Plan B....???!!!????

[nomadd]

Thanks...

My worry is will this be the end for contracting...??
Now lot many contract jobs are advertised as Fixed term contracts ..ie Permie salary but no Permie benefits, more over all of these so called first tier recruiters have setup their own consulting companies say Hays/Capita etc & started employing people in those arms rather than recruiting contractors. So I doubt contracting never will be the same again..??

Except it's mental in Banking at the mo., and good rates too. I've got back into that side of things over the last 2-3 years, after giving the MBA/Phd thing a huge amount of thought. From a purely financial point of view, I'm glad I "wasted" my time where I did (lower paid contracts, building up my banking skills) as it's kept me in contracting. Longer term, who knows?

I'd say do the MBA or a Phd because you want to. I personally know quite a few people who've gone the MBA route thinking it would improve their employment prospects and it's done nothing of the sort. As ever, nothing in life is guaranteed.

Just my two cents.

Nomadd

[lje]

doing an IT start-up is completely different from the skills you'd be taught on an MBA.

I guess that depends on the type of MBA. I did a general MBA which gave me a basic knowledge of a wide range of stuff, some of which could be useful for an IT startup, such as accounting, corporate finance and business strategy. As with any of these things it also depends on the person, their attitude to doing the MBA and what they take away from it. I don't think I would run things in a hugely different way now but I do have a lot more tools to choose from.

My worry is will this be the end for contracting...??

I don't think so. Once the economy picks up again I expect it to continue as before.

I'd say do the MBA or a Phd because you want to.

Exactly. In the UK an MBA is not going to get you a job (although it won't do any harm). Do it if you are interested in doing it and maybe changing career afterwards. It is unlikely to be a good financial investment on its own.

[larson]

I come from quite a heavy academic background. I wouldn't advise just doing any old MBA, mainly because they aren't actually that well respected in the IT and services industry.

The real, valuable, MBA's are those demanding high fees at respected institutions with a long history. Yep, those well known ones that just popped into your head.

You'd be better concentrating on project management certifications, or if you desire, more technical skills.

An MSc would perhaps not be a bad idea if you have the money to get along whilst doing it, as that can actually be more respected by upper management in a position you're applying for than an MBA. It was MBA's and the structured teaching that could be said to have gotten certain businesses in America into trouble.

I know a few people without degrees in contracting who thought it would be a good idea, and it certainly is rewarding after the 3/4 years, depending on which UK country you live in, but most people would admit that at university you are learning how to learn and analyse information. So don't be expecting miracles in your job prospects as a result of doing one, and it requires dedication for a few years. It may even perhaps show a lack of direction on your part.

However, given some responses, I suspect you've already got academia coming out of your pores, so you probably already knew half of what I just wrote. I wouldn't rush into an MBA these days, unless you're entrepreneurial, as a final point.

[Darren_Test]

I come from quite a heavy academic background. I wouldn't advise just doing any old MBA, mainly because they aren't actually that well respected in the IT and services industry.

The real, valuable, MBA's are those demanding high fees at respected institutions with a long history. Yep, those well known ones that just popped into your head.

You'd be better concentrating on project management certifications, or if you desire, more technical skills.

An MSc would perhaps not be a bad idea if you have the money to get along whilst doing it, as that can actually be more respected by upper management in a position you're applying for than an MBA. It was MBA's and the structured teaching that could be said to have gotten certain businesses in America into trouble.

I know a few people without degrees in contracting who thought it would be a good idea, and it certainly is rewarding after the 3/4 years, depending on which UK country you live in, but most people would admit that at university you are learning how to learn and analyse information. So don't be expecting miracles in your job prospects as a result of doing one, and it requires dedication for a few years. It may even perhaps show a lack of direction on your part.

However, given some responses, I suspect you've already got academia coming out of your pores, so you probably already knew half of what I just wrote. I wouldn't rush into an MBA these days, unless you're entrepreneurial, as a final point.

Thanks..Not a big fan of MBA, but just thought productive use of time...