Should I quit my current job before looking for contracts?

[TheFaQQer]

Thanks for the replies.

But what about the time to go for interviews? I don't work and live in London at the moment and find it really hard to find times for interviews, it might be okay for 1 or 2 interviews in a month, but having 3-4 or even more a month will probably get me sacked for taking too many days off?

How do you get around it?

Phone interview.

I've had two face to face interviews - all the rest have been phone.

Current gig was the best interview ever:

Client: Thanks for taking the time to speak to us. I'll tell you the problems we've got, and you can tell me whether you want to come on board and help us solve them.
Me: OK

[TheFaQQer]

If you are really good and know your stuff pretty well you can grab a contract in London in the current climate very easily, if you are available immediately. Its a small risk to hand in notice and start looking a couple of weeks from the end date.

Surely that depends on the skillset? Without knowing what the OP does, how do you know that there is a market out there for his skills?

[fckvwls]

After I had managed a project that made them millions .

Meths or booze?

[minestrone]

Meths or booze?

4 month project running a team of 12 developers which was sold for 2 million on the first year with one million coming in on the second.

[lukemg]

3-4 interviews a month ? Surely you will be getting offers from this many interviews ? my current record is 7 from the last 8 interviews (perm job knockback due to fear of me jumping back to contract...)
If you are not getting any offers, you need to talk to someone about interview technique and defo don't pack in your job because being able to sell yourself is a KEY skill for a contractor.

[Gonzo]

Do you think it's a good idea to quit my current job before looking for contracts? Would that appear badly on my CV that I am not working?

We can't tell you that, it depends on your own level of comfort with not having any work lined up. If you can't cope with the idea that you don't know when you are going to earn the next pound then you should think seriously about whether or not you have the right mind-set for contracting.

When I was permie I was on a two-month notice period. I was in London so interviews were manageable but I still resigned without anything lined up. I got nowhere during my notice period and it took another three months to get that first contract.

Noone will care about a short gap between jobs on your CV, that is normal.

[cojak]

Hi all,

I am in a permie position at the moment and wanting to go contracting, but as you know, most companies want a short notice period and close to immediate interview time. I find it impossible to take days off to keep up with the number of interviews coming through.

Do you think it's a good idea to quit my current job before looking for contracts? Would that appear badly on my CV that I am not working?
Thanks.

Yes.

[DimPrawn]

Yes, quit first. That's what I did during the last boom and it meant I could start immediately, which in this market is worth more than anything for clients paying top dollar.

[TheFaQQer]

I find it impossible to take days off to keep up with the number of interviews coming through.

So, don't keep doing it. Arrange phone interviews. Arrange interviews out of hours. Be flexible - a friend of mine interviewed at Manchester Airport one night having flown back from the project, and got the gig.

Do you think it's a good idea to quit my current job before looking for contracts?

No. You should be able to manage both your current employer in terms of leaving and your new contract in terms of starting, assuming your contract isn't too restrictive. I told my manager I was leaving soon, so we could manage the workload and they could start looking for a replacement. When I got the contract offer, the client said they would wait four weeks, but I negotiated two weeks with everyone - left my permie job on good terms, and started work.

It took a while to get the first contract, though - lots of interviews but nothing contract. I started looking in October time and got the first role in April the following year, being flexible on location and rate, and with good skills.

If the market is booming for your skillset, then take the leap. If you can afford to be out of work for a while, then take the leap. If not, then I would stay where you are, find something (tell the agencies that you are on a rolling contract) and then leave. Holiday, sick days, negotiation - you should be able to cut down your notice period that way. With the client, negotiate the contract, send it for review, etc. which will take a week.

In short - make it look like you are more available than you really are.

Would that appear badly on my CV that I am not working?

No, because you don't put down that you are unemployed. You put down that you are immediately available - you're taking a holiday after leaving the last place etc. You haven't really been looking too hard, etc.

[d000hg]

4 month project running a team of 12 developers which was sold for 2 million on the first year with one million coming in on the second.

Pretty small stuff then.