Contracting, a mistake anyone?

[boredsenseless]

Just to jump in.

I'd like to go contracting but my permie job is too good to give up at the moment. I earn 60k ,either work from home or at client site, eat out all the time on expenses, nice hotels, paid holidays, paid to go to training, paid to go to conferences.

This week I'm in Stockholm. Start at nine, clock off at four, 10 minute commute from 'hotel'.

Worst thing is going a lot of places where you don't know anyone and being sent to sh1t holes like Halifax....

... as a contractor though how much freedom do you really have? Can you really decide to take 2 weeks off this month, a month off another...surely you have to fit it round contracts.

How much do you guys make a year typically? Does it whip a permie 60k?

Oh yes it whips it alright...

On a permie of 60 if you have real useful skills and not just 'blue-sky' mumbo-jumbo you can get around 500/day out here, so you do the math.

And time off is purely a concept of how much you want to earn.

always remeber though that 60k is a good permie salary and a lot of the guys on here would be off like a shot if they thought they could get it

[Francko]

Oh yes it whips it alright...

On a permie of 60 if you have real useful skills and not just 'blue-sky' mumbo-jumbo you can get around 500/day out here, so you do the math.

And time off is purely a concept of how much you want to earn.

always remeber though that 60k is a good permie salary and a lot of the guys on here would be off like a shot if they thought they could get it

I wouldn't be sure of that at all. I can find permie jobs at 80k more easily than a 500 a day contract. Indeed, I find most of the contracts do not go over 400 while the same permie job will pay 70-80k (of course, they will certainly make a strong selection for those jobs but nonetheless they seem to be willing to accept that salary range).

One more thing also: it seems to be increasingly more difficult to find interesting roles in contracting as the majority of them just look for specific experience in one very little specific area and do not leave much space for increasing other skills (technical/non technical) on the job.

[lilelvis2000]

Unless of course he's Australian, New Zealander, South African (white) or American, in which case you're more than welcome

What?!! Canadians not welcome!

[teabag]

Moving to contracting was one of the best things that I've done. More than doubled me income and have loads more Teabag quality time... It's not for everyone though... I really don't know what it would take to make me go back to permiedom...

[Dundeegeorge]

Certainly not

What?!! Canadians not welcome!

Canadians, pah! (spit)
I hate all canadians.
Half of them speak french.


(drum roll)
and the other half let them.
(cymbal crash)

[Jobberwacky]

I hate everyone and everyone hates me. This equilibrium can cause great anger to surge through my veins. The raging is not far away.

[lilelvis2000]

I hate everyone and everyone hates me. This equilibrium can cause great anger to surge through my veins. The raging is not far away.

I don't hate you. I hardly know you.

[lilelvis2000]

Canadians, pah! (spit)
I hate all canadians.
Half of them speak french.


(drum roll)
and the other half let them.
(cymbal crash)

That's odd....I thought we all spoke french? mert!

At least we don't speak welsh.....excuse me while I put my veil on.

[WageSlave]

Is contracting a mistake?

Only time will tell. If we end up like Threaded (international star, driving two lambos, living in a castle and sleeping with twenty supermodels a day) then it definitely wasn't a mistake. However, if we end up broke, bitter, crusty and sleeping alone in a pool of urine in a Hastings bedsit...

People always say that the downside to contracting is a lack of career progression. That's not true. I've only ever contracted (largely because I'm too feckless and strange to land a permie role) yet managed -to date- to have progression and advancement (from junior noddy to noddy programme/project manager). The difference is that you have to manage this and select each role carefully. You can't rely on an employer to do this for you.

It is often said that one of the main benefits of contracting is a lack of politics. I've never found this to be true. Perhaps the pure code monkey can avoid politics but I've found consulting and politics are inseparable. Besides, there's the politics of ensuring an extension, and every so often you encounter that breed of cannibalistic contractor who believes the only way to success is to force out any other contractors through any means possible.

On the whole contracting has been good to me. The bench has been a limited experience and I make a sum of money far in excess of my ability and experience. However, there is always that concern that the good times could end; rates collapse and the market dry up. Then I'd be back to my rightful level; cleaning the toilets at the local supermarket.

[bobhope]

Is contracting a mistake?

Only time will tell. If we end up like Threaded (international star, driving two lambos, living in a castle and sleeping with twenty supermodels a day) then it definitely wasn't a mistake. However, if we end up broke, bitter, crusty and sleeping alone in a pool of urine in a Hastings bedsit...

People always say that the downside to contracting is a lack of career progression. That's not true. I've only ever contracted (largely because I'm too feckless and strange to land a permie role) yet managed -to date- to have progression and advancement (from junior noddy to noddy programme/project manager). The difference is that you have to manage this and select each role carefully. You can't rely on an employer to do this for you.

It is often said that one of the main benefits of contracting is a lack of politics. I've never found this to be true. Perhaps the pure code monkey can avoid politics but I've found consulting and politics are inseparable. Besides, there's the politics of ensuring an extension, and every so often you encounter that breed of cannibalistic contractor who believes the only way to success is to force out any other contractors through any means possible.

On the whole contracting has been good to me. The bench has been a limited experience and I make a sum of money far in excess of my ability and experience. However, there is always that concern that the good times could end; rates collapse and the market dry up. Then I'd be back to my rightful level; cleaning the toilets at the local supermarket.

Aye, make hay while the sun shines. I don't know if I'd go into IT if I was 20 - the future is so uncertain. 10 years ago, when I first started working, it made sense. There was a limited supply of IT people and good demand. The demand is still there, it's just the supply (offshoring, etc) has increased enormously.

Moreover, in the old days, most people were in IT because they had some inate talent and/or interest in computers. After the Y2k/net boom, most people are wannabe "accountants / management / business"

Anyway, if I could guarantee the same or greater rate for the next 10 years, I could retire from this game in my early / mid 40s. The problem is it can't be guaranteed.