Reply to: Switching from Permanent to Contracting!

[MrMark]

Best thing is to quit your permanent job. No one will take you seriously unless you're free to start a contract immediately. And make sure you've got two references available from your last position.

This is obviously the only realistic answer. If someone's not prepared to do their research and see how tight the market is, then the only solution is to let them find out through experience.

[AlfredJPruffock]

You could always apply for a role in Kabul . High turnover means an ongoing demand for staff .

But first - I just need two references prior to submitting your CV ...

[Crusoe101]

Your right in the fact that obvious questions require obvious answers.

The answer in is how marketable are you when at the current time a large amount of contractors, with contracting experience of multiple blue chip organisations cant get positions then what makes you believe you are able to do so.

For example if you have worked in your last role for the past 10 years in some tulipty little software house and recently gained certification then you wont stand a chance against some of the more experienced testers out there. I am wondering if you have recently been working along side contractors on a project and you have been smitten by the rates they were on.The fact that this question is being asked demonstrates a lack of understanding of the risk contractors take daily or current market awareness.

You also have to remember that the majority of us contractors struggle to get our CV's read now for jobs that we are qualified to do due to the increase of people on the bench or from non UK based people applying off spec. With this in mind how would you expect for an agent to even return your call when you advise you have four weeks notice, no contracting experience and there are other people that are free and available today.

So in a nutshell, jobs are scarce, people are plentiful and skilled and there is still a recession on. You have a permanent job which is better than some than I know at present. With regards to waiting until January, if there s something you know that I don't then please share with all. January is one of the worst months (just after Christmas) and I certainly haven't seen any green shoots out there ;0)

[blesshim]

you need to consider all the financial implications of how much your permie role is worth in its complete state
Salary, holiday dates, sick days, bonuses & incentives etc and combine all them up to an approximate daily rate. Compare that against an average daily rate out there from many of the fake crappy job ads on each job board.
then.....do some rough calculations on the amount of tax (personal & corp) you'd pay, any fees such as accountants etc, deduct holiday dates etc.

If you're still better off financially by going contracting at the mo then you're on a crap salary!

[Not So Wise]

Contract numbers are way down, rates are way down and seems virtually every day some other major client co is either letting go of 100's/1000's of contractors or forcing them all to take rate cut…. Would say anyone considering going contractor at the moment is Nuts.

As to agents willing to submit you when you will have to work though a notice period first, even in boom times most were not, now with every role getting 100's of applicants chances are less than nil unless you are something "really special". And it's agents that will block you, client co are normally willing to wait but agents want to start earning their cut NOW , waiting for 4 weeks for you to finish something else leaves them out of pocket

Oh yeah, last but not least, not a tester myself but considering how many testers have been coming to the board moaning how there are no contracts at the moment should be really all you need to know to make your decision

[pmeswani]

Hi,

I am currently working on permanent role and want to switch to contracting. I know the market is not good but still wants ot estimate the kind of risk I am taking.
I have got good QTP, MQC and manual testing experience. currently working for electronic trading software provider company.

Is it possible to get a contract without quitting my permanent job? I have got some notice period as well.

The question you ask is like asking is it possible to have kids without having s*x first. You have to make the effort to find a contract and have to negotiate with your permie boss to allow you to leave early (possibly unpaid leave or using up your holiday entitlement). You have to use your negotiating abilities to get yourself in the right position to take a contract if offered. You also have to do a lot of research to find out about what contracting entails and, if you go down the limited route, find a good accountant that would help you with the financial side of things.

[explorer]

"chicken or the egg first" situation? You are unlikely to get a gig until you come out of your current role, but you don't want to quit it until you have got a contract in hand..

Being available at a short notice is a necessary condition for contracting. (But not sufficient by itself as there are other things that make up a successful contractor, like spending the time b/n 9-11, and 15-1630 on all weekdays, on CUK)..

[swamp]

Best thing is to quit your permanent job. No one will take you seriously unless you're free to start a contract immediately. And make sure you've got two references available from your last position.

[Ardesco]

I am not a sock puppet....I started visiting this forum thinking that there are some sensible people who can share their experience with new starters. Looks like I was wrong.

I can see sensible answers above. They may not be what you want to hear, but that does not make the information any less reliable.

Yes there is some ribbing as well, but if you can't deal with it and don't have very thick skin you won't last long as a contractor anyway.......

General rule of thumb is that if you ask a stupid question you can expect to be mocked and told to RTFM, and lets be fair it was a pretty stupid question when all the answer can be found at the click of the search button....

[VimalKumarPandey]

I am not a sock puppet....I started visiting this forum thinking that there are some sensible people who can share their experience with new starters. Looks like I was wrong.

[slickcontractor]

going contracting is so last year...

[EddieNambulous]

Yep, sock puppet.

[Amiga500]

Definite sock puppetry IMO.

[VimalKumarPandey]

Thanks for all the inputs provided.

I am planning to go for contracting in next jan or so. Visiting to this forum is my first step. I am sure I will get good information here.

[Fred Bloggs]

Anybody who has a decent permie job right now would be a complete moron to try and jump into contracting.

If you really want to make the switch (which you don't because you want to sit in your permie job and find a contract that pays big $$$ before you hand in your resignation) wait until the recession is over.

+1