Taking the plunge

[SueEllen]

I've had plenty of interviews giving a 4 week notice period to the agency. If I was in a contract, they were rolling contracts that got renewed and I always felt that 4 weeks gave enough time to finish off what I was doing, to avoid simply buggering off two days before the end of the contract, or not renew and then look.

That's not to say the situation doesn't exist, but I don't agree with the argument that you don't get contracts until you resign and can start straight away, and you can certainly avoid bench time by applying for new contracts well before your current contract is finished.

It may depend on the type of contractor, but I was interviewed by quite a few banks as a developer based on a 4 week "availability".

I resigned from my permie job after I got my first contract

Notice I stated find out from the client when they want you to start.

Too many agents tell fibs to get you on site asap even though the client isn't ready for you and/or are happy to wait 3-4 weeks.

[worzelGummidge]

Researched on Jobserve (Jobswerve) in 1999 against my skill set and handed in my notice.

It's easy
Keeping contracting is the difficult part. Be prepared to Skill up constantly.

[PerfectStorm]

Was in a job that was making me very unhappy but I'd been there for a few years - classic case of dissatisfaction combined with a fear of change - like a classic abusive relationship!

Offered voluntarily redundancy on an offer I couldn't refuse. Took it as I wanted to leave anyway.

Spent a month or so casually trying out for new permanent jobs and not getting anywhere. Interview technique was rusty etc.

One day an agent rang me and asked if I'd like to try contracting on a lot more money. I said OK, knew I wouldn't get the gig but thought it would be good interview experience at least. With free time to spare, I'd attend any interview that would have me just to try out new ideas while waiting for the big one.

Still there now

Without that agent sticking their neck out and the redundancy money I probably wouldn't have done it, but I'm very glad I did. So glad to leave behind a lot of the hassle that comes with permanent work, the 'new' hassle (legal and accounting) is quite interesting (at least at the start), isn't that difficult after your first month or two of doing it, and obviously the general terms are a lot better. It's contributed positively to my mental health and I haven't had to worry about where money's coming from for a year.

[vwdan]

I'm just (by days) over 12 months in now! I'd mooted the idea before, but didn't feel it was right for me - but I'd gone as far as I was going to go in the boutique consultancy I was working at. Didn't really know what to do next - I was enjoying the work, I just wanted more (Challenges, money, freedom, technology, etc) but doing the same fundamental type of consultancy. We'd got 50% of a house deposit saved, so after careful talks with the wife we turned that into my warchest.

Spent months reading up and got my CV out there. I was getting lots of calls, but I couldn't find anyone who was willing to wait the 4 weeks. I decided to tell my boss what I was planning to do and we set a mutually agreeable end date.

Two weeks before, I managed to land my first contract starting on the Monday.

Best thing I ever did, but you've got to be realistic. Proper sums, proper calculations, proper worst-case scenarios.

[PerfectStorm]

I think one of the things I feared was getting it wrong.

As long as you're happy to use google or ask if you need help, it's been my experience that people are ready to give it.

Pretending that you know stuff and trying to cover it up = permie!

[stek]

I drifted into it, sort of temping, not really realising I was actually contracting, on a whacking £18.85/hr in early 90's. Never really took it seriously, it was easy to permie-tract then, 6 years here, 4 years there. Pisssed all the money away on cars and guitars, then depression, death of both parents, divorce, destitution....

Spent the naughties starting again, this time taking it a lot more seriously, hopefully....

[Eirikur]

Was made redundant with a nice bag of money about 6 years ago.
Applied for both permie and contract positions, contract was the first that came up, accepted it and stayed in contracting ever since.
Note: once you're in contracting you will find that employers and especially agencies are reluctant to take you on for perm jobs in case you would want to return to the dark side.