New to contracting.

[DoorknobAndFridgeTheory]

Hi all,

I am a Java/C# Software Engineer and new to contracting. I'm currently finding it very hard to find any work apart from bits and bobs on sites like rentacoder. I have a years commercial experience as a java developer, and 1 years experience developing games and applications for mobile phones.

I would be grateful if anyone could give me some tips.

James.

[Sockpuppet]

Hi all,

I am a Java/C# Software Engineer and new to contracting. I'm currently finding it very hard to find any work apart from bits and bobs on sites like rentacoder. I have a years commercial experience as a java developer, and 1 years experience developing games and applications for mobile phones.

I would be grateful if anyone could give me some tips.

James.

Get some more experiance. 1 year doesn't mean tulip.

Not in the "current climate" where there are far more people with much more under their belt looking for contracts.

GO permie for a few years then come back to it.

[ratewhore]

interesting ID though...

[Turion]

Hi all,

I am a Java/C# Software Engineer and new to contracting. I'm currently finding it very hard to find any work apart from bits and bobs on sites like rentacoder. I have a years commercial experience as a java developer, and 1 years experience developing games and applications for mobile phones.

I would be grateful if anyone could give me some tips.

James.

James,

I wrote this utility for you. If you run it it will tell you what to do:

if (cv.current_skills + cv.experience != contractor_material) {
call getPermieJob(cv);
}

[FiveTimes]

James,

I wrote this utility for you. If you run it it will tell you what to do:

if (cv.current_skills + cv.experience != contractor_material) {
call getPermieJob(cv);
}

That stuff is serious. You must have 2 years experience to write something like that

[someone has my name]

Get some more experiance. 1 year doesn't mean tulip.

Not in the "current climate" where there are far more people with much more under their belt looking for contracts.

GO permie for a few years then come back to it.

WHS ...

but to be honest I went into straight from uni!..

[Sockpuppet]

WHS ...

but to be honest I went into straight from uni!..

Well ok it depends on the person.l I had a mate who started up his own IT company straight from Uni. I.e. the same as a contractor but all direct no IR35 etc.

[chewie171]

The problem is there are loads of Java developers with alot of experience, myself being one of them

So your CV is probably going to go to the bottom of the pile unless you can put some really outstanding stuff on it.

I think alot of people will discount you if you havent got 5 years experience.

Thats not to say you cant break into contracting, im a great beliver in:
where there's a will there's a way.

[MikeB]

Fco

If you're SC cleared, the Foreign Office nr Milton Keynes are looking for Java bods...

[firehawk]

well it is hard indeed, you DO need experience. I'm 22 and started contracting last year, but before then I was lucky enough and worked for MS as a software dev and also are a C# MVP and have all the experience and more, since it is their technology we are using, so im always in demand but the clients sometimes are the ones that just mess you around and "degrade" you for no reason, which makes it harder to get your next contract

currently the market is VERY poor so with that also in consideration, if I were you I SERIOUSLY would consider going perm, get some GOOD experience, best practices etc... and do some personal projects as a "portfolio" of some sort I guess, some good solid examples, then also by the time you have this, the IT market should be much better than what it is right now...then go contracting

the whole IR35 business is really just...urgh, right now. so as a new comer, i wouldn't recommend contracting just yet, otherwise if you do 1 little thing wrong, you pretty much could be taken to court by HMRC - they are tough on this and something that shouldn't be taken lightly.