Are there many young contractors?

[Jason]

Don't forget we are talking generalities here so of course anything said will have examples that "prove it wrong"

I think a diverse background with many companies is very useful for anyone. I have met a lot of people who tell me they have 20 years experience, and after talking to them I find what they really have is 1 years experience done 20 times.

By that I mean they have been in that one job and done the one role for 20 years and learned all they needed in the first year, then sat back and coasted for the next 19.

I never liked the letters after name thing either.. I have them for ticks in boxes, but they mean absolutely nothing.

[tay]

2 Orcale people arguing over whom has less social skills? Thats like ATW and Milan arguing over who pulls more woman.

[Jason]

OracleSlave,

I think they can. When I was a youngster I was an arrogant feck, who contrary to what I though knew next to nothing. Not a clue about the real world and was one of those Back Office boys I spoke about.

I was fortunate enough to have a boss who put me straight and mentored me through the first 3 years of my career.

[El_Diablo]

I never liked the letters after name thing either.. I have them for ticks in boxes, but they mean absolutely nothing.

I agree, yep I have them but the letters after the name is all just part of the game. When push comes to shove they don't mean anything.

[gingerjedi]

Nowadays, being older and less motivated learning the latest new techno-fads, I rely more on my soft skills and experience relating to clients and doing a solid job, than getting excited about the wonders of the latest technology.

I feel the same but I've got to the point where I keep going just so I can pay off the mortgage early, I just can't be bothered to learn anything new which can be serious handicap in this game.

[GJ in disillusioned January blues mode]

[Jason]

I should rephrase the bit on the letters being useless. If you are an IBM business partner and you have a BDP setup with them.. you are required to have a certain number of certs.

Not having them means you end up loosing a lot of money. Does not apply to small consultancies but mixed companies who do tin-shifting as well as services need them.

So in that arena they are useful to have for more than just a tick in the box.

[oracleslave]

OracleSlave,

I think they can. When I was a youngster I was an arrogant flip, who contrary to what I though knew next to nothing. Not a clue about the real world and was one of those Back Office boys I spoke about.

I was fortunate enough to have a boss who put me straight and mentored me through the first 3 years of my career.

I would agree with you however as always there are exceptions i.e. some techies are better off just sticking with it and being hidden in a back office somewhere as you put it earlier.

[Sockpuppet]

I've always been an exception....outcast some would say.

I owe all my contracts to one guy who took a chance on me. I knew I could do the work, he trusted me and got 2 contracts directly from that work proves it.

In my field I am usually better qualified than people who are older than me becuase I move around so much.

Last project the "other" PM spend 5 years at DRG (Dixons Retail Group) for this new warehouse he tried to turn it into a clone of DRG as that was all he knew.

I on the other hand had been in maybe 10-15 warehouses over the past 5 years and didn't.

[Xenophon]

I on the other hand had been in maybe 10-15 warehouses over the past 5 years and didn't.

All glitz and glamour in your world, isn't it mate?

[TheFaQQer]

All glitz and glamour in your world, isn't it mate?