Reply to: Availability for the contract market

[MarillionFan]

Not correct, that was my exact thinking. I gave 3 months notice to permie employer and left, 3 months later I had my first contract.

I am of course correct. According to a recent poll

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...ll-into-2.html

The majority of contractors fall into contracting.

[alreadypacked]

WLS

To be successful in contracting you need to have a skill set that is in demand. Do your research before you jump.

Really know why someone would want to hire you.

[lukemg]

WTAS
If you have the spuds, then go with the Swampy option, bridges will get burnt so make sure you can live with that. (bear in mind NO-ONE will remember you 3 weeks after you are gone). Absolutely key is to convince the agent you are available, any hint that you are pulling a fast one and you wont get a sniff.
Why ? Because LOTS of perms dip a toe in the water then cack themselves over the 13 weeks they get offered, pension plan, missus on back etc and back out. Agent can find available people with the experience, why should they even bother sending your CV, you have to be in the same position or have VERY unique in demand skills.
I reckon most contractors kick into this after being made redundant, being in a crap job or other major bust-up and so they have nothing to lose, the decision is very different. Respect to anyone giving up a decent job to have a go, not sure I would in this market. Oh – and expect to be hired for the basic technical work you have skills for.
Good luck !

[doodab]

I would hesitate to guess that the majority of contractors fell into it and that it wasn't a conscious 'I'm going to give up my perm job and make oodles of cash'

I tripped over and landed in a pot of cash. I do seem to be nearing the bottom of it though.

[Scrag Meister]

I would hesitate to guess that the majority of contractors fell into it and that it wasn't a conscious 'I'm going to give up my perm job and make oodles of cash'.

Not correct, that was my exact thinking. I gave 3 months notice to permie employer and left, 3 months later I had my first contract.

[milanbenes]

Now I find contracting boring and unfulfilling, if not for the money I'd be doing something else.

you Sir,

need a mid life crisis

go an buy yourself a Landrover

Milan.

[MarillionFan]

i gotta say when I started contracting I couldn't understand why everyone's not a contractor

years later, today, with children and having to put a roof over their head I can sympathise why those who wait too late miss the chance to go contracting because once they have children and a mortgage I can sympathise that for the majority it's not worth the risk

so to this thread,

a, save yer warchest, how much, 6 months ?

b, when a) is nearly ready hand in notice

c) close to end of notice period start looking


I can see why this would put most people off

make sure you have done your research, and that your area has a contracting future !

otherwise you may end up regretting becoming a contractor

Milan.

I would hesitate to guess that the majority of contractors fell into it and that it wasn't a conscious 'I'm going to give up my perm job and make oodles of cash'. The exception to that would be just before Y2K where opportunists jumped over to contracting for a year or two but then fell back into perm. They don't get count.

I fell into contracting back in 1997/98 after an argument with the owner of the consultancy I worked for. I'd been under the cosh and stressed until that moment during the heated argument I threw my car keys down with the words 'f**k u and your job' and walked out. A contractor and CUK meme for lamping people was born.

Now I find contracting boring and unfulfilling, if not for the money I'd be doing something else.

[milanbenes]

i gotta say when I started contracting I couldn't understand why everyone's not a contractor

years later, today, with children and having to put a roof over their head I can sympathise why those who wait too late miss the chance to go contracting because once they have children and a mortgage I can sympathise that for the majority it's not worth the risk

so to this thread,

a, save yer warchest, how much, 6 months ?

b, when a) is nearly ready hand in notice

c) close to end of notice period start looking


I can see why this would put most people off

make sure you have done your research, and that your area has a contracting future !

otherwise you may end up regretting becoming a contractor

Milan.

[VectraMan]

WSS

If you can't face that then you won't be able to face a lot worse when you are contracting.

Indeed. Not handing in your notice until you get the next thing lined up is permie thinking. Save up, arrange an overdraft facility, get some 0% credit cards, and take the plunge. That's what I did. Except for the save up part.:

[Paddy]

Serious answer is to man up and hand in your notice in on Monday and start looking for contracts.

If you can't do that you are probably not cut out for contracting...

WSS

If you can't face that then you won't be able to face a lot worse when you are contracting.

[swamp]

Serious answer is to man up and hand in your notice in on Monday and start looking for contracts.

If you can't do that you are probably not cut out for contracting...

[KentPhilip]

You don't have to give your current employer notice. They can't force you back to work with a big stick. Just start working on a contract the next day and phone in sick or something. You'll miss out on a leaving card and that crappy gather-round moment where the boss tells everyone how wonderful you've been and a few people clap weakly.

god I'd do ANYTHING to avoid that charade

Edit: Great username for the OP. Jamesbond. Wonder why nobody took it before..

[bobspud]

Have you bothered to look at the financial situation in the wider market? or possibly take note of the fact that you are trying to jump on a sinking band wagon? Contracts per applicant have dried up fast this month and rate cuts have started re-emerging in the news.

You need to decide if you can afford to spend next year working for nothing while the agency takes a 40% margin just because there were 50 idiots driving the rate down in desperation...

Personally I'd stay put earning a stable permie wage for another year.

[swamp]

You don't have to give your current employer notice. They can't force you back to work with a big stick. Just start working on a contract the next day and phone in sick or something. You'll miss out on a leaving card and that crappy gather-round moment where the boss tells everyone how wonderful you've been and a few people clap weakly.

[mudskipper]

Hi there,

I am currently looking for my first contract and have a concern regarding my notice period which comes up to 45 days. Is this a real problem for the contract market?

Hello and welcome!

Yes - it's likely to be a big problem. Most companies think they want someone immediately. Even if you do find someone prepared to wait, the danger is that circumstances change in 6 weeks and the project is canned / resourced differently leaving you without a contract.

If you look on jobserve, the jobs have 'start date' which is nearly always ASAP, immediate, or, occasionally 1 week.

If yes how the client are willing to wait ti get the right person?

I don't understand the second part of your question.