Hi Everyone,
This is latest in a series of "will I won't I" posts this week. I'm getting pretty close. This thread is specifically about my chances of contract employment. I'm in the kind of state where most contractors would want to give me a slap and say just do it.
Computing graduate 2:1, then
6 Years core development, 4 of that as an Implementation Consultant - all in mobile comms sector - 2 years PM experience embedded in that (consultancy so by implication multidisciplinary)
8 Years Project Management (80% bespoke, 20% COTS) - software suppliers public & private sector
6 years of PM consultancy in technical environments, working with senior management and MDs hepling grow businesses.
Just spent 6 months as a 90% infrastructure PM as part of my latest permie role: on-boarding and internal product dev (IL2 / IL3 platforms), just got SC cleared.
Prince 2 certified, experience across multiple methodologies including generic SDCL / waterfall, RUP, and Agile.
Whenever I post my CV up I'm called by recruiters most days - and often too busy to get back to them all. Mostly about permie roles in the south west, but some asking if I want contract work. A glance at job boards says there are plenty of jobs I could go for in the south west. I'm in Bristol, so my catchment area is Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Gloucester, Newport, Chippenham, Swindon - then out to Birmingham and London if needed if it gets a bit sketchy at any point.
The Mrs and I have designs on moving nearer the city in the future, and having kids - so I'm figuring best try out contracting now rather then when the stakes go through the roof and we've got a little one. I can't see a better time really based on the job market at the moment. But that's just based on my own research on job boards over the last couple of months, plus the months before I made my permie move over Christmas.
There are moments where I'm thinking "Definitely up for this, I reckon I can nail this" (and I'm genuinely excited / feel empowered), which is 80% of the time, then theres the other 20% where I'm basically just scared. The Mrs says she's up for mucking in if I get stuck for work at any point, so that's good to know.
What kind of day rate should I be aiming for? Am I deluding myself - which I guess is the think I want to be VERY sure about. Big decision. Literally thinking this coming Friday I hand my notice in. I've got savings to last me 2 months out of work to make sure the mortgage gets paid. Reality is I start applying for contract jobs as soon as that resignation gets handed in and the aim is for there to be no dead time on the bench. As I get nearer to the permie end date I see the chances of a successful application increase. So it would be Monday 30th July I'm on line for contracting - available immediately - lets do it.
I don't know any technical PM contractors see, so it's tricky. I've got two friends who are contracting as .NET web developers and they are doing just fine. One operates in the south west and the other is in the city.
This is latest in a series of "will I won't I" posts this week. I'm getting pretty close. This thread is specifically about my chances of contract employment. I'm in the kind of state where most contractors would want to give me a slap and say just do it.
Computing graduate 2:1, then
6 Years core development, 4 of that as an Implementation Consultant - all in mobile comms sector - 2 years PM experience embedded in that (consultancy so by implication multidisciplinary)
8 Years Project Management (80% bespoke, 20% COTS) - software suppliers public & private sector
6 years of PM consultancy in technical environments, working with senior management and MDs hepling grow businesses.
Just spent 6 months as a 90% infrastructure PM as part of my latest permie role: on-boarding and internal product dev (IL2 / IL3 platforms), just got SC cleared.
Prince 2 certified, experience across multiple methodologies including generic SDCL / waterfall, RUP, and Agile.
Whenever I post my CV up I'm called by recruiters most days - and often too busy to get back to them all. Mostly about permie roles in the south west, but some asking if I want contract work. A glance at job boards says there are plenty of jobs I could go for in the south west. I'm in Bristol, so my catchment area is Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Gloucester, Newport, Chippenham, Swindon - then out to Birmingham and London if needed if it gets a bit sketchy at any point.
The Mrs and I have designs on moving nearer the city in the future, and having kids - so I'm figuring best try out contracting now rather then when the stakes go through the roof and we've got a little one. I can't see a better time really based on the job market at the moment. But that's just based on my own research on job boards over the last couple of months, plus the months before I made my permie move over Christmas.
There are moments where I'm thinking "Definitely up for this, I reckon I can nail this" (and I'm genuinely excited / feel empowered), which is 80% of the time, then theres the other 20% where I'm basically just scared. The Mrs says she's up for mucking in if I get stuck for work at any point, so that's good to know.
What kind of day rate should I be aiming for? Am I deluding myself - which I guess is the think I want to be VERY sure about. Big decision. Literally thinking this coming Friday I hand my notice in. I've got savings to last me 2 months out of work to make sure the mortgage gets paid. Reality is I start applying for contract jobs as soon as that resignation gets handed in and the aim is for there to be no dead time on the bench. As I get nearer to the permie end date I see the chances of a successful application increase. So it would be Monday 30th July I'm on line for contracting - available immediately - lets do it.
I don't know any technical PM contractors see, so it's tricky. I've got two friends who are contracting as .NET web developers and they are doing just fine. One operates in the south west and the other is in the city.
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