Do not jump into contracting now!!!

[BrilloPad]

I've noticed what seems an increasing number of 'potential contractors' posting on this board. Most have a very casual attitude, have done little research and use words like 'wanna get into this contracting lark'. However they do not seem to realize that contracting is a completely different ballgame....And it's about to become very dangerous for many of these newbies. They seem to think that it's double your money for nothing or your money back, guaranteed! RISK FREE.

A bit like those banks who thought those mortgage backed bonds were a no brainer for guaranteed high yields. Risk free. As the contaigion spreads, it looks like we're in for it and these newbies, with fewer skills, experience, contacts and savings will suffer most. As in any downturn contractors are first in line for the chop.

The point I'm making is, if you're in a permie job and thinking of quitting for contracting, wait a year or two.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...rsplash114.xml

I dont want any permies taking my job...

[gingerjedi]

Were you really any different?

I wasn't

tim

Nor me, what’s wrong with that? Turion seems to be of the opinion that permiedom is completely safe and contracting is somehow dangerous? The only difference as far as I can see is you get a longer notice period... I'd take double the pay any day of the week.

If I only work half the year I am no worse off than a permie, if I work the whole year I am considerably better off, if you do it right the reward far outweighs the risk in the long run.

[SomeoneElse]

...and you sound like a lonely p!sshead saddo.

1998 followed my own advice and been contracting ever since through good and bad. During 1990-1992 recession I sailed through that as a permie, suffering only a pay freeze. I did see the fallout though, as any ITer out of work (perm or con) had a real problem. In 1998 I was a £30/hr Lotus Notes dev, now I'm a £££/hr SAP Netweaver expert . Done this by skillfully selecting contracts to upskill. It wasn't always easy though.

In the boom of 2000/1, then as a Java dev I saw swaythes of non-risk types permies get drawn into the contracting gold rush. They had convinced themselves there were no risks. Probably from agents and people like you. Many enjoyed a single contract before getting benched during 2001/2/3. Some lost relationships, some lost houses, some managed. Most eventually went back to permie. For me I was benched 7 months during 2003, got divorced as I was no longer judged a good provider, learnt SAP, started work again, eventually re-married, new family, investments and houses. Never looked back and have a huge stash or cash. Don't actually need to work. You see, Mr Geek, after 9 yrs in the game I'm ready for any downturn, most newbies are not.

Bitter moi? non monsieur, je continuerai comme déjà fait

PS: au revoir M., vous êtes maintenant sur le mon ignorez la liste

You've got my vote for ****** of the year.

[OwlHoot]

A permie has a much better chance of sailing through any downturn, with maybe a pay freeze as the only symptom that things aint right.

The snag is if your business/technical skills are specialised, such as defence, and dozens of people are canned at the same time then they're all competing with you for the same few jobs.

I guess a contractor could be in a similar predicament. But contractors tend to have (or, if they've any sense, try to get) a broader mix of skills, and that can be harder for permies to do when they're stuck in the same place for years.

[Turion]

You've got my vote for ****** of the year.

As your not worth listening to you've got my vote for the Ignore (ignorant ****'s) List - Goodbye

[BrowneIssue]

"Do not jump into contracting now!!!"

or, to put it another way:

Do not jump into contracting without doing some research first.

[beaker]

or, to put it another way:

Do not jump into contracting without doing some research first.

The same goes for permiedom actually

[Jaws]

Why wait a year or two if you have good skills and the market demands them? Just do plenty of research (as I believe any sensible person should do prior to starting contracting, regardless of what year it is) and if you think you can do it, get started!

[PAH]

I am more than happy with a £45K permie contract

The choice is even easier for me seeing as in my location .Net permie seems to pays up to £35k and contract rates up to £40/hour, according to figures available on jobserve. Strangely the advertised permie salaries down south don't seem much better, but an extra tenner a hour for contracting is achievable.

If permie was £45k there might have been more for me to think about.

[where did my id go?]

As your not worth listening to you've got my vote for the Ignore (ignorant ****'s) List - Goodbye

I can see you looking at a lot of empty threads the way this is going