How did you make the permie to contractor jump?

[hyperD]

I was born a contractor. I came out clutching a timesheet.

I was born an engineer. I came out sh1tting a clutch.

[VirtualMonkey]

spent eight years working for a well known high street electrical retailer.
got promoted through the ranks and ended up tech lead on transformation project to upgrade NT4 to something new.
10months into the project a decision still hadn't been made as to which OS to go to so that, along with not liking my new team structure, forced me out.
Was very sad to leave...especially as my wife was pregnant at the time.
Have never looked back though and have had significant extensions on all but one contract...and that one was because they offered me perm.

Love it and would not likely go back to perm again.

[Mich the Tester]

It seems most of us were permies for some time before either seeing the light or being thrown into the light by redundancy. Right now, there's a young guy I know from the rugby club who's nearly finished college and wants to work 'in IT' so he's asking me for advice. I'm really inclined to push him down the contracting route seeing as I see more contract vacancies than permie vacancies for junior testers or programmers here in NL. Of course, he'd be right in at the deep end and he'd have to sink or swim (although I can probably give him some guidance on the phone here and there).

Thing is, would I be advising that simply because I often wish that I'd gone contracting right from the start? Is it rally feasible to go it alone before getting some experience of corporate cack (politics, getting the tulip job of maintaining some old permie's spaghetti code etc) ? What do the panel think?

[Scrag Meister]

It seems most of us were permies for some time before either seeing the light or being thrown into the light by redundancy. Right now, there's a young guy I know from the rugby club who's nearly finished college and wants to work 'in IT' so he's asking me for advice. I'm really inclined to push him down the contracting route seeing as I see more contract vacancies than permie vacancies for junior testers or programmers here in NL. Of course, he'd be right in at the deep end and he'd have to sink or swim (although I can probably give him some guidance on the phone here and there).

Thing is, would I be advising that simply because I often wish that I'd gone contracting right from the start? Is it rally feasible to go it alone before getting some experience of corporate cack (politics, getting the tulip job of maintaining some old permie's spaghetti code etc) ? What do the panel think?

Perm sets you up with the skills. So I would recommend a perm role for a few years to get that under his belt.

[Old Hack]

I always planned to go Contracting from the start. I stayed with an industry leader whilst I learned my niche skills, then once I believed I had enough for the open market, I went contracting. All through Uni that was my target. I don't think I am made of the permie stuff as I get too bored. I also like the challenge of getting new work every time a project ends, as it keeps the pipes clean. Once I tire of the contracting life, I will simply join the public sector, as they like employing old people...

[Mich the Tester]

I always planned to go Contracting from the start. I stayed with an industry leader whilst I learned my niche skills, then once I believed I had enough for the open market, I went contracting. All through Uni that was my target. I don't think I am made of the permie stuff as I get too bored. I also like the challenge of getting new work every time a project ends, as it keeps the pipes clean. Once I tire of the contracting life, I will simply join the public sector, as they like employing old people...

Be careful; in my experience the public sector prefers employing zombies to old people.

[bless 'em all]

Perm sets you up with the skills. So I would recommend a perm role for a few years to get that under his belt.

And it pays for the training, you need ISEB/ISTQB Foundation to get past most sorts for testing jobs these days.

I did 7 years permie jumping from project to project and taking in as much as I could. I consider it my apprentice years served.

[SimonMac]

I was born a contractor. I came out wetting the bed as I did.

FTFY

[Scoobos]

In answer to the OP, I didn't jump I was pushed .

Contracted in Canada as it was my only option, returned to UK wanting a short term assignment before I went to Australia , and was told that B2B was all anyone would do and that Sole Trading was not an option.

I think I'm one of the few that resents having to do all this paperwork / accountancy / ltd stuff, but I have no option unless I want to try and take full time roles (to which I'm not suited).

[Mich the Tester]

And it pays for the training, you need ISEB/ISTQB Foundation to get past most sorts for testing jobs these days.

You can pass Foundation by reading one book and doing the exam. Unless you're a moron, in which case you could probably pass without reading the book.