Contracting straight out of uni. Is it doable?

[cannon999]

I did it - left uni and went straight into contracting. I've never had a proper job!

I used to work for Shell throughout my summer holidays and managed to build up a years worth of work with them. That was enough to get the agencies interested. But you have to be prepared to do the really crap jobs for crap money. In my first 3 years I moved from Aberdeen to Swindon, Bournemouth, Nottingham, Tunbridge wells and Leeds.

That's promising! What kind of crap money are we talking about?

[SpontaneousOrder]

I can't talk about IT, but in my area of engineering, a degree is essential. You have to do the hard yards, no short cuts.

Engineering is a profession, right?

[jamesbrown]

It's doable, but not necessarily sensible. The more experience you get delivering in permie roles, the more secure you'll be when eventually transitioning to contracting.

Getting a contract is not the same as being a contractor in the long-term.

[PurpleGorilla]

Engineering is a profession, right?

right

[filthy1980]

go for it OP

you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain

[SpontaneousOrder]

go for it OP

you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain

Not sure it's as simple as that. If you're a good catch, then you have a lot more to gain, arguably, from being a permie to start with than you might being a contractor. People don't invest in contractors. Good firms do invest in good talent if they think it will be worth their while.

Factor in a tulip rate, and there *may* well be alot to lose by not starting out permie.

[fullyautomatix]

That's promising! What kind of crap money are we talking about?

It seems as though you are one of those types of posters who come on here to only hear what you want to hear and just disregard anything that is not music to your ears.

Let me help you with that, OP go for it, we all went contracting as soon as we got out of Uni and now we are world beaters. It can be done. Just do it ! ( TM)

[SueEllen]

That's promising! What kind of crap money are we talking about?

The kind of crap money you would be on if you went permanent.

However by being a contractor you would have no training unless you paid for it yourself and be expected to deal with agency tricks.

When I left uni to work in IT I was approached by agents who offered me contracts. I was then approached again during my first role. In my case I knew, met and talked to other contractors during my course so I knew to ignore them until I was ready. All the contractors I met on decent rates had done a few years as permanent. Ones who hadn't when the IT recession started couldn't find work in IT, either contract or permanent, so had to do something else completely.

Also by being a contractor straight away you won't be able to see all the different roles particularly more senior well paid ones that you could go contracting with once that employer has trained you.

[original PM]

What the op is really asking is whether he should go temp or perm.

Go for whatever you can get and get the experience.

Also perm jobs often only last 5 or so years anyway.

Enjoy

[PurpleGorilla]

You need a game plan and choose your best options.

Imagine the choice;

Permie role at Google with grad training working out of London.

Contract role at Krometech Solutions ltd with no training or any perks working out of Bolton.