How much experience do you need to have a decent chance of a contract

**cojak** · 25 February 2008, 08:30

It depends solely on your confidence on doing well in interviews and getting contracts.

I would like to think that your confidence is dependant on how good you think you are, but this isn't always the case.

If you are quick to pick up new ideas and apply them and you understand the implications of contracting (the possibility of no money coming in after the 1st contract - this can happen to anyone, experienced or not), then go for it.

Experience is relative, particularly in a new field in IT... (and remember there's such a thing as extensions).

As you become known for delivering the goods (on time, in budget), PM's will keep you on their books and bring you in on other contracts.

**Sockpuppet** · 25 February 2008, 08:53

Originally posted by cojak View Post

As you become known for delivering the goods (on time, in budget), PM's will keep you on their books and bring you in on other contracts.

Damn straight. I've only ever "won" one contract.

The other 4 coming off the back of it were word of mouth with people I worked with.

Starting to get approached directly.

Contracting: Experience not essential. Just blag it. That's what I did for my first contract.

**cojak** · 25 February 2008, 09:04

Yep, I just let it be known on my LinkedIn network that I'll be available for work in X week's time and someone usually picks me up...

**cojak** · 25 February 2008, 09:06

PS - This is why you do not put pimps into your LinkedIN network, the potential jobs on there are for you, not them...

**MarillionFan** · 25 February 2008, 09:08

Confidence is the key and the ability to talk. To be truthful technical skills(dependent on role) can be secondary.

Having met realityhack for example, you come to realise you dont actually need to have any IT knowledge as long as you can act like a cocktail party host!

**Sockpuppet** · 25 February 2008, 09:12

Originally posted by MarillionFan View Post

Having met realityhack for example, you come to realise you dont actually need to have any IT knowledge as long as you can act like a noddytail party host!

Viking, Southerly gale force 8 expected soon .... vol-u-vent anyone?

**ChimpMaster** · 25 February 2008, 09:27

From personal experience I would recommend trying to remain in the skillset that is more likely to give you contracts in the longer term. It might be easy now to fall into a specialised contract, but beyond that you may struggle to find work.

£300/day is not that much for a niche market skill. I would have thought that you can easily get more with .Net.

Think longer term. If you believe your niche market is growing, then there could be more work out there for you in the future and you'll be OK. With something like .Net, there will always be work around and it's easy enough to jump ship into another similar skillset.

**BlasterBates** · 25 February 2008, 09:37

Originally posted by cybersquatter View Post

Hi all

I've been lurking around here for a while, and while I'm currently a permie, I've been getting interested in getting into contracting. I've just spotted a contract at £300 a day that I think I'd have a pretty good chance of landing. It demands 6 months of XYZ enterprise product, and I have about a year's experience of it. I suspect the reason they only ask for 6 months' experience is because it's a fairly rare skill for someone to have years of experience in, and that's why I think I'd have a good shout at the job. However, the skill is also sufficiently rare that I think I'd struggle to find another role using that skill, in which case I'd have to fall back on my previous skills, which can largely be summed up as 2 years of pure .NET development with some application support and business analysis thrown in.

So, my question is, taking into account the sum total of my experience (3 years in total, mostly .NET development, including 1 year XYZ application- it's .NET platform and I have developed against it), would I stand a chance in hell of getting another contract once this one is up?

It depends

You have the minimum prerequisite, so you can apply. The rest depends on how you compare to the competition. If the agent bites your hand off and arranges an interview for next week, then the competition is weak. If there are 10 others applying with more experience and the same rate, then you won't be invited.

**dude69** · 25 February 2008, 09:53

Originally posted by cybersquatter View Post

Hi all

I've been lurking around here for a while, and while I'm currently a permie, I've been getting interested in getting into contracting. I've just spotted a contract at £300 a day that I think I'd have a pretty good chance of landing. It demands 6 months of XYZ enterprise product, and I have about a year's experience of it. I suspect the reason they only ask for 6 months' experience is because it's a fairly rare skill for someone to have years of experience in, and that's why I think I'd have a good shout at the job. However, the skill is also sufficiently rare that I think I'd struggle to find another role using that skill, in which case I'd have to fall back on my previous skills, which can largely be summed up as 2 years of pure .NET development with some application support and business analysis thrown in.

So, my question is, taking into account the sum total of my experience (3 years in total, mostly .NET development, including 1 year XYZ application- it's .NET platform and I have developed against it), would I stand a chance in hell of getting another contract once this one is up?

See you think £300/day is good.

They probably think it is good too (i.e. very low).

Most proper enterprise systems go £500-£1000/day with decent experience.

And don't forget most people applying to 'six month's experience' jobs have none, they just blag it, and it's quite irritating.

Big yourself up to 2 years experience and apply.

How much experience do you need to have a decent chance of a contract