Contracting straight out of uni. Is it doable?

[FatLazyContractor]

I'd say try it.

Always good to learn things the hard way .

[PurpleGorilla]

A friend at Uni was doing a PHD when I was under grad final year, he did some contract analysis work in the summers at a city bank to bing in some folding.

[rl4engc]

I say go for it, don't listen to the "Do permie for a few years first" I wish I'd have gone straight into Contracting. Permie teaches you stuff like HR, Career Progression, Appraisals, back stabbing, politics etc. but as a (technical) contractor you're not bothered about all of that. You work for yourself which means doing the best job you can at whatever company you're working for at the time.

If a company puts an advert up for a (sorry I've not got the first post up, was it C#?) software developer, they want two things:

1) Someone who can get the job done.
2) Someone who isn't a wierdo and will get on with everyone else in the office.

Now they may be a bit surprised when you turn up as they may think you're a bit wet behind the ears, but as long as you're confident and likeable in the interview, and can show you have the skills to get the job done, they should have no reason not to take you on.

I'm not sure how you'd go on about rates, perhaps speak to the agent (the middlemen between contractor and client) and say you're willing to work for reduced rates as it's your first contract.

Good luck and let us know how you get on, and always remember: Once a Contractor, Always a Contractor!

PS One thing to note, there are "peripheral" skills you do learn in permie-dom, not sure if Uni teaches them, but stuff like Change Control, Quality Assurance, Working Practices and the like.. you may be able to talk/blag your way round them with what you did in your final year project.

[Troll]

What would be worse on a Project

A grad straight out of Uni working as an independent contractor

or

A grad straight out of Uni working for Accenture

[DimPrawn]

IF you are smart, you have a personality that people get on with, you fit in, then YES, perfectly doable with a good degree from a good Uni.

Most contractors are worse than the permies (Suity <cough>), so the bar is lower than whale tulip. Then we have our Indian "specialist" friends.


Go get that contract lad! (or lass).

[MrMarkyMark]

FTFY

PS One thing to note, there are "peripheral" skills you do learn in permie-dom, not sure if Uni teaches them, but stuff like blaming others, stabbing people in the back and backing the right horses politically, you may be able to talk/blag your way round them with what you did in your final year project.

[NigelJK]

Ask yourself a question. What do I enjoy doing (in the workplace)?

I've been in the position of interviewing and employing 'Juniors' and those with a decent degree and some (2yrs+) 'Experience' were the ones to go for. Next down the list were those with '2yrs Experience', make of that what you will but those that had no academic qualifications were better suited to 'working' as their expectations were different. Personally I never regretted taking on a lad (they were all lads back then) who had no formal qualifications but showed a marked aptitude and interest in the 'job' (and they were cheaper). Personally I made my way up the ranks rapidly, was a 'Senior' at the age of 21 with company car and 'Manager' in all but title on a decent wedge. Woke up one morning and realised that I'd not written a line of code in over a year and that's what I missed. I went contracting after that and never looked back, it's not just about the money, I love what I do. They say that the person who does what they love doing never works again ...

[cannon999]

Ask yourself a question. What do I enjoy doing (in the workplace)?

I've been in the position of interviewing and employing 'Juniors' and those with a decent degree and some (2yrs+) 'Experience' were the ones to go for. Next down the list were those with '2yrs Experience', make of that what you will but those that had no academic qualifications were better suited to 'working' as their expectations were different. Personally I never regretted taking on a lad (they were all lads back then) who had no formal qualifications but showed a marked aptitude and interest in the 'job' (and they were cheaper). Personally I made my way up the ranks rapidly, was a 'Senior' at the age of 21 with company car and 'Manager' in all but title on a decent wedge. Woke up one morning and realised that I'd not written a line of code in over a year and that's what I missed. I went contracting after that and never looked back, it's not just about the money, I love what I do. They say that the person who does what they love doing never works again ...

I enjoy coding. But my ultimate goal is to make money, get my own business going (exactly what kind of business - I am yet to decide)

My thoughts are that even getting a contract at a rate of 225-250/day would be double of what I would get as a permie. And surely my rate would go up within a couple of years?

[MrMarkyMark]

Personally I never regretted taking on a lad (they were all lads back then)

Still are all "lads" in certain circles, on here, I can assure you

[Unix]

I enjoy coding. But my ultimate goal is to make money, get my own business going (exactly what kind of business - I am yet to decide)

My thoughts are that even getting a contract at a rate of 225-250/day would be double of what I would get as a permie. And surely my rate would go up within a couple of years?

With zero experience on your CV you will have a tough time getting even low paid contracts.