Experience prior to contracting

[KentPhilip]

You see Zippy is one of those good looking types that greased her way up the slippery pole.

Can she grease her way up my slippery pole?

[Zippy]

Can she grease her way up my slippery pole?

And this ---> is for you

I trust I've made myself clear?

[Zero Liability]

You do see contract roles for graduates sometimes, but the money ain't any better than you'd get for a perm role.

I'd say - see what's around when you finish your course. If a decent perm role with training etc then take that. If you get offered a contract role then take the money. It's all good experience. And cash in the bank

Agreed with this and Blasterbates. I was fortunate to go into banking for a year or so, and then get into contracting on the back of that experience (not in a graduate capacity although I am fairly young and fresh from uni), but longer term I want to get into a permie graduate role and go into something with a more specialised and highly remunerated skill-set. The contracting 'graduate' roles may get you some experience but the day rates are low (£80 - £150 p.d.) and unless you have the right credentials and experience, you're competing against more seasoned contractors who do have both of these for the more highly remunerated roles, and any career advancing training you get will be out of your own pocket. Then you have the hassle of getting an accountant to deal with your accounts, IR35 etc., without a day rate that makes it worth the hassle.

[EternalOptimist]

you would be absolutely bonkers to risk everything entering the snake-pit that is contracting right now. Low rates, Intercompany transfers, cheap foreigners, interns held by the goolies. no experience.Forget it. When I started out, computers were relatively new, only a few people had any experience at all. So I made it up. blagged my way in and the rest is history. Fame and riches were and are mine and could be yours too. Go for it. Its a no-brainer

[KentPhilip]

And this ---> is for you

I trust I've made myself clear?

[AtW]

What sort of experience is par for the course

Surviving your first 10000 posts in General

you would be absolutely bonkers to risk everything entering the snake-pit that is contracting right now. Low rates, Intercompany transfers, cheap foreigners, interns held by the goolies. no experience.Forget it. When I started out, computers were relatively new, only a few people had any experience at all. So I made it up. blagged my way in and the rest is history. Fame and riches were and are mine and could be yours too. Go for it. Its a no-brainer

Ja.

And if you are really unlucky your permie manager will be MarillionFan.

[Bacchus]

So I made it up. blagged my way in and the rest is history. Fame and riches were and are mine and could be yours too. Go for it. Its a no-brainer

are you me?

[SueEllen]

are you me?

Your his sockie.

[AtW]

I am Spartacus.

[RSoles]

So let's have a look at this:-
Bear in mind I've a pint of beer and a glass of white wine in me (so business as usual there )

I'm going to advise you to consider contracting, but bear in mind that this is a high-risk strategy.
My condition is that you're a top student, maybe best of class; otherwise forget it; get a permie job and work your way up.

If you had two to three years' permie experience, a wife, mortgage, car, kids, credit cards I'd say don't risk it.
As a new graduate in a rising market (2015 will be pretty good), no committments, it's worth a punt, and doesn't stop you applying for permie jobs.

Of course you'll be a 'raw graduate' in industry terms, so will have a 1% chance of getting a contract;0% under the current market conditions.

You can increase that probability by choosing a final year project that will be of practical interest to potential clients ( as well as potential employers). I got my first permie job as a result of my final year BSc project and my first contract as a result of my final year MSc project (OK, and 20 years' experience).


So what are you risking?
Agents will try to rip you off.
You'll miss the chance of the 2015 graduate milkrun if such a thing exists.
You'll maybe need to spend a year on jobseekers' allowance.
You can fill in the rest here.

If necessary you can refer to this as a gap-year.