First gig - general advice

[DirtyDog]

What tips would you give in terms of starting out?

NEVER look at something and think "I can buy that, it's only x days of work" - particularly if it's something expensive. A friend of mine signed an expensive car lease during his first contract, thinking he only had to work a couple of days each month to pay for it - contract got canned, and it took four months to find something else...

NEVER look at days off as a lost opportunity to earn - if you do that, you will never choose to rest, and will burn yourself out. I've worked with people who pride themselves on working long hours, weekends and never having a day off - generally, they aren't the kind of people I want to turn into. Rest and enjoy life - you work for yourself, so make it work for you.

NEVER expect that you won't get shafted on a project - there are too many experiences of people who get canned for whatever reason.

NEVER expect that the contract will run to the end of the date on the paperwork - there are lots of reasons that contracts end.

Finally, remember that you aren't an employee of the client, and you aren't a consultant backed by a big company. My first gig got canned because I couldn't keep my mouth shut - permie was wrong, and I was right. I told them this. They argued it, and escalated it, and I fought my corner. In the end, I was canned because I was the contractor - being proved right a few months later when they went live and it all fell apart as I predicted it would was no consolation for being out of work. If I'd still been working for a consultancy, I suspect they would have listened and responded; because I worked for myself, it was a whole different ball-game.

Good luck.

[cojak]

Finally, remember that you aren't an employee of the client, and you aren't a consultant backed by a big company. My first gig got canned because I couldn't keep my mouth shut - permie was wrong, and I was right. I told them this. They argued it, and escalated it, and I fought my corner. In the end, I was canned because I was the contractor - being proved right a few months later when they went live and it all fell apart as I predicted it would was no consolation for being out of work. If I'd still been working for a consultancy, I suspect they would have listened and responded; because I worked for myself, it was a whole different ball-game.

Good luck.

I can't stress that one enough as I'm dealing with it in the current contract*. Definitely suggest alternatives and the benefits of those alternatives, ONCE. Then keep your mouth shut and develop a stealth recovery plan.

*The biggest issue I have at the moment is that fellow contractors don't 'get' this piece of advice and are trying to get me to side with them.

Yeah, with you on that one. :rolleyes

[SarahL2012]

I can't stress that one enough as I'm dealing with it in the current contract*. Definitely suggest alternatives and the benefits of those alternatives, ONCE. Then keep your mouth shut and develop a stealth recovery plan.

.

+1 for me as well. Clearly documented the risk in the initial plan. Client chose to ignore it - & I documented that as well. All now getting a bit heated because they aren't getting what they wanted. I refer back to original plan with risk documented - but am sweetly making suggestions as to how they could take it forward.

*sigh*

[Old Greg]

NEVER look at something and think "I can buy that, it's only x days of work" - particularly if it's something expensive. A friend of mine signed an expensive car lease during his first contract, thinking he only had to work a couple of days each month to pay for it - contract got canned, and it took four months to find something else...

NEVER look at days off as a lost opportunity to earn - if you do that, you will never choose to rest, and will burn yourself out. I've worked with people who pride themselves on working long hours, weekends and never having a day off - generally, they aren't the kind of people I want to turn into. Rest and enjoy life - you work for yourself, so make it work for you.

NEVER expect that you won't get shafted on a project - there are too many experiences of people who get canned for whatever reason.

NEVER expect that the contract will run to the end of the date on the paperwork - there are lots of reasons that contracts end.

Finally, remember that you aren't an employee of the client, and you aren't a consultant backed by a big company. My first gig got canned because I couldn't keep my mouth shut - permie was wrong, and I was right. I told them this. They argued it, and escalated it, and I fought my corner. In the end, I was canned because I was the contractor - being proved right a few months later when they went live and it all fell apart as I predicted it would was no consolation for being out of work. If I'd still been working for a consultancy, I suspect they would have listened and responded; because I worked for myself, it was a whole different ball-game.

Good luck.

Great advice. On my 1st contract I worked with a lot of nurses who has spent a lifetime on 20 to 30k, now earning £400 to £500 pd. When they got their months' notice after 12 to 24 months of this, it was interesting how many were worried about paying the next month's mortgage.

[b0redom]

1. Get a decent accountant. They will save you plenty of time and money.

2. Set up a decent LinkedIn profile - I'm finding more and more work coming through this. It's also where agents and clients will search when checking you out, so don't treat it like Facebook.

3. Within the first couple of weeks ask the client, "In the event of me being required to work longer hours than I'm contracted do you want:

1) Me to bill for overtime
2) Me to leave site anyway
3) Have a gentleman's agreement where I finish early/start late"

I find #3 particularly important as it sets the right tone. Probably wise to do that informally. Everywhere previously has said #3 with the exception of one client who due to 'health and safety' said "#2 no matter what you're doing."

[MyUserName]

Do what you are told and not what you think you should do.

If you think X is better than Y and the client has told you to do Y then do Y. I write code, I do the work I am allocated. I don't care if the big picture falls apart as long as what I have done works as requested.

Do not be adversarial with your agent. It gets you nowhere.

Keep your cv and LinkedIn profile up to date.

[Smartie]

relationships

Build relationships - quickly. Chat to people, be nice, listen to stories about their kids, ask about them next time you see them. Get in with your 'key client contact' (the person who isn't your boss) for a start, also the execs if possible as well as the actual workers.

Getting a contract extension, a contract later in your career and contracts from this network of people when they move job and remember you is somewhat dependent on these relationships.

Apart from that, do a good job. (deliver value, customer delight etc. etc.)

[Old Greg]

+1 for LinkedIn.

[d000hg]

DON'T get into discussions on what you earn.

[Bellona]

DON'T get into discussions on what you earn.

Amen ! A must for all newbies

You must spread some reputation around before giving it to d000hg again