To contract or not to contract?

[urbanmonk]

I've recently resigned from a permanent position and am debating my options.

Having read countless guides on starting contracting I'm interested to try it, but I don't know if it is realistic because of my current skill set. For starters 99% of advertised contract jobs in London seem to require a background in finance (which I lack) and various related technologies.

Off the top of my head I'd list my core skills as: C/C++/C#/openGL/GLSL/Lua with a background in high-end computer graphics.
My previous job required me to learn new technologies quickly as and when they were needed, so I've dabbled in many other bits and pieces.
My questions are as follows:

1) Is there contract work for someone with my existing skill-set?
2) If there isn't what could I learn that would make me more employable?
3) Should I consider taking a permanent position in order to learn more relevant skills before starting contracting?

Advice appreciated.

[malvolio]

1) How many jobs are there asking for your skill set? If' there's none, you won't get a job. If there's loads, there wil be better experienced contractors ahead of you in the queue. So what's your USP...?

2) If you can't do it now, you can't sell it as a contractor. We buy experience, not training

3) See 2. But in this market, how are you going to get a job you're not qualified to do? There's no difference between permie and contractor when evaluating skillsets.

Contracting is not an easy option and getting harder. Be very sure you understand what you're getting into.

[nomadd]

I've recently resigned from a permanent position and am debating my options.

Having read countless guides on starting contracting I'm interested to try it, but I don't know if it is realistic because of my current skill set. For starters 99% of advertised contract jobs in London seem to require a background in finance (which I lack) and various related technologies.

Off the top of my head I'd list my core skills as: C/C++/C#/openGL/GLSL/Lua with a background in high-end computer graphics.
My previous job required me to learn new technologies quickly as and when they were needed, so I've dabbled in many other bits and pieces.
My questions are as follows:

1) Is there contract work for someone with my existing skill-set?
2) If there isn't what could I learn that would make me more employable?
3) Should I consider taking a permanent position in order to learn more relevant skills before starting contracting?

Advice appreciated.

I'd say you are pretty much screwed in the current market. I'd think your skillset would suit you well in games development (look at the job ads. in Edge mag. Some of those are contract, but not at great rates.), but even there openGL is probably less widely used than directX (unless PS3, I guess.) I think even Carmack and Co. have ditched it in Rage on PC (although I could be wrong about that.)

Outside of gaming, I think you are shooting at a very small market (one week search on Jobserve brought up only 1 uk job.)

Might be best to stick for permie for now. Try and broaden your skillset into something much more commercial. Remember, there are tons of contractors with lots of experience on the market who can't find work. Still, at the end of the day it's your choice. No harm in looking around for a contract for a while, as long as you can afford the time off.

Nomadd

[Clippy]

I've recently resigned from a permanent position and am debating my options.

Having read countless guides on starting contracting I'm interested to try it, but I don't know if it is realistic because of my current skill set. For starters 99% of advertised contract jobs in London seem to require a background in finance (which I lack) and various related technologies.

Off the top of my head I'd list my core skills as: C/C++/C#/openGL/GLSL/Lua with a background in high-end computer graphics.
My previous job required me to learn new technologies quickly as and when they were needed, so I've dabbled in many other bits and pieces.
My questions are as follows:

1) Is there contract work for someone with my existing skill-set?
2) If there isn't what could I learn that would make me more employable?
3) Should I consider taking a permanent position in order to learn more relevant skills before starting contracting?

Advice appreciated.

Out of interest, why would you resign a permie job in the middle of a recession???

[mace]

Out of interest, why would you resign a permie job in the middle of a recession???

Probably because employers know that there are 1000s of people out there. I left 6 weeks ago, and it was hell. My stress levels are beginning to return to normal.

[urbanmonk]

Hey, thanks for the replies!

1) How many jobs are there asking for your skill set?

In my area of specialisation: not nearly as many as I would like. One of the reasons I posted was to ascertain if it's possible to get contract work on the basis of being a solid developer with a proven track record (albeit not as a contractor) rather than having niche skills.

If' there's none, you won't get a job. If there's loads, there wil be better experienced contractors ahead of you in the queue. So what's your USP...?

yeah - a good point - at the moment my USP would be my expertise in CG, but few people seem to use contractors for this kinda thing (probably because the tech is kept under wraps). That or my discount rates...

2) If you can't do it now, you can't sell it as a contractor. We buy experience, not training

Yep - I figured this was the case - hence #3...

3) See 2. But in this market, how are you going to get a job you're not qualified to do? There's no difference between permie and contractor when evaluating skillsets.

I suspect I would be able to get a perm entry level job (I'm still young enough to be considered malleable). It would mean crap pay etc. but I'd consider it as a means to an end (i.e. acquiring the skills/experience I'm lacking).

Contracting is not an easy option and getting harder. Be very sure you understand what you're getting into.

Duly noted. Hence this post.

I'd think your skillset would suit you well in games development

You think correctly (but that's not what I've been up to of late ).

Try and broaden your skillset into something much more commercial.

I completely agree, do you have any recommendations? What kind of skills/tech would be a solid basis for securing regular contract work?

Out of interest, why would you resign a permie job in the middle of a recession???

I was bored and I like to scare myself silly.

Probably because employers know that there are 1000s of people out there.

...and good luck to them. I would not like to be the one who has to pick up the pieces...

[krytonsheep]

What kind of skills/tech would be a solid basis for securing regular contract work?

You can look at a graph of various job trends on this site

perm entry level job

From the skills you've listed I would say you should be able to get a senior developer role somewhere with a fairly decent salary (depending on experience).

[centurian]

One of the reasons I posted was to ascertain if it's possible to get contract work on the basis of being a solid developer with a proven track record

No. Next...


Seriously the problem is that there are literally hundreds (or even thousands) of "solid developers" currently benched.

"Proven track record"

Quite frankly, that means diddly squat, because every other CV will say the same. How do you "prove" it in the 4 seconds that someone will glance at your CV, or even the 30 minutes of an interview. You can only prove it if they know about the exact cases you are talking about.


Don't get me wrong - some developers are worth their weight in gold (i.e. the right mix of skills, attitude, drive etc.). You may be just that type of person. The problem is that you can't evaluate that from a CV and everybody else looking to land a role will tell the recruiter that they are also as solid as a rock.

What they will be able to see from a CV is that you have never contracted before and there are 200 CV's from folks that have.




So the only way you will get a role will be
a) Having a great match for a required skillset
b) Personal contacts / recommendations - someone that can testify to the fact that you are a solid developer.
c) Incredible luck...


So while my initial one-liner response at the top may seem a joking reply, it pretty much sums up your chances of getting a contract role. You might fare better with other permie roles though.


HTH

[mrdonuts]

the waters fine come on in

[RichardCranium]

"the water's fine come on in" - Fred Frigid, AKA "the Cryo King", 3rd Feb 1974 demonstrating his new dry-ice outdoor shower invention to the British Antarctic Expedition.

Have they recovered his body, yet?