Reply to: First contract - what am I doing wrong?

[The Lone Gunman]

To be followed by Bodgit and Scarper.

They would be my builders.

[bogeyman]

Hi Captain. That isn't my full skill set. I was just answering a specific question from Bogeyman. Without wanting to get into a discussion of my skills, I work in unix systems engineering at the enterprise level: large servers, disk arrays, tape libraries, DR, system design and architecture. I know I can command a reasonable rate in London. My problem is I would rather stay outside London.

Also, money is not my main driver. What I hope to get from contracting is a feeling of independance and more time off than permie (permy?) work allows.

Given the nature of your skills UM, you have to be in reasonable commuting distance of a city. Perhaps you can work from home some (or most) of the time, but you'll still need to get to the client site on a fairly regular basis.

What part of the country would you prefer? Are you married? Kids?

[unixman]

Unixman, I would suspect that you could only command relatively lowly contract roles with that sort of skillset. Most clients look for fairly hardcore developers who can directly add £££'s to the bottom line. I'm afraid system admin dudes are normally seen as either permies or relatively lowly paid perma-temps. Anything you did yonks ago won't count to a client unless you are prepared to lie and blag it.

Hi Captain. That isn't my full skill set. I was just answering a specific question from Bogeyman. Without wanting to get into a discussion of my skills, I work in unix systems engineering at the enterprise level: large servers, disk arrays, tape libraries, DR, system design and architecture. I know I can command a reasonable rate in London. My problem is I would rather stay outside London.

Also, money is not my main driver. What I hope to get from contracting is a feeling of independance and more time off than permie (permy?) work allows.

[threaded]

To be followed by Bodgit and Scarper.

[Xenophon]

To be followed by Bodgit and Scarper.

They are good too.

[DaveB]

lie and blagit.

To be followed by Bodgit and Scarper.

[Xenophon]

Not sure how reliable / relevant this is, but I am feeling unusually helpful

[Xenophon]

Hadn't realised you new my legal team.

They are a great outfit and no mistake!

Oh, and it is knew of course, but I know you knew that my friend.

[The Lone Gunman]

lie and blagit.

Hadn't realised you new my legal team.

[wendigo100]

Hi Guys. People have asked why not go to London when it is 40 mins away. It isn't 40 mins away. To get to the City, door to door takes about 2 hours 20 mins. Hence my reluctance. I live about 45 minutes from Milton Keynes by car.

Well why did you say you live near Milton Keynes then? That's twice as far as me and I don't say I live near Milton Keynes.

So where are you then? Isn't there a nearer station? At the four points of the compass you can choose from Aylesbury, Bedford, Berko or Northampton.

[Captain Jack]

Unixman, I would suspect that you could only command relatively lowly contract roles with that sort of skillset. Most clients look for fairly hardcore developers who can directly add £££'s to the bottom line. I'm afraid system admin dudes are normally seen as either permies or relatively lowly paid perma-temps. Anything you did yonks ago won't count to a client unless you are prepared to lie and blag it.

[unixman]

Hi Bogeyman. Eons ago I did C and C++. Now I do unix shell and (more often) Perl. I am not a software developer though. I write code only as needed in my systems management role. For example: to help with backup reporting, or space allocation in disk arrays. I would not attempt to pass myself off as a programmer.

[Captain Jack]

Bitbucket, stop posting pics of your favourite tranny everywhere.

[Bitbucket]

Women in London are really sexy

[BlasterBates]

It sounds to me like you're a longway from everywhere !!, well anywhere you could easily get jobs.

I think you're going to have to stay over somewhere in the week anyway.