Are there many young contractors?

[El_Diablo]

Whilst I agree with some of the sentiment above it doesn't mean I necessarily enjoy it. Without going into details I do this now so that in the future I don't have to.

Yes but don't we all?

[oracleslave]

Yes but don't we all?

I can't speak for all you geeks. Some of you get your kicks out of playing with <insert programming language here>

[El_Diablo]

I can't speak for all you geeks. Some of you get your kicks out of playing with <insert programming language here>

I'm not a geek and I don't program.

I get my kicks out of ensuring that my clients ask for me above others.

[oracleslave]

I'm not a geek and I don't program.

I get my kicks out of ensuring that my clients ask for me above others.

So you enjoy what you do then?

[El_Diablo]

So you enjoy what you do then?

Let's just say I'm no slave.

I dictate where I work from.

I do not use agencies.

I am paid an above average rate for my skills, qualifications and importantly experience.

So yes I enjoy what I do, I don't do anything I don't enjoy. Hence why I am a consultant running my own business and not a permie doomed to be controlled by others.

[Alf W]

I meant Network/Firewall guys with 3 or so years experience.

1. You could train a chimp to be "sh1t hot" at Networks and Firewalls in three years.
2. Network / Firewall experts with soft skills? No. These are the people you sit next to the DBAs.

You know those people you think "what have they been doing for last 20 years" about? Well next time everything goes wrong and turns brown and smelly (which it will) go and ask them for their advice.

You make me smile though.

[fridge]

Im late 30's and wouldn ever look back, the best decision I ever made was to leave the life of a permi and do it on my own.

[oracleslave]

Let's just say I'm no slave.

I dictate where I work from.

I do not use agencies.

I am paid an above average rate for my skills, qualifications and importantly experience.

So yes I enjoy what I do, I don't do anything I don't enjoy. Hence why I am a consultant running my own business and not a permie doomed to be controlled by others.

Congratulations. Personally I am envious of people who enjoy what they do and are good at it. Whilst I have similar circumstances to those mentioned above (with the exception of agencies to some degree) I can't wait til the day I no longer have to work. Thats why I queried why sas would want to return to contracting, something he got out of a while ago.

[~Craig~]

1. You could train a chimp to be "tulip hot" at Networks and Firewalls in three years.
2. Network / Firewall experts with soft skills? No. These are the people you sit next to the DBAs.

You know those people you think "what have they been doing for last 20 years" about? Well next time everything goes wrong and turns brown and smelly (which it will) go and ask them for their advice.

You make me smile though.

I'm not saying that 90% of new grads aren't useless (because they are) but there are the odd exceptions to the rule and yes they do have soft skills.

Just because someone is experienced it does not mean they are any good either

[beaker]

My way of coping with that was to become a manager where I earn as much as a contractor but with permie benefits. But guess what - I'm sick of the politics and crave the cut and thrust of contracting again. Mind you I've probably lost my techie skills now.
But I was good so it won't take too much time to get back up to scratch

Why do you need to go technical again? Surely you can pitch yourself as a management consultant now? Ie double your annual salary, divide by 48, divide by 5 then charge yourself at that daily rate?