Green grass (the life of a contractor?)

[PurpleGorilla]

Here's the deal. With a bunch of qualifications industry experience I think I am ready for the contact world.

If i stay where I am I get good pay (currently £60k p/a) and a generous final salary pension. But it feels the 'safe' choice.

Safe is good, I have a family and dependencies.

Am I mad to even think about leaving this sweet setup.

Anyone else go through this, any advice you can pass on.

Thanks. PG

[Wanderer]

Am I mad to even think about leaving this sweet setup.

At the moment, yes you would be mad to leave. The market is really tough and I wouldn't recommend it. There are hardened contractors on the bench for months or taking permie jobs.

In the medium term, I say yes go for it but only if you can cover 6 months worth of living expenses out of your savings and you get a contract of at least £500/day. Otherwise sit tight and wait till the market improves.

[ContractorsSpouse]

Here's the deal. With a bunch of qualifications including a doctorate and 12 years industry experience I think I am ready for the contact world.

If i stay where I am I get good pay (currently £60k p/a) and a generous final salary pension. But it feels the 'safe' choice.

Safe is good, I have a family and dependencies.

Am I mad to even think about leaving this sweet setup. I'm 35 and I feel like I have to decide the rest of my career right now!

Anyone else go through this, any advice you can pass on.

Thanks. PG

Interesting that you don't say why you're considering contracting; any specific reasons?

[northernladuk]

At the moment, yes you would be mad to leave. The market is really tough and I wouldn't recommend it. There are hardened contractors on the bench for months or taking permie jobs.

In the medium term, I say yes go for it but only if you can cover 6 months worth of living expenses out of your savings and you get a contract of at least £500/day. Otherwise sit tight and wait till the market improves.

Totally this.

[ContractorsSpouse]

At the moment, yes you would be mad to leave. The market is really tough and I wouldn't recommend it. There are hardened contractors on the bench for months or taking permie jobs.

In the medium term, I say yes go for it but only if you can cover 6 months worth of living expenses out of your savings and you get a contract of at least £500/day. Otherwise sit tight and wait till the market improves.

A bit of a sweeping statement, if you look at IT contracting as a whole then you may well be right but it depends on your area(s) of expertise. I know some very busy contractors

[SueEllen]

A bit of a sweeping statement, if you look at IT contracting as a whole then you may well be right but it depends on your area(s) of expertise. I know some very busy contractors

To be fair you have to give people the wose scenario especially when they are starting out.

This makes people understand that when they are in a contract they have to save money for the bad times. These bad times may come in a year or 12 years later, and they may not just be due to work.

[BlasterBates]

Contracting is not that good at the moment. I think it´s only worth it if you can find contracts fairly close to home, with occasional travel to fill in gaps. No point in working away long term.

[v8gaz]

Its very variable at the mo - there are people struggling, and then RBS are giving out 1 year contracts (just got one) because they arent getting the people they need. Depends on skills and locations.

[northernladuk]

A bit of a sweeping statement, if you look at IT contracting as a whole then you may well be right but it depends on your area(s) of expertise. I know some very busy contractors

And we have a plethora of people on here that have had to go permie with an empty war chest or are still struggling. Is that risk worth giving that job up for? Not in my book I am afraid.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, we are being asked our opinions with absolutely zero facts to go on so sweeping statements is all we can give.

[SueEllen]

Contracting is not that good at the moment. I think it´s only worth it if you can find contracts fairly close to home, with occasional travel to fill in gaps. No point in working away long term.

I've met contractors whose entire careers consist of working away from home. In some of their cases it's probably they are still married and in the others it explains why they aren't.

Remember contractors like people aren't the same.