Reply to: Is there any point in retraining?

[BolshieBastard]

Is it another 50 odd million quid euro lottery this weekend!?

[HairyArsedBloke]

... So, I am now considering selling up and going where it is warmer for longer. I'll create a pyre, dump all those training manuals, software cds.

I'll listen to those LPs and read those books I bought, write a blog and maybe renew my interest in archaeology. Try my hand at flamenco guitar, well both hands.

I have seen a little farm house in the hills, well for water, solar panels, photo v. for lecky. Its down a short track. Just long enough so that no-one can hear when I turn the Marshall amp up to 11 or the Fender to 12!

Thats my Dream.

To be honest, I too have had enough. So missus and I are off soon to look at the little farm house.

I can identify with that.

[SueEllen]

That's what I've been doing for the last 21 years as a contractor. Seriously.

I believe you because one of my sibling's who is also a contractor does that.

[I'mFree]

Time Gentlemen Please

I have been in IT all my working life. Worked hard, payed my taxes yawn yawn etc.....

Started contracting 13 years ago after redundancy.

Had to fight off IR35 attack - owed nothing in end after 2 years hassel and anguish. Aggressive VAT inspections. Letters with treats of fines or imprisonment dotted around if not answered within so many days etc.

Well it was worth it for the money which was good at the start, but gradually it tailed off. Now I am sending NIL VAT returns. Market is looking better but despite 15 years experience in role, qualifications , Degree, P2, MSP, no contract for a long while.

I am 60 now so time is not on my side. Should I retrain? Well probably not in anything IT, like business analysis. Realistically who would employ me? Become a plumber or electrician? Plenty of them looking for work.

So, I am now considering selling up and going where it is warmer for longer. I'll create a pyre, dump all those training manuals, software cds.

I'll listen to those LPs and read those books I bought, write a blog and maybe renew my interest in archaeology. Try my hand at flamenco guitar, well both hands.

I have seen a little farm house in the hills, well for water, solar panels, photo v. for lecky. Its down a short track. Just long enough so that no-one can hear when I turn the Marshall amp up to 11 or the Fender to 12!

Thats my Dream.

To be honest, I too have had enough. So missus and I are off soon to look at the little farm house.

Meanwhile I will keep sending my cv and applications off, you never know.

Cheers everyone

[nomadd]

I have, in the past, got a contract through self-study and passed the technical interview - so it can be done.

That's what I've been doing for the last 21 years as a contractor. Seriously.

[Not So Wise]

Who are not getting roles as they seem to be going to graduates who will work for peanuts.

These days experience is nothing and money is king.

It's swings and roundabout's.

Back around the Y2K boom it was the same but in reverse, top dollar for zero experience, then came the crash and no matter how experienced you were if you were not willing to accept peanuts you were out of the running.

Then slowly things started to change to where experience was king (so many projects cocked up by monkeys paid peanuts) experience became king again and rates skyrocked, until we were once again back at top dollar for zero experience

Then the crash came and the whole cycle started again

IT market is stuck in it's own version of boom and bust and there is no sign of the cycle breaking anytime soon

[SueEllen]

Nice to see somebody else in the same boat as me.
I'm now 44 & got into IT when I was 30. It took me seven years to gain enough experience in perm work before I could find enough interest in me to take the plunge into contracting. I've now been contracting for seven years & not once had the opportunity to learn new skills apart from self study etc which simply is not considered 'experienced' to go contracting with - you wouldn't even get passed the technical interview.

I have in the past got a contract through self-study and passed the technical interview so it can be done.

However my contract was with the client directly. No agency involved.

[gingerjedi]

Which means that it is a useful time to spend the next 12 months retraining, ready for the up turn.

The issue is, will it be a wasted effort?

tim

You'd be better off learning the ins and outs of the benefit system though I have no idea who will be paying for it all.

[tim123]

Retraining for what? There's no ******* contract jobs about!

Which means that it is a useful time to spend the next 12 months retraining, ready for the up turn.

The issue is, will it be a wasted effort?

tim

[BlasterBates]

It could all look quite different in a couple of years. Anyway a contractor doesn't decide when he retires, he just ends up on a very long bench.

[Gaz_M]

I guess I just fell into the trap of taking contracts as they came up and putting off the upskilling option for as long as possible. I have been looking into where I could apply my RDBMS experience and Oracle / SQL server seem the most obvious. There are places that offer intensive training + certification but I guess the prob is that I would still be reentering the job market at the lowest end ie trainee / junior level. So its not the retraining that is the problem really it is finding work at the end of it and into my 50's.

Nice to see somebody else in the same boat as me.
I'm now 44 & got into IT when I was 30. It took me seven years to gain enough experience in perm work before I could find enough interest in me to take the plunge into contracting. I've now been contracting for seven years & not once had the opportunity to learn new skills apart from self study etc which simply is not considered 'experienced' to go contracting with - you wouldn't even get passed the technical interview.
All I hope is that I can get another six years contracting full time to take me to 50 & then enough (say 6-8 months per annum) to take me to 55 when I just want to get out of this game once & for all. I'm hopeful for the first part but I just can't see another 11 years doing what I'm doing.

[nomadd]

Who are not getting roles as they seem to be going to graduates who will work for peanuts.

These days experience is nothing and money is king.

Sorry, but Jobserve says different.

[norrahe]

I dont want to piss on anyones bonfire but have you actually thought about the re-training process and it's value to your career. If you mean reading some books and taking some test to get some certificates do you really think this will help you get another role when there are so many benched people with years of experience.

Who are not getting roles as they seem to be going to graduates who will work for peanuts.

These days experience is nothing and money is king.

[SueEllen]

I guess I just fell into the trap of taking contracts as they came up and putting off the upskilling option for as long as possible. I have been looking into where I could apply my RDBMS experience and Oracle / SQL server seem the most obvious. There are places that offer intensive training + certification but I guess the prob is that I would still be reentering the job market at the lowest end ie trainee / junior level. So its not the retraining that is the problem really it is finding work at the end of it and into my 50's.

You haven't read what nomadd wrote - there are places that want your mainframe skills plus your new skills. That's the type of contracts you want and will get.

Then you won't be competing with the younger people who just have newer skills.

[RichardCranium]

Re-skill into something you enjoy, it's impossible to guess where the money is. It's usually just luck that you have the right skill at the right time in contracting.

WHS