First Time Contractor

[Freamon]

I wouldn't worry about not knowing how to do the role. Just as one example, my current place has a couple of contractors in particular who really have no clue what they are doing, they just blag it, and they're not even very good at that. Everyone knows they are blagging, but the client co will never go through the hassle of replacing them since we are half way through the project, they'll just stay in place for another year, after which their workstream will inevitably blow up and delay the project another 6 months. At this point they might get walked, but I doubt it, the client will probably be too panicked about fixing the issue to let anyone leave at that moment in time.

[SueEllen]

For example, I've had mixed reports where people have mentioned, contractors tend to stick together and stay in contact, in order to help each other out, i.e. when looking for a new contract elsewhere. While others have said you can find yourself in a contract job and if you're unsure how to tackle a problem, you may well be presented by a wall of silence from other contractors on the team.

You get both.

However you more likely to get the permies refusing to talk to you and be helpful rather than contractors particularly if they are from an off-shore location.

In regards to not knowing stuff as long as you can do the 50% of the stuff especially if the 50% includes the awkward stuff and you don't piss the permie managers off then you will be fine.

[SuPaStA]

Some permies will hate you for the simple fact you are a contractor and won't talk to you. Though who cares you not there to make friends!

[Stan.goodvibes]

You're in a good mood today, dearie. Does that mean you'll be downstairs for your tea in a minute?

LOL. Did the sun come out oop north for a bit?

It's true every time I go to a contract I'm thinking "OMG what if I can't do what they want me to do" but then when I get there I usually kick *rse. It's even easier in the UK, the work ethic is so slack i.e. first day on one banking contract I accidentally turned up a couple of days early due to miscommunication with the agent. The Clientco was like 'Oh well we have this b*stard spreadsheet we need someone to try and fix, so you may as well start on that, grab me if you get stuck'. A few hours later I present the now fixed spreadsheet and Clientco goes 'Oh, I thought that would take you a couple of days at least'. And it was hardly difficult (cue cruisy 4 year contract taking a week to do 1 days VBA work and being treated like a God for doing it)

That has pretty well been my experience every time. By the time they get you set up with everything and ready to go, you pretty well know what you need to do.

Also back in the good old days (late 90's) an Agent once said to me "if you think you can pick it up in 3 months, just lie at the interview and say you have experience". That generally seems to work as well. Most of the time you start fixing/amending/enhancing existing work so you can gen up on how the previous person did it before you have to deliver something new.

Also a lot of the time the Clientco will ask 'Do you have any experience in <some technology you have yet to use and you weren't hired to do>?'. The best response to that is to go 'not yet but I'll have a crack at it' and you get to play around learning something new AND getting paid AND impressing the Clientco. I've just done that with VSTO, and am currently upskilling on SSIS and SSAS because Clientco want a small BI solution and I was the one who put my hand up.

So for once I agree with NorthernLad. Just get in the door and wing it.

[kingcook]

You're in a good mood today, dearie. Does that mean you'll be downstairs for your tea in a minute?

I had to scroll back up the page just to double check that it really was NLUK

[Zippy]

I hope you are not inferring this is my sockie??? I have don't have time to run MF sockie AND this one.

I don't think he was suggesting you are operating a sockie. I'm sure he was as shocked as I was thet you were being nice to a newbie in General (which is where this thread started)

To the OP - don't stress about not being able to do the job. Sometimes you do land in situations that are not your cup of tea but you just get on with it the best way you can.
I haven't suffered too much with clients who expect you to be the font of all knowledge (luckily, in my case) but you mustn't expect them to be telling you what to do all the time either. In my experience part of what they are paying for is pro-activeness and self-organisation.
I haven't found that the contractors I've worked with have been unhelpful or protecting their own positions - they haven't needed to (there was one notable exception). They've been helpful and keen to collaborate, and they get that back from me.

I do agree with NLUK about doubting yourself when on the bench though .
I've contracted in both very small and very large organisations. I haven't noticed any real trends in how they treat/relate to you.

Best of luck!

[northernladuk]

It's the second nice post I've read from him in under three minutes. I've no idea what's got into him? I'm guessing one of: Euromillions win; A new lady; A new hugely-paying contract; He's very drunk.

Whatever, bring back the old fella, he was far more fun with the Newbies.

I hope you are not inferring this is my sockie??? I have don't have time to run MF sockie AND this one.

[nomadd]

You're in a good mood today, dearie. Does that mean you'll be downstairs for your tea in a minute?

It's the second nice post I've read from him in under three minutes. I've no idea what's got into him? I'm guessing one of: Euromillions win; A new lady; A new hugely-paying contract; He's very drunk.

Whatever, bring back the old fella, he was far more fun with the Newbies.

[malvolio]

No, we speak English in here... Wanna try again?

[MarillionFan]

Well done lads, you're restraint was impressive.

I'm proud of you all!

[cojak]

Well done lads, you're restraint was impressive.

I'm proud of you all!

[MarillionFan]

It's a newbie in General. Stand back. Form an orderly queue.

Now who's going to be first?

Oh bugger.

[northernladyuk]

It's not vague, it is a very good question and am surprised not to have seen this asked often. I think this everytime I hit the bench. A couple of days in to the next gig and I wonder what all the fuss was about.

I think the difference lies in the client you go to work for. If it is a fairly large one you are fine. Being lost for a few months is expected on large projects. It is unlikely you will get a PC for a week so the clients aren't much better prepared. I have only ever done blue chips so can't speak for small outfits where you are the only one. Something I try and avoid. Also if you are supposed to be a highly skilled techie then not knowing what you do could be a problem. In PM or any other management type thing you just blag and pick it up quick. Quite often the hierarchy will be huge and convolute so as long you can give confident feedback they will accept it.

Regarding not having the right skill.... To get a contract you often have to demonstrate you have done the role for many other clients or a long period of time so you can hit the ground running. People with little experience or jack of all trades do not get a look in. As long has you haven't lied through the back of your teeth the only way you will get the gig is by demonstrating you can do the role blindfolded. That means you will have the skills so don't worry.
The other option is being bloody good at blagging to get a gig but if you can do that you can blag the gig as well so again don't worry.

If you get the gig against many 100's of other applicants then you are the man/woman so just dig in and get on with it. You will be expected to ask a lot of questions, you have to to get up to speed. You will shake a lot of hands and get gazumped with information. As long as you are capable in the first place you will be ok.

Might be worth mentioned your field of expertise for better feedback. I don't do codings or techy so could be different.

The quick answer is stop worrying and jump in you will be fine. It's healthy to think that.

Make sure you read the guides to the right about all the other aspects of contracting that you need to consider as well, accountants, IR35, LTD co's and the like.

You're in a good mood today, dearie. Does that mean you'll be downstairs for your tea in a minute?

[northernladuk]

The main worry I have would be accepting a contract and after the first few days realising, "woah, I don't have the right knowledge or skill set to do this work - eekk!" or the employer expecting me to be a guru in everything IT related. Having worked with a small and fairly close knit team over the years and helping others on the team and vice versa, I was just wondering is this typically the case when joining a team of contractors? I'm guessing each and every contract will be different, but generally is there a mentality of knowledge protection in the contracting world?

For example, I've had mixed reports where people have mentioned, contractors tend to stick together and stay in contact, in order to help each other out, i.e. when looking for a new contract elsewhere. While others have said you can find yourself in a contract job and if you're unsure how to tackle a problem, you may well be presented by a wall of silence from other contractors on the team.

It's not vague, it is a very good question and am surprised not to have seen this asked often. I think this everytime I hit the bench. A couple of days in to the next gig and I wonder what all the fuss was about.

I think the difference lies in the client you go to work for. If it is a fairly large one you are fine. Being lost for a few months is expected on large projects. It is unlikely you will get a PC for a week so the clients aren't much better prepared. I have only ever done blue chips so can't speak for small outfits where you are the only one. Something I try and avoid. Also if you are supposed to be a highly skilled techie then not knowing what you do could be a problem. In PM or any other management type thing you just blag and pick it up quick. Quite often the hierarchy will be huge and convolute so as long you can give confident feedback they will accept it.

Regarding not having the right skill.... To get a contract you often have to demonstrate you have done the role for many other clients or a long period of time so you can hit the ground running. People with little experience or jack of all trades do not get a look in. As long has you haven't lied through the back of your teeth the only way you will get the gig is by demonstrating you can do the role blindfolded. That means you will have the skills so don't worry.
The other option is being bloody good at blagging to get a gig but if you can do that you can blag the gig as well so again don't worry.

If you get the gig against many 100's of other applicants then you are the man/woman so just dig in and get on with it. You will be expected to ask a lot of questions, you have to to get up to speed. You will shake a lot of hands and get gazumped with information. As long as you are capable in the first place you will be ok.

Might be worth mentioned your field of expertise for better feedback. I don't do codings or techy so could be different.

The quick answer is stop worrying and jump in you will be fine. It's healthy to think that.

Make sure you read the guides to the right about all the other aspects of contracting that you need to consider as well, accountants, IR35, LTD co's and the like.

[cica]

Hi,

Looking for help or advice as the title would have already suggested...

Considering getting into contracting after 7 years working for a global IT corporation, but I have a few reservations that I was hoping some people on here could advise upon.

The main worry I have would be accepting a contract and after the first few days realising, "woah, I don't have the right knowledge or skill set to do this work - eekk!" or the employer expecting me to be a guru in everything IT related. Having worked with a small and fairly close knit team over the years and helping others on the team and vice versa, I was just wondering is this typically the case when joining a team of contractors? I'm guessing each and every contract will be different, but generally is there a mentality of knowledge protection in the contracting world?

For example, I've had mixed reports where people have mentioned, contractors tend to stick together and stay in contact, in order to help each other out, i.e. when looking for a new contract elsewhere. While others have said you can find yourself in a contract job and if you're unsure how to tackle a problem, you may well be presented by a wall of silence from other contractors on the team.

Apologies in advance if my question seems a little vague, and any advice would be grateful.

Thanks
Cica