Returning to contracting after a decade away

[dan_m2k]

Morning all,

Long time member and lurker here.

I contracted for nearly 10 years and then started a business, and I'm thinking of returning to contracting.

I was a LAMP developer, specialising in Wordpress/web alongside leading projects when asked. I've been running a team of 10+ for a while now so picked up a lot more skills along the way.

I used to upload my CV to the relevant job boards and this used to get the phone ringing, but the boards either don't exist anymore or seem to be on their way out.

My question, therefore, is where's good to put yourself out for this kind of work?

Cheers.

[jamesbrown]

If you haven't already, you should probably check out this thread for some perspective (it spans many years, so start at the end):

https://forums.contractoruk.com/busi...rket-1522.html

Obviously, there's no single market, but IT contracting in the UK hasn't been in great shape for a considerable period (for many different reasons) and there isn't much evidence of a turnaround, so you may be in for a shock w/r to contract availability and rates.

I would think carefully before committing because it's no good getting lucky with an initial contract if you're planning to be in it for the long haul in a terminally crap market (especially if you currently have some permie flexibility to wait for your first contract).

[dan_m2k]

Thanks for the reply James. I'll give that a look over.

Is there a reason for there to be less roles in IT contracting? Offshoring? IR35?

[hobnob]

Morning all,
I was a LAMP developer, specialising in Wordpress/web alongside leading projects when asked. I've been running a team of 10+ for a while now so picked up a lot more skills along the way.

You said that you were a LAMP developer. Is that what you're planning to do again?

I think there are fewer development roles than there used to be, because lots of organisations are now using cloud computing (SaaS) rather than running in-house systems.

[jamesbrown]

Thanks for the reply James. I'll give that a look over.

Is there a reason for there to be less roles in IT contracting? Offshoring? IR35?

I think there's an unfortunate combination of pressures on both the supply side (immigration, offshoring) and the demand side (poor economy, structural changes in IT, IR35). This is leading to fewer roles, a very large number of qualified individuals looking for work and, consequently, poor rates. This is not universal. There are still some extremely lucrative niches (mostly not in IT), but development or IT generalist roles will be tough unless you have a skillset that is in demand and up-to-date. I wouldn't consider quitting a permie role without a good existing network and clear prospects for not only a first contract but repeat business - in the past, there was sufficient work to warrant taking that risk.

Of course, there's no harm in taking a sniff around to see whether something comes up for your specific skillset - if only because it may be eye opening and will give you a better read on the market for you, personally, rather than a more general market - but I would definitely not quit your existing job on a wing and a prayer.

[Fraidycat]

It's not just contracting, all IT job types are going to get crushed by AI. The latest models released in the last few months are just so good.

The latest models will a have deep understanding of your codebase or requirements, but typically they generate generic slop by default, but when you show them examples of best practice patterns to use on your specific project, they stop generating slop and use the patterns you show them instead.

This is similar to human junior and mid level developers, they typically write code and documentation using sloppy patterns as well and have to be guided a bit.

You can get the AI to develop detailed specs from high level use cases and expected behaviour and wireframes, write DDD and BDD and TDD tests cases then write the code as well and finally write all the performance and soak tests.. You just give the AI your best practice templates to follow..

So ball park guess you now need 33% or 50% fewer workers may be even 66% fewer workers on a project compared to previously. That is across the board, managers, analysts, testers and developers.

So unless companies decide they want do 2 to 3 times as many projects as they were doing before, things are going to get even more ugly on the demand side.

[Protagoras]

Absent being out of work or totally hating one's job, there aren't many things to drive people towards IT contacting in most roles in the UK.

The are some niche areas but in general the lack of demand (offshoring, macro economy, AI?) and the difficulty of obtaining 'outside' roles for the medium to long term doesn't I think make for an attractive prospect for contracting.

My observation is that younger folk have headed to perm, older have given up or are tolerating 'the market' pending giving up. For those able to, re-skilling to a new trade would be a good option.

Sorry, I know this sounds discouraging, but to secure contract roles one needs a niche skills set. I know several people doing very well in 'security' roles, although the work looks as dull as ditchwater to me!

[sadkingbilly]

It's not just contracting, all IT job types are going to get crushed by AI. The latest models released in the last few months are just so good.

not necessarily.
but, then, - you always look on the bright side, don't you??

[SussexSeagull]

Unless you have one of these fabled niche skills I wouldn’t bother going back into contracting as it looks to be over as a mass industry, although permanent roles aren’t far behind it.

[hungry_hog]

Brogues replaced by New Balance
In person replaced by Zoom / Teams
Latte replaced by flat white
VBA replaced by Python
Free weights replaced by Hyrox