Reply to: Getting a job after about ten years off, remotely!

[mattster]

Not much to add to what has already been written, but just to note that I returned to (inside) contracting last year after just over ten years out of the "workforce", during which time I wrote and sold my own software online. OK, so I was keeping busy (and probably doing more actual coding that I've ever done in a commercial environment), but they only had my word to go on for that. I had a fairly strong (London financial) CV before doing my own thing, and the market was strong when I was applying. Even so, I'm sure I was often overlooked because of the "gap", but once through the agent firewall many of the actual nerds doing the hiring found it quite interesting. In fact I was asked to present a demo of my own software to one place, who were very curious and did offer (although I didn't take it). You have the added complication of being out of the country, which could well be a deal breaker especially as the market is, apparently, not as strong as it was - you really can't have anything working against you in that case. Whatever happens, if you do get through to an interview it probably won't be many, so you'll need to nail them. A few of the places I looked at were using Hackerrank online testing, and they do a good program of practice tests to help you get up to speed (as ever with tests, it is as much about learning how to take the tests as the knowledge itself).

[Zigenare]

10 years off? Can't your probation officer help you?

[dude69]

I don't want to sound negative, but you'd be lucky getting a perm entry job, let alone a contract gig and this is in pretty much any industry.

I do have to ask however, those 10 years ago what sort of work was it and for how long?

I used to work in banking, back office apps, .net windows forms, asp.net, sql. For about 10 years.

[Fraidycat]

You need to first update your skills so that you familiar with the latest tech stack.

You also need to consider the new technologies that have come into use over the last 12 years, like GIT, and CI/CD tools, and new build tools.

These are complex and confusing techologies, getting used to GIT can take a few months.

Regarding your 12 year gap:
You could remove all start and end dates from your CV.

List previous roles as:

2 years working at client X...
1 year working at client Y..

Sometimes clients and agents don't notice or care about specific dates. Especially if not a sensitive role where work history is important and might need to be checked, you should avoid applying to those kinds of role anyway.

If asked 'what have you been working on recently' reply 'in my last role i did...'

[dsc]

I don't want to sound negative, but you'd be lucky getting a perm entry job, let alone a contract gig and this is in pretty much any industry.

I do have to ask however, those 10 years ago what sort of work was it and for how long?

[northernladuk]

No, I clearly said I'm not expecting a well paid contract. I don't expect for them to 'pay for training for me'.

To be fair you've been out of the game for 10 years so if you do blag your way in you'll be learning on their time so not too dissimilar

[dude69]

Are you expecting to find a well paid contract where the client also pays for training you? OK

No, I clearly said I'm not expecting a well paid contract. I don't expect for them to 'pay for training for me'.

[northernladuk]

The reasons why this won't work just keep getting long and longer with every post. Struggling to see one single benefit.

Maybe keep this as plan E because as a solution it's just not viable and virtually impossible to land without a huuuuge dose of luck which isn't good for planning/income purposes.

[PCTNN]

I'm looking more to renew IT skills.

You renew your IT skills by doing courses, getting certifications. If you want to be paid for it you may want to try find an entry-level permie position.

Most contractors are experienced professionals with defined skill sets. Are you expecting to find a well paid contract where the client also pays for training you? OK

[dude69]

I have a UK correspondence address and setup a UK limited company about a month ago. (Although I was not in the country at the time, it really makes little difference.)

Indonesia recently passed a data protection law.

I can speak and translate Indonesian, but I'm looking more to renew IT skills.

[vetran]

If you can read Indonesian and translate to English you can probably get translation work based at home.

[Unix]

I used to work in .NET C# with SQL Server. Haven't done anything more complicated than code the odd screen scraper or whatever for personal use for the last decade.

Now it's January and basically I plan:

1. go to Indonesia (where I've been living, and not really doing anything)
2. come back to the UK maybe in September for 12 months [this is not 100% finalized, but it's likely]
3. go back to Indonesia again September 2024.

So there are a few problems here:

1. I have been laying about for 10 years (more, probably)
2. I can probably lie about my recent experience, work, etc. and get on with whatever (IDK really?)
3. I don't have anywhere to stay in the UK in the middle term, so basically I could stay here about another month if it's worth my while, but otherwise I could be gone next week.

So I'm looking for a paying, experience-giving, gig that I can do from now till September, but from Indonesia.

The other option I have is to wait till September in that I still have money and don't need to get a job so I could just leave it for now and not waste my time right now [I have a flight back to Indonesia next week, if there's no point in me hanging around another month then I might as well take it tbh.] But I suppose it does leave the question of what kind of job, rates, etc., are open to me if I'm not really here, and haven't done a day's work in 12 years.

Any thoughts?

I'll sub contract you £100 a day

[SueEllen]

I am not sure about the interview process, how important it would be for me to be in country at the time.
.

Depends on the company.

Lots now do remote interviews so you don't need to go in. Though you may be expected to go and collect equipment.

[northernladuk]

Yes this is a point tbh.

I am not sure about the interview process, how important it would be for me to be in country at the time.

I have done some remote work in Indonesia, teaching English to Indonesian children, but it's poorly paid, only around £20/hour, so I don't honestly need too much for it to be worth my while.

I don't really agree with Fraidy.. It is possible I guess but clients tend to have a need and want someone to fulfil that needs. I don't believe they are in the market for taking good people cheap. In fact taking someone over qualified for low rates is a risk as they are likely to leave the minute a better paying gig comes up. It also assumes you are good at what you do and can evidence it which of course you aren't. Clients are certainly not in the habit of taking someone under skilled to learn on the job because it's cheap either.

Interview process is just via teams like nearly every interview is nowadays so the actual interview per se will be same as anyone anywhere but that's assuming the agent can see past your location and again they won't. They don't know the tax situation so will just move on. You also don't mention how you will engage, through a UK LTD? Sole trader? Indonesian LTD? Agents won't deal with the last two at all and if you can't get a UK LTD then it doesn't matter what the client wants, you just wont get selected.

As I say, contracting is not for you. It's just not set up to meet your situation.

[dude69]

You could get lucky, if you price yourself right (ie low and the client is looking for cheap as well).

Sometimes the client, when they don't have much of budget, get fed up with interviewing people who are rubbish. And when someone good comes along, can answer relatively simple technical questions correctly, you can see their eyes light up.

Good luck.

Yes this is a point tbh.

I am not sure about the interview process, how important it would be for me to be in country at the time.

I have done some remote work in Indonesia, teaching English to Indonesian children, but it's poorly paid, only around £20/hour, so I don't honestly need too much for it to be worth my while.