Reply to: Moving to contracting , PLEASE HELP

[washed up contractor]

Hi Team,

I am stuck in a situation and need advise from the experts/experience team mates here.

I am looking to move into contracting , however most of the job advert needs finance/insurance/asset management experience which I do not have and neither I have good network/contacts who can refer my candidature.

In this scenario can someone advise how to move to contracting I am happy to work with minimum rate given that am looking more to gain experience and way to move into the relevant domains.

OR can anyone give me some demo/helping hand who is working in bank to a level where I could demonstrate my knowledge if not experience

or do i need to forget moving into contracting ?

Please help me ASAP.

Thanks

You probably have a better chance of finding another well paid permie role in whatever specialism you have right now than getting a contract.

First off, you are up against far more experienced contractors looking for roles right now so minimal rate coupled to your admission of 'gaining experience' is going to put you right at the bottom of the list of applicants. In fact seeing as you have no experience I doubt you would make the list. Sorry to be harsh but that is the reality.

[psychocandy]

Availability can be important. Can you be available immediately?

If you cannot get anything you could claim JSA?

Got to be NLUKS sockie

[psychocandy]

I’m not the OP so I’m not hung up on finance roles. I was just saying that in my experience, sector experience isn’t always required if you have generic and transferable skills.

sorry didnt check :-)

[GreenMirror]

Availability can be important. Can you be available immediately?

If you cannot get anything you could claim JSA?

[fatJock]

Confused. So why are you so hung up about specific Finance roles?

I’m not the OP so I’m not hung up on finance roles. I was just saying that in my experience, sector experience isn’t always required if you have generic and transferable skills.

[psychocandy]

Slightly unfair. I left a 15 yr perm job in defence and logistics sector 18 months ago and was offered (amongst other things) a contract role with Santander which I declined to stay in my sector of experience.

A candidate with demonstrable skills doesn’t always always need sector experience.

Confused. So why are you so hung up about specific Finance roles?

Personally, over the years, I've worked in manufacturing, NHS, telecoms, government, defense so this is true but "some" roles will expect sector experience (I've never worked in Finance).

[fatJock]

I've been contracting since 1995. I also do not have that experience. Why not try to find job adverts that match the skills you do have?

Slightly unfair. I left a 15 yr perm job in defence and logistics sector 18 months ago and was offered (amongst other things) a contract role with Santander which I declined to stay in my sector of experience.

A candidate with demonstrable skills doesn’t always always need sector experience.

[TonyF]

I am looking to move into contracting , however most of the job advert needs finance/insurance/asset management experience which I do not have and neither I have good network/contacts who can refer my candidature.

In this scenario can someone advise how to move to contracting I am happy to work with minimum rate given that am looking more to gain experience and way to move into the relevant domains.

OR can anyone give me some demo/helping hand who is working in bank to a level where I could demonstrate my knowledge if not experience

Nobody here is going to give you a helping hand to get into a bank - nobody here knows who you are, so you're asking strangers to risk their reputation on recommending you because of your knowledge. If you find someone here that will do that, they have no reputation to risk so aren't worth asking.

Contractors sell their expertise and knowledge. If you haven't got it, you can't sell it - it's quite simple.

Get the knowledge, get the network, sell the knowledge to the network - if you have neither then you are going to struggle as a contractor.

[MrButton]

So, you have no experience and no contacts.
May I politely suggest that you start to get some of each?

What he said - do this while you're in a permanent position.

[HugeWhale]

Hi Team,

I am stuck in a situation and need advise from the experts/experience team mates here.

I am looking to move into contracting , however most of the job advert needs finance/insurance/asset management experience which I do not have and neither I have good network/contacts who can refer my candidature.

In this scenario can someone advise how to move to contracting I am happy to work with minimum rate given that am looking more to gain experience and way to move into the relevant domains.

OR can anyone give me some demo/helping hand who is working in bank to a level where I could demonstrate my knowledge if not experience

or do i need to forget moving into contracting ?

Please help me ASAP.

Thanks

So, you have no experience and no contacts.
May I politely suggest that you start to get some of each?

[northernladuk]

Incorrect.
OP needs a reality check.

I was just correcting his request for advise. Should have quoted for context really.

[NotAllThere]

...however most of the job advert needs finance/insurance/asset management experience which I do not have,,,

I've been contracting since 1995. I also do not have that experience. Why not try to find job adverts that match the skills you do have?

[Lance]

You need advice.

Incorrect.
OP needs a reality check.

[northernladuk]

You need advice.

[BlasterBates]

The finance sector is not looking too bright, so it will be difficult to get a contract, you would be better off looking elsewhere, or try to go permie.

If the advert requires experience in or knowledge in finance there is no way around it, you won't be put forward unless you have that. Some roles really do require that knowledge. There are others that don't i.e. purely technical and that is almost always in the role description.