Consultant/"Jack of all" going contract

[monkey magix]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and I'd appreciate any advice you can give. I've been working in IT for 7 years, started on a graduate consultancy program in CSC for a couple of years doing Java stuff. Then worked for a small firm as a technical consultant in their own OO lanuage, now at Accenture as a technical consultant for 2 years working as a team lead/solution architect/manager (quite annoying to have so many hats to wear). As you may guess I've a broad techie back ground but nothing in which i would say i am an expert

My question is : As a jack of all trades and master of none am I going to find it hard to get a decent contract?

Consultancy firms usually pay well for generalists as they just need flexible people to get on with stuff, they bring in contractors for the specialist work.
I'm not too concerned with getting the big bucks, infact i would settle for a reasonable contract with good hours (this being a problem at my current job)

I'm looking at contracts on offer and can usually tick some of the boxes but not all of them. I am thinking of creating a few different versions of my CV to target different types of jobs. ... any advice?

Many thanks in advance.

MM

[cojak]

Generalists are usually termed 'Project Managers' and coming from a big consultancy people expect to pay top dollar only if you have at least a few years experience managing reasonably sized projects.

HTH.

PS. It helps if you're a good PM but IME this is not essential...

[Mordac]

I've been working in IT for 7 years, started on a graduate consultancy program in CSC

Don't mean to be rude, but how does someone with 7 years experience (and on a grad programme ) get to believe they are a "jack of all"? Is this some new brainwashing technique? "Hi Monkey, welcome to CSC, now go and run the world." I know people with more than 7 years in a single discipline, who don't even consider themselves masters of that one. I hope you haven't fallen for the corporate hype - I'm watching a CSC project go pearshaped from a safe distance at my current client (probably not a coincidence that most of the dev work is happening in India). All the youngsters think they're working on the greatest project ever undertaken, all the old-timers know exactly what's coming and can't wait for the pub to open of an evening.

[TheMonkey]

All the youngsters think they're working on the greatest project ever undertaken, all the old-timers know exactly what's coming and can't wait for the pub to open of an evening.

So true. I'm a youngster with a slightly different attitude.

Universal theory of IT: Assume everything is a crock of tulip from day one and you'll never be disappointed!

[monkey magix]

Don't mean to be rude, but how does someone with 7 years experience (and on a grad programme ) get to believe they are a "jack of all"? Is this some new brainwashing technique? "Hi Monkey, welcome to CSC, now go and run the world." I know people with more than 7 years in a single discipline, who don't even consider themselves masters of that one. I hope you haven't fallen for the corporate hype - I'm watching a CSC project go pearshaped from a safe distance at my current client (probably not a coincidence that most of the dev work is happening in India).

Maybe you have taken my "jack of all" comment the wrong way, I was trying to point out that I hadn't spent my time on the same discipline i.e not specialising and therefor a master on none. No arrogance here, just a realisation that I'm a generalist.The most I seem to spend is 9 months on one type of role and then move to the next project although they are always technical roles and I'm slowly on the path to be a solution architect. When looking at contracts I generally see that they want people with 2~3 years experience in a particular role. As I have now looking for my first contract I was just asking for some advice.

[BlasterBates]

Well I'm afraid it doesn't look good, you don't have more than two years experience in anything. You don't have a good contracting profile. If I were you I'd look for the right permie job. If anything you're heading towards being a PM.

[funkyd]

My background is quite diverse and I found it to be a problem - nobody ever knew exactly what it is that I can do well.

Now I am changing and focussing on mobile / remote solutions / sharepoint / Windows Mobile / Blackberry and small business setups.

This is where I choose to apply my skills but underneath is SQL and C# etc of which there is plenty of work.

I find that saying I do a bit of everything is wearing a bit thin now that I am nearly 30 and been in it for 7 years. Hopefully focussing a bit will make me seem more attractive to the sort of people looking for my sort of skills.

[monkey magix]

Thanks for the information.

Feeling slightly depressed though as all the advice is not to go contracting...

[Pondlife]

Thanks for the information.

Feeling slightly depressed though as all the advice is not to go contracting...

I find it hard to belive that you've worked for Accidenture for 2 years and don't know how to tailor your CV. Sending your 'consultant profile' to prospective clients is a sales pitch and is therefore tailored to the specific client's requirements.

HTH

[Spartacus]

Thanks for the information.

Feeling slightly depressed though as all the advice is not to go contracting...

Unfortunately, mate, that's how it is. To many clients "jack of all trades" = "knows jack all". Clients don't generally take on contractors just to make up the numbers (although it has been known) but to carry out a specific, targetted piece of work. I think working for the likes of Accidenture will have shielded you from that sort of reality where teams of bods at £2k/day each are just shipped to the client site to "do stuff", that stuff often defined by themselves.

To understand coal face freelancing, you need to put the shoe on the other foot. If you were contracting someone to fit you a new bathroom, would you go for the guy who has been fitting bathrooms in private houses for 30 years and did a good job on a bathroom exactly the same as yours in the house next door, or the guy who's done a few years "general household maintenance".