First time contractor - advice needed.

[KeithR]

I've never been contracting before, but I am considering doing so in the new year. Aside from the obvious dilemma of Ltd Co vs Umbrella and all the pros and cons thereto, what concerns me above all else is being able to get a contract at all in the current climate.

I feel I will be taking a considerable risk in leaving the relative security of my permanent job to become immediately available for a contract. I know this is probably like asking how long is a piece of string, but are there any long-timers out there that have experience of contracting in conditions such as this, who can perhaps offer a little reassurance?

My skill sets are Excel/Access VBA, C# .Net, SQL Server, looking to secure a contract in London (looking most likely to bear the brunt of the employment slowdown )

Many thanks for any help/advice!

Keith

[JoJoGabor]

Now really isn't a good time to start contracting unless you have been laid off!!

Myself and probably quite a few others on this board have had to resort to permie roles recently. Mates who are still contracting are having a bitch of a time getting renewals and even when they do start dates are being delayed, contracts hortened early contract endings etc.

[expat]

I've never been contracting before, but I am considering doing so in the new year.

Many thanks for any help/advice!

Keith

Keef, you've got a job, playing guitar, or have you forgotten?

[KeithR]

Keef, you've got a job, playing guitar, or have you forgotten?

Thanks for that, but I have my reasons, which I don't care to go into here.

[KeithR]

Now really isn't a good time to start contracting unless you have been laid off!!

Myself and probably quite a few others on this board have had to resort to permie roles recently. Mates who are still contracting are having a bitch of a time getting renewals and even when they do start dates are being delayed, contracts hortened early contract endings etc.

I was afraid of that. A mate of mine is a BizTalk consultant, and his contract has just been extended another 6 months, and he doesn't exactly come cheap! I guess it depends what field you're in.

Cheers!

[BrilloPad]

I've never been contracting before, but I am considering doing so in the new year. Aside from the obvious dilemma of Ltd Co vs Umbrella and all the pros and cons thereto, what concerns me above all else is being able to get a contract at all in the current climate.

I feel I will be taking a considerable risk in leaving the relative security of my permanent job to become immediately available for a contract. I know this is probably like asking how long is a piece of string, but are there any long-timers out there that have experience of contracting in conditions such as this, who can perhaps offer a little reassurance?

My skill sets are Excel/Access VBA, C# .Net, SQL Server, looking to secure a contract in London (looking most likely to bear the brunt of the employment slowdown )

Many thanks for any help/advice!

Keith

Don't do it - wait a while. Since SEptember 16th Market has dropped off a cliff - especially in London.

[norrahe]

WHS - the market is flooded with people with your skillset.

leave it till Feb next year

[pmeswani]

I've never been contracting before, but I am considering doing so in the new year. Aside from the obvious dilemma of Ltd Co vs Umbrella and all the pros and cons thereto, what concerns me above all else is being able to get a contract at all in the current climate.

I feel I will be taking a considerable risk in leaving the relative security of my permanent job to become immediately available for a contract. I know this is probably like asking how long is a piece of string, but are there any long-timers out there that have experience of contracting in conditions such as this, who can perhaps offer a little reassurance?

My skill sets are Excel/Access VBA, C# .Net, SQL Server, looking to secure a contract in London (looking most likely to bear the brunt of the employment slowdown )

Many thanks for any help/advice!

Keith

The general consensus is to wait. I would agree. If you have a contract to go to, then fair enough. Keep an eye out on the job boards and appl for as many jobs as possible, but don't leave your current job until you have secured a contract.

[KeithR]

Don't do it - wait a while. Since SEptember 16th Market has dropped off a cliff - especially in London.

Agree, it would be foolish to hand my notice in. Guess I should be thankful I've got something reasonably secure, which is more than a lot of people at the moment. Still sucks though!

I suppose it won't hurt to still put my CV out there.

[Another Dodgy Agent]

The general consensus is to wait. I would agree. If you have a contract to go to, then fair enough. Keep an eye out on the job boards and appl for as many jobs as possible, but don't leave your current job until you have secured a contract.

WHS

Now is not a good time to be not working. However nothing wrong with scouring the market whilst maintaining your current role.