Reply to: Newbie looking for first contract advice

[Rabotnik]

Register your company now, register it for VAT, get the bank account set up and so on. It makes you look just that little bit more professional. You can start your accountant when you get your contract underway, you don't need one for your incorporation; if you really can't do the incorporation yourself, get it done as a fixed price one-off task.

On the subject of things you can do in advance, I have an email that I created for an agent years ago and I now resend to agencies as soon as I get a contract offer. It contains:
Company details plus copy of certificate of incorporation
VAT details plus copy of certificate of registration
Bank account details making it clear it's a company account
Copy of passport (some agencies don't ask for it but many do)
Personal details. Name, address
A summary of the offer details as I understand them, including rate, duration, fixed location, payment and invoicing terms, notice and expense agreement*

For me, that sets a very high ground in my contract negotiations with the agency as it tells them I know what I'm doing and raises my credibility with those setting up the contract in most agencies.

* for example, my current rate is all inclusive apart from mileage at the HMRC upper rate from my home to any site other than the fixed location.

Cheers mate, that's some good advice. I think I will have a go at setting it up myself then so everything is good to go when I finally land a gig.

[craig1]

Well done on finally landing one, must have been a bit nerve-racking for those 3 weeks! I'm especially anxious about getting my first contract soon since Christmas is just around the corner and jobs might dry up around then I think. I have a few days off this week, so I will use those to call the agents soon after I've applied for the role. Apparently this is recommended practice to get your CV noticed.

BTW, did you already have your company set up before getting the contract? I have been putting off creating my company since I wanted to let my accountant do that and register it for VAT when I first hire them. Otherwise if I hire them now I might be sitting for a month or 2 paying them +-£100 for nothing.

Register your company now, register it for VAT, get the bank account set up and so on. It makes you look just that little bit more professional. You can start your accountant when you get your contract underway, you don't need one for your incorporation; if you really can't do the incorporation yourself, get it done as a fixed price one-off task.

On the subject of things you can do in advance, I have an email that I created for an agent years ago and I now resend to agencies as soon as I get a contract offer. It contains:
Company details plus copy of certificate of incorporation
VAT details plus copy of certificate of registration
Bank account details making it clear it's a company account
Copy of passport (some agencies don't ask for it but many do)
Personal details. Name, address
A summary of the offer details as I understand them, including rate, duration, fixed location, payment and invoicing terms, notice and expense agreement*

For me, that sets a very high ground in my contract negotiations with the agency as it tells them I know what I'm doing and raises my credibility with those setting up the contract in most agencies.

* for example, my current rate is all inclusive apart from mileage at the HMRC upper rate from my home to any site other than the fixed location.

[Rabotnik]

I was applying for contracts before I'd even handed in my notice on my permie role, got a couple of interviews but not much else interest. I assumed (hoped) my notice period was the issue. Ironically the contract I've just landed was for the first interview I had since finishing my permanent role 3 weeks ago. I don't mind admiting those 3 weeks weren't easy to sit through. Certainly a realistic introduction to the contract market!

Well done on finally landing one, must have been a bit nerve-racking for those 3 weeks! I'm especially anxious about getting my first contract soon since Christmas is just around the corner and jobs might dry up around then I think. I have a few days off this week, so I will use those to call the agents soon after I've applied for the role. Apparently this is recommended practice to get your CV noticed.

BTW, did you already have your company set up before getting the contract? I have been putting off creating my company since I wanted to let my accountant do that and register it for VAT when I first hire them. Otherwise if I hire them now I might be sitting for a month or 2 paying them +-£100 for nothing.

[sharper1]

I've been looking for contracts for about 2 weeks since I handed in my notice at my current job where I've worked for 4.5 years. I had a few calls from agents who said they would put my CV forward for a few roles, but no interviews yet

I have just under 2 weeks left of my notice period, so hopefully I will get more interest now.

I was applying for contracts before I'd even handed in my notice on my permie role, got a couple of interviews but not much else interest. I assumed (hoped) my notice period was the issue. Ironically the contract I've just landed was for the first interview I had since finishing my permanent role 3 weeks ago. I don't mind admiting those 3 weeks weren't easy to sit through. Certainly a realistic introduction to the contract market!

[cojak]

I have also just started showing my interest in contracts, as a foundation how important are degrees in your experience? At the moment I'm only educated up to A level standard, I'm thinking on possibly going to uni next year. Has anyone progressed without a degree?

Clients employ you for your experience and skill-set, not because you've got a degree.

But if you're very young (early 20's) it's better to have a degree than not. If you're older go for it if it interests you.

[matteo]

I have also just started showing my interest in contracts, as a foundation how important are degrees in your experience? At the moment I'm only educated up to A level standard, I'm thinking on possibly going to uni next year. Has anyone progressed without a degree?

[Rabotnik]

I've been looking for contracts for about 2 weeks since I handed in my notice at my current job where I've worked for 4.5 years. I had a few calls from agents who said they would put my CV forward for a few roles, but no interviews yet

I have just under 2 weeks left of my notice period, so hopefully I will get more interest now.

[jmo21]

Well done!

I was going to chime in about the 4 week contract.

For a first time contractor, I'm positive that would set off alarm bells in an agents head for your first contract. I think they'd assume you got the boot, despite what you tell them.

[sharper1]

Well, just landed my first contract. Went for a 3 monther with likely extensions and exposure to technologies that will do my CV no harm at all. Took a hit on the rate which I'll put down to first time naivity but I'm happy. Location is great and I reckon the skills I'll pick up will more than compensate for the hit in the long run.

For any other first timers looking to make the move I can only say so far I have no regrets. I started applying for contracts while still working but the notice period was a killer. Decided to make the jump and handed my notice in, only had to wait 3 weeks after finishing to get this first contract. First step on a new path and it feels great.

[SueEllen]

While we're on that subject I know I'm lacking certain skills that would go a long way to opening a lot more contracts up to me. Believe it or not I have seen contracts that would give me exposure to these skills without any requirement for previous commercial experience, all be it at a reduced rate. Personally I'd be happy to take a lower rate to get these skills. The only alternative would be to self-learn but I'm sure this is no substitute for the real deal.

Depending what your skill set is you need to do a mixture of self-learning and learn on the job. I've got contracts before from being able to digest and action what I've read in journals, emails and blogs.

In addition while most agents will not be interested in you if you don't have commercial experience as they are just ticking boxes, if you can get a contract direct you may find this doesn't matter.

[sharper1]

Indeed I thought you were expecting the client to sent him on some type of training course

My head isn't that stuck in the darkside!

While we're on that subject I know I'm lacking certain skills that would go a long way to opening a lot more contracts up to me. Believe it or not I have seen contracts that would give me exposure to these skills without any requirement for previous commercial experience, all be it at a reduced rate. Personally I'd be happy to take a lower rate to get these skills. The only alternative would be to self-learn but I'm sure this is no substitute for the real deal.

[Spacecadet]

Hi all,

I recently moved into the contract market after several years in a permie role and I'm looking for advice on what length of contract I should be looking for for my first contract. Ideally I'd like at least a 3-6 month contract but have seen some short term contracts (around 4 weeks) that would give me experience in new sectors. What is the general feeling of how a 4 week contract might look on my CV as my first contract and would the new sector exposure justify taking the contract?

Nothing wrong with a very short contract. I've had a couple of these over the past 5 years.
What they show, if you sell the experience properly afterwards, is that you can hit the ground running and get results fast. And it's not just technical competence which this demonstrates, usually you'll have to spend a fair bit of time getting information from people. If you've got only a limited time frame inwhich to operate then your people skills need to be fairly sharp too otherwise you'll end up getting the run-around or crap information.

And the other good point about short contracts is that you're fully justified taking calls about other work during the day.

[tarbera]

good feedback

This is what I was thinking. I'm still trying to get my head in the right gear however I wondered if it being my first contract made a difference.

It's amazing how much advice differs from person to person, e.g.



I've just entered the market and have plenty of savings and good feedback on my CV and experience so no reason to think I'll have any trouble landing a contract. Talking to the agent about this particular 4 weeker it was working with older technologies and really didn't sound like there was any scope for extensions, just tying up an existing project.

good feedback is called an interview anything else is blowing smoke up your ar$e

[tarbera]

indeed

I've been contracting for a very, very long time yet I still learn from every contract! What I'm learning from my current contract is how to effectively project manage in a huge company with the processes and structure of a feral street gang. I've also re-learned that I hate the Central Line tube journey at rush hour.

When you stop learning, it's a good sign that your head has gone too far up your own bum.

Indeed I thought you were expecting the client to sent him on some type of training course

[pdr]

I think you should go for the 4 week contract. Even if it doesn't sound like a extension is on the cards, if you make a good impression, who is to say they won't contact you (or the agent) about a new longer contract. For me it would be about making contacts and more importantly billing, rather than sitting on the bench and waiting for a longer contract.