Advice needed on how to stay ahead of the game and deliver

[oscarose]

Having worked for years as a permie getting things done as a project manager through sheer arrogance and ...

I'd suggest you need some ‘attitude adjustment’ before embarking on a switch to contracting.

[TheFaQQer]

Having worked for years as a permie getting things done as a project manager through sheer arrogance and an attitude of "I couldn't give a f*** if you did it or didn't" towards everyone, and obviously it took twice as much time to get the simplest task done!

...

I'm sure many here have been in similar situations and learnt a ton of tricks along the way, any advice for a novice contractor?

I'm not sure that many people here have gone from having no skills and being an arse to fooling the client that you can deliver what you promised (MF and SY01 excepted, obviously )

Go back to permie.

[mos]

I'm not sure that many people here have gone from having no skills and being an arse to fooling the client that you can deliver what you promised (MF and SY01 excepted, obviously )

Go back to permie.

+10

[psychocandy]

Dont know about everyone else but I never understand PMs who think they can give techies a hard time....

My motto - "He who shouts loudest can **** off!"

[escapeUK]

Having worked for years as a permie getting things done as a project manager through sheer arrogance and an attitude of "I couldn't give a f*** if you did it or didn't" towards everyone, and obviously it took twice as much time to get the simplest task done!

I kinda know what he means. When I was permie, I would often be in meetings with quite senior people in the business who would agree that they or their team would get something done in the next week. During the next meeting 90% of it was undone, some times not even thought about it since last meeting.

So its quite easy to get to that attitude.

[norrahe]

I kinda know what he means. When I was permie, I would often be in meetings with quite senior people in the business who would agree that they or their team would get something done in the next week. During the next meeting 90% of it was undone, some times not even thought about it since last meeting.

So its quite easy to get to that attitude.

Yes but when you're a contractor, its best to rethink that attitude. If you p*ss off your team or set unrealistic deadlines nowt will get done.

Often senior staff just like to stick their oar in and screw things up and expect you as a contractor to still get things done.

[Epiphone]

Yes! I've landed my first contract deal getting paid more that I could have dreamt of, but now comes the tough part of delivering and getting extensions!

Having worked for years as a permie getting things done as a project manager through sheer arrogance and an attitude of "I couldn't give a f*** if you did it or didn't" towards everyone, and obviously it took twice as much time to get the simplest task done!

So, here am I getting out of that dreadful situation and starting contracting - now the client wants me to deliver and lay foundation to a 3 year program in 3 months!!! deliver in 3 months? or I get fired!!

I'm sure many here have been in similar situations and learnt a ton of tricks along the way, any advice for a novice contractor?

This doesn't make much sense but I think the gist of it is:

"I used to be a permie and was an insufferable pr1ck. Now I've gone contracting and blagged a good rate but bitten off far more than I can chew. I can't bully people any more because I don't have any faux powers because I'm not in the client hierarchy at all. Will someone please tell me how to pull my arse out of the fire before I get rumbled".

[Robinho]

Just go in there and do your best. If they think you're tulip, they'll get rid of you, you'll have a bit of money in your pocket and you can try for another gig. If they think you're alright they'll keep you on. They hired you.

[Scoobos]

WHS ^^

But be careful, unfortunately, in my experience you are only as good as your last contract in this game.

I've seen people hit rock bottom after picking a nasty role/client. Whilst confidence in your ability is part of this game, if you oversell your abilities and get seen as a blagger , don't expect the client to be happy.

Also, whilst it's appealing to play Malcolm Truss, and feel all powerful ; it WILL bite you in the bum , contracting is a small world - in just a few years I see familiar faces from gig to gig.

[bluedeyedboy]

Yeah.... contractors don't get fired.

Dismissed then