Newbie

[fatJock]

I think the OP has already packed it in.....would have been better to try negotiate an exit. That’s what I did after a 15 year stint and it helped lessen the risk giving me a few quid to support myself until I got an offer without dipping into savings. As it was I started my first contract three weeks after so didn’t really need it but it was a comfort and am sure it helped me during interviews as I wasn’t that fussed, I was thinking my first few would come to nothing but be good experience. As it was I had a couple of offers.

To be fair though I’d already got everything set up for contracting (ltd, website, accountant, bank account, insurance etc). You’ll be doing all that on your own dollar now OP if contracting is to be what you end up doing.

I get what people are saying, it’s hard to convince folks after such a long term perm position but it can be done! No negativity, just say new challenge, lifestyle choice, more autonomy etc .... it can be done. Good luck!

[quackhandle]

Do not under any circumstances throw the perm job until you have a firm offer & your mortgage is fully paid up plus you have a healthy bank balance to live on in the meantime. Not being funny but after 17 years perm you are going to struggle to land a contracting role without being immediately available. That is just the way it is. Market forces mean more IT contractors than ever before on the bench. Whatever you think you have skillset wise I guarantee there are many others who have similar plus the all important contracting experience. One uphill climb you have to seriously face is after 17 years in the same job many hiring managers will simply ask themselves why now to leave & also how hard will you be to change culturally into someone who fits into their organisation if you have 17 years with the same company unless your a senior manager its going to be tough to overcome that perception. This means rate wise you need to be prepared to work for very low rates to establish yourself as a contractor.

As for agents they only contact you if they want you or have an update most of the time they will ignore you as no money in it for them unless they are placing you in an interview or actual contract. You have to think of most agents as commission based sale people with minimal to zero IT knowledge so be prepared for a lot of poor communications & lack of empathy. The agency account managers are more savvy most have been doing it a long time but its rare to speak to them until the client has looked at your CV & shown a lot of interest.


If anyone told you IT contracting is easy & or the money is gigantic they probably forgot to mention that was 15-20 years ago right now its about lower rates & ticking all the required boxes & even then you have to compete against not just UK born IT contractor but all of EU & the Indian Tier 2 visa workers who will do almost anything IT wise for £100 a day!!

This. 17 years as a permy you are going to find contracting quite an alien world to what you are used to.

Good luck if you persevere with (you may have to do this for quite a while).

qh

[uk contractor]

Do not under any circumstances throw the perm job until you have a firm offer & your mortgage is fully paid up plus you have a healthy bank balance to live on in the meantime. Not being funny but after 17 years perm you are going to struggle to land a contracting role without being immediately available. That is just the way it is. Market forces mean more IT contractors than ever before on the bench. Whatever you think you have skillset wise I guarantee there are many others who have similar plus the all important contracting experience. One uphill climb you have to seriously face is after 17 years in the same job many hiring managers will simply ask themselves why now to leave & also how hard will you be to change culturally into someone who fits into their organisation if you have 17 years with the same company unless your a senior manager its going to be tough to overcome that perception. This means rate wise you need to be prepared to work for very low rates to establish yourself as a contractor.

As for agents they only contact you if they want you or have an update most of the time they will ignore you as no money in it for them unless they are placing you in an interview or actual contract. You have to think of most agents as commission based sale people with minimal to zero IT knowledge so be prepared for a lot of poor communications & lack of empathy. The agency account managers are more savvy most have been doing it a long time but its rare to speak to them until the client has looked at your CV & shown a lot of interest.


If anyone told you IT contracting is easy & or the money is gigantic they probably forgot to mention that was 15-20 years ago right now its about lower rates & ticking all the required boxes & even then you have to compete against not just UK born IT contractor but all of EU & the Indian Tier 2 visa workers who will do almost anything IT wise for £100 a day!!

[sal]

Sometimes the silence, just means the agent doesn't have an update from the client. My current contract for example - I applied beginning of July, the role was advertised as "immediate start", I had a quick phone interview, then the f2f interview was scheduled for after 2 weeks as the hiring manager was going on a holiday, then the finance guy who had to rubber stamp the deal went on a holiday so I eventually started mid August.

But generally in such cases the agency will try to update you at least once a week and check if you are still on the market.

[BR14]

Hmmm. Three comments on that:

And never, ever trust anything an agency says: they are ticking buzzword boxes on a spreadsheet, and have NO idea what they're selling, or what you actually do and what your skills mean.

FTFY (added my own rant)

[malvolio]

Oh how naive I must look

If this company are really implementing the software I know then I could have saved them a fortune - daily rates to the software company are way higher than I would charge. I feel like going to them directly but I know it's not the done thing

As for the CV review - there are a number of agencies offering this for free so I don't know how their service stacks up against one for £199?

Hmmm. Three comments on that:

1. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. There are no rules about how to get work. However, be aware that the big company is commercially a lot safer bet from the client's perspective. Cost isn't everything.

2. Does your CV say the right things, such as "I can do this job standing on my head because that's what I do and I've already done it properly 5 times"? Clients are buying expertise from contractors and potential from permies. You want to be a contractor, get that clearly in your head: pretty much nothing over 5 years ago is worth anything, nor are all your soft skills and career progressions. Proven delivery is key.

3. Another key lesson. You get what you pay for. And never, ever trust anything an agency says: they are working for themselves and their shareholders, not you.

[Manic]

Oh how naive I must look

If this company are really implementing the software I know then I could have saved them a fortune - daily rates to the software company are way higher than I would charge. I feel like going to them directly but I know it's not the done thing

As for the CV review - there are a number of agencies offering this for free so I don't know how their service stacks up against one for £199?

Sometimes companies want to employ the vendor. All about skin in the game.

[Green Dragon]

If agent wants you he will be on the phone in under 3 seconds

OT - Remember to make your CV sound like Projects completed - not rambling BAU stuff - Its worth the £199 review someone sells on here

Oh how naive I must look

If this company are really implementing the software I know then I could have saved them a fortune - daily rates to the software company are way higher than I would charge. I feel like going to them directly but I know it's not the done thing

As for the CV review - there are a number of agencies offering this for free so I don't know how their service stacks up against one for £199?

[tarbera]

indeed

Far too many twists, turns and tricks plied in us by agents to list but have a dig through some of these. You'll see lack of response mentioned time and time again but plenty of other examples of their carry ons to give you an idea.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ag...obile&ie=UTF-8

If agent wants you he will be on the phone in under 3 seconds

OT - Remember to make your CV sound like Projects completed - not rambling BAU stuff - Its worth the £199 review someone sells on here

[northernladuk]

Far too many twists, turns and tricks plied in us by agents to list but have a dig through some of these. You'll see lack of response mentioned time and time again but plenty of other examples of their carry ons to give you an idea.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ag...obile&ie=UTF-8

[northernladuk]

Agencies make money from you. If there is a chance they will get something from it they will be all over you like a rash. If there is nothing in it for them you won't hear a dickie bird. Forget feedback from an interview if you didn't get it for example.

So yes, fairly typical behaviour but the silence speaks volumes.

[Green Dragon]

Hi -
After many years (nearly 17) working for one company, I decided I'd had enough of the management, stress, the company and laziness of others and packed in it.

I have applied for a few permanent roles and interviewed (through to 2nd interview) for one but decided it wasn't really for me. I am finding the silence of recruiters deafening

Last week I had a call from an agency who are advertising a role I could do with my eyes shut (and even enjoy!). The role is specialised and my knowledge of the software plus my availability makes is a no-brainer (in my mind at least).

They sent the client my CV and said they would be back in touch. The contract needs to start next Monday. Despite an email last week, one on Monday (yesterday) and a phone call today, nobody is getting back to me.

Is this normal agency behaviour? I have never contracted before, despite working with several professional contractors on the clients side.

This does make me wonder if it's all worth it tbh. Looking at agencies today and my kind of work (implementation, business analysis) is fairly thin on the ground. Unless I am just looking in the wrong places

Any advice, comments is appreciated. Just be gentle with me