Reply to: Do/Should I consider a junior role?

[rb51]

Those Linux certs aren't really going to help you as a contractor unless you have demonstrable experience to go with it or you get lucky at a client that will let you learn on their kit.

Yes it does make sense... The certs will probably help me on perm jobs only....

IMO, it's not about building a career, that's for employees. It's about building a business. When I entered into business, I left my ego at the door. I would do it, though I understand that many would not.

Perfect comment!

I have just been to another interview, however for a perm. role. It will give me expousure to Linux sysadmin + plus other techs that are not on my CV. Therefore it is something that I am currently thinking about as I might need to build up more skills/experience to venture in contracting again. Well if they offer me the role.

Life is all about making decisions!

[gables]

Very true in some cases but first line service desk???

It's a good point you make to be fair :-)

[northernladuk]

It's also an "in" into the organisation in question and as such offers a development opportunity. My last contract I took on a role well within my scope and experience (ego put aside as someone said), a lot here wouldn't have considered it, at extension time the role was re-scoped and my rate doubled, happy days.

Very true in some cases but first line service desk???

[gables]

It's also an "in" into the organisation in question and as such offers a development opportunity. My last contract I took on a role well within my scope and experience (ego put aside as someone said), a lot here wouldn't have considered it, at extension time the role was re-scoped and my rate doubled, happy days.

[mattfx]

The OP has been on the bench for four months.

If a portrait artist was short of work and you offered them a grand to paint your house, they would take it. A stonemason would build a brick wall likewise. A cabinet maker would put up a shelf, again with no long term detriment to their business model.

IMO, it's not about building a career, that's for employees. It's about building a business. When I entered into business, I left my ego at the door. I would do it, though I understand that many would not.

And if OP were any of those trades doing any of those things, i'd agree. However, what you've described is a B2C market and not a B2B market which sadly, is a much tougher sell.

For starters in a B2C scenario there isn't much likelihood of a pimp being between you and the client, and they certainly aren't going to want to look at your CV. The issue I have with this is that the last gig on the OP's CV is not going to read all that well and yes, whilst you can word around certain things, you still have to get past the fact you worked on a service desk rather than in back-end infrastructure.

Don't get me wrong, if I was short of cash i'd do it; but OP isn't in that situation yet and said he can continue to survive as is. For that reason, I think he should hold out.

[HugeWhale]

If I spoke to any of the contractors I work with now and said that I wanted to go work in our Service Desk, they'd laugh me out the building!

The OP has been on the bench for four months.

If a portrait artist was short of work and you offered them a grand to paint your house, they would take it. A stonemason would build a brick wall likewise. A cabinet maker would put up a shelf, again with no long term detriment to their business model.

IMO, it's not about building a career, that's for employees. It's about building a business. When I entered into business, I left my ego at the door. I would do it, though I understand that many would not.

[spongeym]

Personally working in IT Infrastructure, going to a Service Desk role would be a waste of time for the progression of your career a big step back in terms of your skillset unless it's a Linux SD role.

If I spoke to any of the contractors I work with now and said that I wanted to go work in our Service Desk, they'd laugh me out the building!

[Stevie Wonder Boy]

Nonsense.

I'm constantly getting calls about the 3 months I did with Technology X back in 200n & I always have to tell the agents that they're wasting their time as I am a bit rusty WRT to that particular skillset.

Getting a call and getting an interview are two very different things. Agents will ring you because you might know someone who is current on the skill.

[uk contractor]

hi all,

Hope you guys can help....I am in IT Infrastructure...

Finished my last (1st contract) in July. Decided to take some time off to study and take Linux certification(s). All planned. Passed first exam, now studying for next level up. I am not desperate in terms of needing money to survive....

Got a call for a junior role basically doing service desk stuff - Banking (money okay for this type of role - 17% less of 1st contract).

Questions:

1) As I have no Banking experience on my CV, would this be a kind of good opportunity albeit at a junior role service desk crap?

2) Linked to Q1: Will this have a bad impact on my CV, i.e. spending time doing service desk crap? Would I be able to "hide" or kind of cleverly write experience/tasks on my CV once gig ends (if it materialises)?

what do you guys think?

*if it was a junior Linux role, paying really low I would not mind as I need to put more opensource experience on my CV

The agency might well encourage you to go for it but I doubt you would get the role unless they are desperate its not like there are not 1000 other contractors with the same technical exp for this role!

[HugeWhale]

I disagree with some of the answers.
You're a business, you need to be generating revenue. Take the role. Your CV will say whatever you want it to say. Service desk support could be " Offering deep, expert advice to professional software users", guru emeritus.

[washed up contractor]

Be warned, if you take a lower or junior role, you may have trouble securing the contract after that at your accepted level. Agents and clients are notoriously thick and think you can only do the job \ level of yourprevious contract.

However, even a lower role is better than no role.

[mattfx]

I don't really see contract interviews like that. More business development

That's true - never hurts to put yourself in front of a project manager / the guy running the resource requirements at ClientCo - never know what may be around the corner for them.

[SeanT]

I will go for the interview (just "losing" the train fare really)...

I don't really see contract interviews like that. More business development

[mattfx]

- Work in service desk, which might include take calls;

Surely this alone is enough to make you shiver down your spine? :-)

Also is this sort of role not an IR35 nightmare?

Have you got any contacts from prior jobs / role / gigs you can grease up for some very temporary work? Could you offer your time to a charitable organisation looking to innovate and use the skills you're moving into?

[rb51]

Thank you all for the replies so far, much appreciated....

It is a tricky one really....I will go for the interview (just "losing" the train fare really)...

An alternative is to find a permie (so I can try to build up more Linux, Ansible, etc skills/experience).....I am not twiddling my thumbs. Basically wake up 6:30am every week day and work on my lab/course material for the certifications. Money is always welcome of course, but at the moment I am only losing out, financially, in terms of topping up my pension funds....

The problems I can see (if they offer me the gig) are:

- Work in service desk, which might include take calls;
- How to "write" this on my CV

Hoping to receive more replies....