Levelling up in contracting - mentoring/coaching services?

[edison]

First off you've got to know the market you need to break in to. Are there roles out there for 700+ backend engineers? Sounds top of the range to me but I don't know that skill well. Not many 'doers' getting much more than that and then it's highly dependant on the the clients.

Pull out the roles that you are aiming for, if they exist, and look in to what they need and you don't have. That will guide your progress. I don't see how books and mentoring will make much difference. The client has a need and you have to have the skills that fill it. You must have seen roles that you want but can't get. Why can't you get them?

There is quite a bit out there to help with this sort of thing but it's mainly aimed at very experienced people, probably in the range of £800-1500 day rates and not really for roles like engineers. Contrary to what some might think, not everyone who has the skills to charge a high day rate does actually know how to go about doing it on their own for the first time (thinking mostly of ex-permies here).

I think mentoring is the sort of thing that might benefit the OP but probably over a longer period of time to achieve some of what he has in mind. I mentor several people through an organisation that has mentored a large number of people in IT, mostly techies.

OP - I'll DM you with details, all the organisation's mentors work for free so no charge to you.

[NotAllThere]

(Moderator pauses long enough to put down can of special brew).

In other industries - there are often organisations, clubs, societies, or even simply put companies helping with career or business development, which do have access to a wide range of tangible useful data.

Be careful though. Check out the Lighthouse International, which has been labelled a cult.

[TheDude]

If you have a LinkedIn account you will undoubtedly be bombarded by business coaches and mentors.

I am still waiting to find one that has surpassed my own modest achievements.

[edison]

If you have a LinkedIn account you will undoubtedly be bombarded by business coaches and mentors.

I am still waiting to find one that has surpassed my own modest achievements.

There's a big difference between coaching and mentoring. Mentors are normally people who've been there, done that and can pass on their experience and wisdom to someone less experienced.

Coaching is more about helping a person to help themselves find the answers. Anyone can call themselves a coach, it's completely unregulated.

There are two main coaching bodies that offer accreditation based on practical training. How good are they? I'm not 100% sure.