Re-training, new skills, contract perspective

[BolshieBastard]

hi BB,

The dilemma of being a contractor, and therefore not really getting a chance to be hired for a new skill, was pretty much the thrust of my opening questions.

So, you become expert in one field, and get work in newer releases of the software or product you use, but it can be restrictive. Unless you pick your product well.

I was wondering how the more experienced contractors dealt with times in the past when their skills became dated, and needed to re-skill.

PS: I think I may be too focussed on technical skills, rather than managerial skills (Prince, ITIL, etc). But, please, any insights on either would be good.

There'll always be exceptions to the rule but, in a market like now when clients give agencies a wishlist of skills needed for the role and can select from literally hundreds of potential candidates, they wont consider anyone who isnt a 100% fit and doesnt have on the job experience in all of them.

Just having trained on something wont cut it (imo) and contractors will be passed over for those who show working experience of all the skills on their cv.

I guess in these circumstances, this is where 'tailoring' your cv comes in. Or, you tell a downright lie! You could try offering yourself at a significantly lower rate in these circumstances but again, Im not convinced that tactic would work.

The time to re skill, again, imo, is when the market is bouyant because in a shrinking market, no experience means not getting the role.

Alternatively, getting a permie role (yuk!) to gain new skills can have its advantages.

[cojak]

I don't mean walk into a contract straight after the training (current contract excepted) - that's why I say 18 - 24 months. You really do need a plan. I tend to get the training and then find a way to use the new knowledge/skill in my current contract (even if it's only introducing the new skill to the client), and then go on from there.

[Fishface]

Clients love sharepoint, most techies hate it

mind boggling how they go for it !

click here and you can change look and feel - ooooooh, it goes to a 'library' - oooooooh, the search is bad but you can filter by Word document type - oooooh - and you can open a Word doc by clicking here - ooooooh ......

it is a solid pile of poo.

[jmo21]

I am trying to wean current client co off of Sharepoint.

They have 3 apps that are intertwined with SP, and they are 3 of the most badly written piles of crap I've ever seen.

I have rewritten one, and hoping to get the chance to do the other 2 as well.

[evilagent]

Didn't want to focus too much on Sharepoint, as I just thought it would be interesting to learn.

Perhaps a better worded question would be:
If you had the opportunity to re-train to a new skill, what would you go for, and why?

Is it because of the wider range of opportunities, (longevity)
Or because you think that it will gather momentum in the future, and you want to get in on the ground floor, (first mover advantage)
Or because of its nicheness and opportunity for attracting premium rates (high value skill)
Or just personal interest in the technology.

[Liamxtype]

I don't mean walk into a contract straight after the training (current contract excepted) - that's why I say 18 - 24 months. You really do need a plan. I tend to get the training and then find a way to use the new knowledge/skill in my current contract (even if it's only introducing the new skill to the client), and then go on from there.

+1

[istvan]

Two comments:

1) Sharepoint
I administered Sharepoint for a while, but I got rid of that responsibility very quickly. It is riddled with bugs and it defies logic; it is a pure mess.

2) I applied for a gig on jobpost and called the agent right away, because I matched the job description perfectly with my current experience. He then asked me "do you have FSA experience?" I cannot lie, I have not worked for a bank, clearly it is not in my CV, so he said NO. There is no training for that, experience or else...

Is that such a big deal really, or it is only now that the market is so slow.

[BigRed]

I love Sharepoint as an end user, most implementations simply lack the end user training which makes it look rubbish. It has many flaws and idiosyncrasies so it is also a good product to become a consultant for, it also seems to be an expanding market, there's no downside here.

I like to use any slack time to investigate new features in my core skill set (SQL Server DBA) so I use every opportunity to look at Reporting Services, Extended Events, Powershell, Policy Management, MDW etc. then do some sort of demo and suggest to the Management that it can be worth looking at.

[SueEllen]

I don't mean walk into a contract straight after the training (current contract excepted) - that's why I say 18 - 24 months. You really do need a plan. I tend to get the training and then find a way to use the new knowledge/skill in my current contract (even if it's only introducing the new skill to the client), and then go on from there.

I either do that, or get some expose to a skill/technology at a client then train myself up fully between contracts and use it at another client.

Then again in a couple of contracts I have fully admitted I know SFA about something they are using and have to learn very quickly. The only reason I get the contracts in the first place is because I've have knowledge about something else obscure.

[Ignis Fatuus]

Years ago when the market was great ie 1 contractor for every 5 or so vacancies, I spent a grand on a 3 day WinRunner course.

I then contacted agents about automation roles and bigged up my new skill. Every agent said no good if you havent got on the job experience (this was when there were plenty of jobs about, remember). Despite banging on about it I never got a winrunner job so the grand was wasted. Wont make that mistake again.

IMO like everything in life, you could go on training courses and fall lucky. I did get a role out of some on the course but it wasnt really the one I wanted.

Personally, I wouldnt pay to go on a training course ever again (well I very much doubt it) and as the market is the way it is, am more convinced clients wont touch you if you've only been on a course and have no on the job experience.

Even if the clients might give you a chance to prove you're worth it, the agents won't. Think like an agent:
No experience, had to pay for his own course = loser.