Please Advise - im new to contracting!

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Word of advice - Do you're homework prior to posting - it can get a bit rough on here if you ask the obvious.

However, you will get good advice when it is really needed.

your

[Stan.goodvibes]

you've got some serious competition.

Yeah, like me for one.

Waaaa NewToThis welcome to the wolf den. No-one ever said IT guys are lacking in social skills, or did they?

I been contracting in both the UK and Australasia now for 13 years, thru the dotcom boom and everything since. Forget about the doom and gloom posts, contacting is WAY better than permy for loads of reasons :-

No corporate bullsh*t - you just turn up, do the best you can, if for some reason some tit is trying to score political points or prevent you from effectively doing your job - its not your problem. having a thick skin does help tho.

Pay is WAAY better, and plenty more opportunities to evade tax.

Freedom to leave whenever you want and go on long holidays - who can survive on 4 weeks a year?

Often the best roles, with you calling the shots over the mostly less-skilled permies.

Some further tips - always look smart, be seento be working even if that means turning up that bit earlier than everyone else and leaving that little bit later, forget about all that normal office stuff - who's shagging who, how well the clientco is doing, who is getting laid off, who is getting promoted etc etc, just do what you are there to do and go home. Be positive about everything, be sociable and friendly to everyone, don't tell any permies what your rate is, put your hand up for anything that you think you are remotely capable of doing, produce tangible results that clientco can see and you can itemise on your CV.

And easiest of all - don't let anyone or anything get to you - Clientco is not your career place, its just another (temporary) workplace in your career. You are not part of that organisation, you are a tool (lol) and tools don't have feelings.

As others have said, now is not the best time to go contracting. But don't let that put you off, the glory days will return again. And contracting is the funnest way to make money out of IT. Hold onto that dream for a bit longer, say, 18 months.

Good luck

[newtothis]

Stan.goodvibes.

Even though ive had some good response's, and for that i thankyou all, yours as been the most informative. thankyou. my intentions were never to be a contractor just yet, i mean come on, we're in a recession, if i became a contractor now, id be foolish. im glad you said 18 months, cause thats the time frame im giving myself to tighten up my skillset. all im doing right now is looking into umbrella companies and ltd companies. i feel and know ltd is the best option, but im going to use an umbrella company to start with, ease me into contracting slowly. could you recommend any good umbrella companies? any good IT contractor recruitment websites i could have a look at? much obliged if you could.

P.S theres some right c**ks on here!

But im a c**k too, thats why a contractors life is for me!! (lol)

[DS23]

whs+

[DS23]

and him too.

[TheFaQQer]

my intentions were never to be a contractor just yet, i mean come on, we're in a recession

That's not quite what you originally implied:

id go contracting tomorrow if i could

could you recommend any good umbrella companies?

Only because you're so persistent.......

I've never used an umbrella company. I've never wanted to, and I never will (in the UK). However, if I was going to go with one, I'd be looking at ContractorUmbrella - Lisa is usually on here regularly and is very helpful (and she does an@l as well, it seems )

any good IT contractor recruitment websites i could have a look at? much obliged if you could.

Jobserve, itjobsboard, jobsite, monster...

Now go away and read the first timers guides.

[BrilloPad]

Now go away and read the first timers guides.

Mal. Is that you?

[newtothis]

That's not quite what you originally implied:





Only because you're so persistent.......

I've never used an umbrella company. I've never wanted to, and I never will (in the UK). However, if I was going to go with one, I'd be looking at ContractorUmbrella - Lisa is usually on here regularly and is very helpful (and she does an@l as well, it seems )



Jobserve, itjobsboard, jobsite, monster...

Now go away and read the first timers guides.

I knew at least one of you contractors would crack, but i didnt think it would be you faqqer, i did'nt think it would be you. how can you, how can you look yourself in the mirror? knowing that you've helped out a beginner.................? how?

seriously, much appreciated, how can i get in touch with this girl who does anal?

[BrowneIssue]

Even though ive had some good response's,

P.S theres some right c**ks on here!

But im a c**k too, thats why a contractors life is for me!! (lol)

A question for those in the know... how old would AndyW be now?

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Even though ive had some good response's, ...

As a matter of interest, where did you learn written English?