Newbie looking for first contract advice

[Rabotnik]

I was applying for contracts before I'd even handed in my notice on my permie role, got a couple of interviews but not much else interest. I assumed (hoped) my notice period was the issue. Ironically the contract I've just landed was for the first interview I had since finishing my permanent role 3 weeks ago. I don't mind admiting those 3 weeks weren't easy to sit through. Certainly a realistic introduction to the contract market!

Well done on finally landing one, must have been a bit nerve-racking for those 3 weeks! I'm especially anxious about getting my first contract soon since Christmas is just around the corner and jobs might dry up around then I think. I have a few days off this week, so I will use those to call the agents soon after I've applied for the role. Apparently this is recommended practice to get your CV noticed.

BTW, did you already have your company set up before getting the contract? I have been putting off creating my company since I wanted to let my accountant do that and register it for VAT when I first hire them. Otherwise if I hire them now I might be sitting for a month or 2 paying them +-£100 for nothing.

[craig1]

Well done on finally landing one, must have been a bit nerve-racking for those 3 weeks! I'm especially anxious about getting my first contract soon since Christmas is just around the corner and jobs might dry up around then I think. I have a few days off this week, so I will use those to call the agents soon after I've applied for the role. Apparently this is recommended practice to get your CV noticed.

BTW, did you already have your company set up before getting the contract? I have been putting off creating my company since I wanted to let my accountant do that and register it for VAT when I first hire them. Otherwise if I hire them now I might be sitting for a month or 2 paying them +-£100 for nothing.

Register your company now, register it for VAT, get the bank account set up and so on. It makes you look just that little bit more professional. You can start your accountant when you get your contract underway, you don't need one for your incorporation; if you really can't do the incorporation yourself, get it done as a fixed price one-off task.

On the subject of things you can do in advance, I have an email that I created for an agent years ago and I now resend to agencies as soon as I get a contract offer. It contains:
Company details plus copy of certificate of incorporation
VAT details plus copy of certificate of registration
Bank account details making it clear it's a company account
Copy of passport (some agencies don't ask for it but many do)
Personal details. Name, address
A summary of the offer details as I understand them, including rate, duration, fixed location, payment and invoicing terms, notice and expense agreement*

For me, that sets a very high ground in my contract negotiations with the agency as it tells them I know what I'm doing and raises my credibility with those setting up the contract in most agencies.

* for example, my current rate is all inclusive apart from mileage at the HMRC upper rate from my home to any site other than the fixed location.

[Rabotnik]

Register your company now, register it for VAT, get the bank account set up and so on. It makes you look just that little bit more professional. You can start your accountant when you get your contract underway, you don't need one for your incorporation; if you really can't do the incorporation yourself, get it done as a fixed price one-off task.

On the subject of things you can do in advance, I have an email that I created for an agent years ago and I now resend to agencies as soon as I get a contract offer. It contains:
Company details plus copy of certificate of incorporation
VAT details plus copy of certificate of registration
Bank account details making it clear it's a company account
Copy of passport (some agencies don't ask for it but many do)
Personal details. Name, address
A summary of the offer details as I understand them, including rate, duration, fixed location, payment and invoicing terms, notice and expense agreement*

For me, that sets a very high ground in my contract negotiations with the agency as it tells them I know what I'm doing and raises my credibility with those setting up the contract in most agencies.

* for example, my current rate is all inclusive apart from mileage at the HMRC upper rate from my home to any site other than the fixed location.

Cheers mate, that's some good advice. I think I will have a go at setting it up myself then so everything is good to go when I finally land a gig.