your key skills. Also create a list of the agencies with skills that are compatible with your profile, and give each of them a call. If you can get past the gatekeeper (agent) the end client may view your sector experience positively.

Just to add to this you have to match the skills almost perfectly. No 'could do' or 'i'll lean on the job'. There will be someone out there that does match it and has done it in the last few contracts.

[northernladuk]

Mate...... This is the kind of low resolution thinking you get when you've lived the same year of your life over and over again. I was in Singapore trying to sell professional services to an energy company and I saw Indian labourers laying bricks in the boiling heat.. they looked far more stressed than any of the academics that lecture my kids.

That's hardly a fair comparison. Not even the same type of stress.