Newbie question: please be honest!

[original PM]

another option would be too move to a much smaller company as a perm - as this often gives you more exposer to different areas as multitasking/cross skilling is more important due to a lack of resources.

A lot of companies now allow (and encourage) flexible working so you maybe be in a position to pcik different hours which could contribute towards the work/life balanced you are looking for.

If you still fancy contracting you are probably going to need to get some qualifications yourself (as opposed to what the company may pay for) so that is an overhead on your time to consider.

But either way good luck!

[Dallas]

Hello (from a mid-30's female)

If you are seeking worry free flexibility I would stay perm, make yourself irreplacable though your knowledge then exercise your rights as a mother to push for a shorter working wee/sabbatical (typo) options. It wont make you popukar but that is the safest way to do that.
Where I am there are several women with a 50% work from home.

I havent seen what your skillset is yet, if you are 'special' this will give you more leverage. Being a 40+ female makes little difference but we do have some here that 'work it' - up to you.

As a contractor I have put more effort into my performance (not hours, just upping the quality) as an external professional and built up a network and reputation across various institutions. In the last 6 years I have been on the bench for 2 months and spent that time (wrongly) worrying about the next gig not for financial reasons but for CV continuity which as a perm is not a factor.

[nomadd]

It might actually be better speaking to your current employer about whether you can do part-time or flexible working, or even take a sabbatical / career break for a few months.

This^

In the current market, unless you have significant backup (i.e. a year's worth of living expenses), I wouldn't recommend contracting at all.

Still, you are never going to know until you try.

Just be prepared for things turning out badly.

[SarahL2012]

When I went into contracting I was also hoping to be able to take 3-4 months a year off to travel / do nothing. It hasn't really worked out like that because contracts tend to extend or you get a call a week after you've finished a contract with some work that you really don't feel you can afford to turn down.

It might actually be better speaking to your current employer about whether you can do part-time or flexible working, or even take a sabbatical / career break for a few months.

[BlasterBates]

being in your 40´s is a plus point. It would be difficult though just coming to London for a few months, most contracts are rolling so clients won´t be too pleased if you just do 3 or 6 months. They would expect you to stay and finish the project, even if they offer you a 6 month contract.

But don´t be fooled by the number of adverts, each contract is advertised several times by different agencies. What might look to be a lot may just be a handful.

The fact is though you don´t have a permie job to leave so no harm in contacting agencies, to find a short term contract say 6 months and see if there is anything.

[Elen72]

Thanks

Hello
thank to all of you so much for the honest answers :-)

I really appreciate your contribution!

It is a particualr time in my life, and I am trying to consider all the options. I fear to make a brave decision without gathering first some information; it could be too risky, or simply a very bad decision for me and my family also.
So, once again, many many thanks :-)

As a matter of fact, I am EU citizen, thus I think I won't need a work permit. And I have a very good friend living in London, she would be happy to have someone to share her rent with, for a few months per year.

However I am figuring that a big problem would be exactly in what you are all suggesting: it could be very be difficult to turn on and off from work, when I want.
If projects last one or two years, then I could find myself in the position of either quitting the client (having troubles in finding opportunities later on), or in being stuck with it.
Geeee, I find it so unfair: employers want the maximum flexibility from employees....but never ask for a bit of it.

Do you think that age would also matter? I am 41.
There must be a fierce competition out there, and although I have significant experience, a middle aged woman may have troubles in finding opportunities easily.

Well....life is a real tulip, sometimes

[BolshieBastard]

Hello everybody!
I am Elena.
To begin with, thanks a lot for making this site so informative and rich with personal experiences! I have to admit it: I was like Alice in wonderland before stepping into this site And after having read some stories, I am kind of getting back to reality

Anyhow, here it is my short story.
I have a permanent usability job in a big multinational, but I would like more extensive amount of time to spend with family.

So I thought about looking for freelance/contractor opportunities in the UK (London seems a place full of offers), working for a few weeks/months a year (in there) and spend the idle time (few more months, I guess) at home with family and pets, being a wife, mother and nothing else.

But as I said I stepped into this site, read a few stories which really scared me (including agencies not paying the contractors).

So my questions are:
1- Are my aims pure nonsense? Should I simply keep my job?
2- How to figure whether the agency "are tulip"? (I learnt this expression in this forum and it sounds so funny to me....I am not native english speaker by the way).
Thanks
Elena
ps. please, do not suggest me to stay at home fulltime, my husband has a job, but with his salary only, we cannot make a living for the whole familiy, unfortunately

There's nothing wrong with what you are wanting ie more time with family while getting more money via contracting.

The problem is most clients want a flexible labour market they can get rid of quickly, who have an almost unbroken work history.

In other words they want contractors but only those who have virtually no breaks in their work history.

When the market is booming, you might be able to do what youwant but, when the market isnt, being out of contract can be a hinderance to getting a new role. Of course this doesnt hold for every specialism and some, it may be easier to take breaks frequently and still find contracts.

I have to say I think this would be the exception rather than the rule.

[utternutter]

six months on, six months off.
Do not let the agencies bully you too much - they will know that you are new to this and try to pull the wool over your eyes. They rely on new contractors being desperate or not knowing much about how things work, and often they get away with it.

I know someone who does exactly that. She uses it to travel, volunteer and has had lots of quality time with an assortment of animals

Realistically, that will be difficult for a newbie to do though.

True. Always check that what they've claimed is correct and accurate, get as much detail as you can, don't be forced into things you don't want and while trust is a great thing, be wary of all the things that can and do go on.

All the best.

[northernladuk]

Holy crap...

[TheFaQQer]

Tulipe is the swear word filter swapping out the word sh1te.

[TheFaQQer]

1- Are my aims pure nonsense? Should I simply keep my job?

Possibly, possibly not - it really depends on your exact skills. If you are working with something which changes quickly, then having six months of the year not working may not work well with agents who like to see a continuous work history. Do not expect them to understand that you choose to take lots of time off.

I think it also depends on how often you are taking the time out - for example, working for three months then having a month off, then three months working, then a month off etc. may be more feasible than six months on, six months off. It would probably look better to agencies.

I normally aim to have three months of the year off, so there is certainly some scope out there, but I tend to take frequent holidays rather than larger chunks out. There is no point working for yourself if you can't spend time enjoying the money you earn - I work enough to keep everything ticking over, and the children and my wife like the arrangement as well

2- How to figure whether the agency "are tulip"? (I learnt this expression in this forum and it sounds so funny to me....I am not native english speaker by the way).

You can't. Some people have had a nightmare with agencies that others rave about - a lot can be down to the individual you are dealing with. If you are worried about the agency:

- ask around / on here
- do a credit check on them
- check the contract carefully, and get someone else (eg. Qdos or Bauer and Cotterrell) to look over the contract as well
- if it looks too good to be true, it probably is
- join the PCG so that if the agency goes bust, you might be able to get some money back from their insurance scheme

Do not let the agencies bully you too much - they will know that you are new to this and try to pull the wool over your eyes. They rely on new contractors being desperate or not knowing much about how things work, and often they get away with it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[northernladuk]

1- Are my aims pure nonsense? Should I simply keep my job?

Your aims aren't nonsense but expecting contracting to supply these aims is a very tall order. You will find it hard getting a gig as a newbie for a start, you need to build a war chest up to make sure you can live while you are out of work, you will struggle to get further gigs if you are taking regular breaks after that so the break you so desire could turn in to a very barren worrying time. Many contracts extend past the initial period so if you will find you can't have the time off unless you give notice and leave your client part way through and this will further reduce any chance of getting contracts.

I would argue contracting is a harder way of life if done properly (travelling, finding new gigs, time on bench etc) so is not as rosy as you think it is.

2- How to figure whether the agency "are tulip"? (I learnt this expression in this forum and it sounds so funny to me....I am not native english speaker by the way).

Tulipe is the swear word filter swapping out the word sh1t.

You don't, you apply if you want the job and then have to weigh up the chances when you get the gig.

Contracting isn't for dipping in and out of as you please just to top up your coffers. You are in or you are out. That's about how I see it. Go for it or go home, particularly with the market being so awful.

[cojak]

Hi Elena, welcome to CUK!

While we would not dream of telling you to stay at home full-time, we may not recommend that you leave your permanent job either.

Are you an EU citizen and eligible to work in the UK?

I would suggest that you look at the First Timers guides on the right under 'CUK Navigation' because you will have to understand how contracting in the UK works, the tax rules (IR35 and other areas), whether you want to use a Limited company or work for an umbrella.

Then how you will live in the UK, how much for accommodation, how you will get back to your family during your contract.

Then how you look for contracts.

But once you have the answers to those questions you may still want to go contracting - your aims are not nonsense.

Good Luck!

[Elen72]

Hello everybody!
I am Elena.
To begin with, thanks a lot for making this site so informative and rich with personal experiences! I have to admit it: I was like Alice in wonderland before stepping into this site And after having read some stories, I am kind of getting back to reality

Anyhow, here it is my short story.
I have a permanent usability job in a big multinational, but I would like more extensive amount of time to spend with family.

So I thought about looking for freelance/contractor opportunities in the UK (London seems a place full of offers), working for a few weeks/months a year (in there) and spend the idle time (few more months, I guess) at home with family and pets, being a wife, mother and nothing else.

But as I said I stepped into this site, read a few stories which really scared me (including agencies not paying the contractors).

So my questions are:
1- Are my aims pure nonsense? Should I simply keep my job?
2- How to figure whether the agency "are tulip"? (I learnt this expression in this forum and it sounds so funny to me....I am not native english speaker by the way).
Thanks
Elena
ps. please, do not suggest me to stay at home fulltime, my husband has a job, but with his salary only, we cannot make a living for the whole familiy, unfortunately