Best country for working as IT contractor

[alreadypacked]

Well, you should look at the post dates. Now it is been 1 year and 3 months since I am contractor, but I already have 11 years working as JAVA senior developer, they extended my first contract in Cork, and now I am working in another one in Dublin (higher rates comparing to Cork). I am ambitious, indeed, but not to the extend of being idiot and not knowing what the market is. 350Euro is not a bad rate, but for someone with my experience I believe is the low band here in Dublin. I have been offered 450 to work for the Irish Bank, but no luck at the interview, and yes I said "luck" because I answered correctly to every single tech question . "You need more experience first before being so ambitious" that is what many tulip agents told me, before moving to Dublin, but hey, finally I got it. Next step, the champions league: London or Zurich. But I realize I need more banking exp/knowledge.

Be careful with Zurich.
1. They will not hire you unless you are an expert, they have the money, so they want to think they are hiring the best.
2. When you arrive you will have 1 or 2 people you are carring. Hopefully not your manager.
3. Mostly you will do stuff you have done before, and you will keep doing it for the next couple of years.
4. Your skills will go stale in Zurich.
5. When you want to leave Zurich, everywhere else will have moved on, you may find it hard to get another contract.

My suggestion is to time your contract in Zurich. Get to the top of your field in Dublin or London, then come to Zurich where 1K a day is possible. Stay a few years and buy yourself a couple of nice properties.

[Asspain]

Did you read your own previous posts before posting this one?

So you have been in your first ever contract for just a few weeks, working via an umbrella company for 300 euros which is less that the 350 you consider a low rate.

You need more experience first before being so ambitious.

Well, you should look at the post dates. Now it is been 1 year and 3 months since I am contractor, but I already have 11 years working as JAVA senior developer, they extended my first contract in Cork, and now I am working in another one in Dublin (higher rates comparing to Cork). I am ambitious, indeed, but not to the extend of being idiot and not knowing what the market is. 350Euro is not a bad rate, but for someone with my experience I believe is the low band here in Dublin. I have been offered 450 to work for the Irish Bank, but no luck at the interview, and yes I said "luck" because I answered correctly to every single tech question . "You need more experience first before being so ambitious" that is what many tulip agents told me, before moving to Dublin, but hey, finally I got it. Next step, the champions league: London or Zurich. But I realize I need more banking exp/knowledge.

[yasockie]

Simple. Live where you like and travel to where the work is, like the rest of us.

This. Having worked in 6 EU countries now UK is ranking highest. Yes you can complain about many things but still a bit better than anywhere else...

[sirja]

Netherlands. Most people speak English in the Big cities. Lots of Easy jet flights into Schipol airport, good night life and 24 hours trains

[Elvis1964]

Saudi or Emirates.

[AtW]

I thought you loved us?

It's a thin line between love and hate and on CUK it's particularly blurry

[SueEllen]

UK.

In the 90s...

I thought you loved us?

[AtW]

UK.

In the 90s...

[lilelvis2000]

Simple. Live where you like and travel to where the work is, like the rest of us.

Or live and work at home with the occasional bit of travelling.

[scooterscot]

Hi there,

As starting contractor I am just wondering what is the best country to work in as a Senior Developer JAVA/NEt or whatever.
Yeah we as contractors work all around the world seeking for new experiences, projects etc... but we must realize that there is a point
in our lives where we want to settle, we get family, become old, and the such and we would like to stablish in some place...

My experience/knowledge is as follows:


4 countries:

Position 4:Germany
-------

pros

Good flow of contracts even for no German speaking peopple.
High rates like 400 or 500 euros/day.
cheap cities like Berlin.
A country not vulnerable to economic crisis (really?)

cons

High tax rate.
Didicult to establish yourself as freelancer (need more than 2 clients per year).
German closed people?
weather?

Some things regarding Germany:

Quality of life - here you'll work to live, not live to work.

Satellite countries for mini break!

Language, shouting louder in English is not cool, some basic Germany is a prerequisite.

Higher tax rate than the UK? Not no more, especially if you're coming here with family.

It's not that difficult to have 2 or more clients here, commercial bureaucracy does not exist to the same extent as it does with clients in the UK.

Berlin is not that cheap anymore, the ship has left the harbour long ago.

Weather? The seasons here are still very recognisable, not like Scotland when you can get snow in the summer.

Did I mention nice beer?

Visiting family back home is easy from here.

Housing very expensive in Munich

No Sunday shopping if you're into that sort of thing, people go for walks in the park instead.

Older generation can be difficult, younger generation alive and vibrant.

[Paddy]

Position 1: Ireland(Dublin)
pros

Good rates, perhaps not as much as London/Switzerland/Germany but OK. 350 low 400 normal 450 possible but more diff (only banks and the such)
NO IR35 (Well yes, but the consequences are for the agency and the client, not fot the contractor)
Dublin funny place.
Girls here drink as much as men so u can speak them in the same frequency (ok I am an alcholic)
Lots of contracts and not as competitive as London due to population.


Weather (sorry for insisting, but OP is from Spain)

I am sorry wanderer, perhaps i didnt give you the correct information, lets talk with real names, the umbrella company is PRIMA UMBRELLA, this is my first contract so I didnt really own a LTD,I am sorry wanderer, perhaps i didnt give you the correct information, lets talk with real names, the umbrella company is PRIMA UMBRELLA, this is my first contract so I didnt really own a LTD,

I have signed a contract with AgentX wich says that I have to work 7.5 hours in the client. What happens is that the client obligates me to work 8. My current rate is 300 for 7.5, should I claim the difference? I mean for 8 hours it should be 320. They argued that they invoice per day so it doesnt matter how many hours I work... is this right/true? where is the limit? I mean what if I have to work 12 hours a day? or what if I decide to work only 2?

Did you read your own previous posts before posting this one?

So you have been in your first ever contract for just a few weeks, working via an umbrella company for 300 euros which is less that the 350 you consider a low rate.

You need more experience first before being so ambitious.

[cojak]

Simple. Live where you like and travel to where the work is, like the rest of us.

[Asspain]

Hi there,

As starting contractor I am just wondering what is the best country to work in as a Senior Developer JAVA/NEt or whatever.
Yeah we as contractors work all around the world seeking for new experiences, projects etc... but we must realize that there is a point
in our lives where we want to settle, we get family, become old, and the such and we would like to stablish in some place...

My experience/knowledge is as follows:


4 countries:

Position 4:Germany
-------

pros

Good flow of contracts even for no German speaking peopple.
High rates like 400 or 500 euros/day.
cheap cities like Berlin.
A country not vulnerable to economic crisis (really?)

cons

High tax rate.
Didicult to establish yourself as freelancer (need more than 2 clients per year).
German closed people?
weather?

Position 3:Switzerland

pros

Low tax.
High rates.
Lots of contracts.
rates 800 to 1000 CHF/day.
Most cities close to borders (live in France, work in Geneva?)


cons
Expensive country.
Less taxes working as permie than working as contractor (Health insurance, jobless help, pensions, etc)
German or French.
Weather.
Swiss people closed, and even racist ?
borest country in the world.

Position 2: UK(London)

pros

High rates (450 pounds/day and even more if working for banks)
Lots of contracts.
If you get bored in London, u should suicide.
English.


cons
Weather.
IR35 (as Risk)
London and whereabouts HIGH competitive (Like 15 people for each contract offer)

Position 1: Ireland(Dublin)
pros

Good rates, perhaps not as much as London/Switzerland/Germany but OK. 350 low 400 normal 450 possible but more diff (only banks and the such)
NO IR35 (Well yes, but the consequences are for the agency and the client, not fot the contractor)
Dublin funny place.
Girls here drink as much as men so u can speak them in the same frequency (ok I am an alcholic)
Lots of contracts and not as competitive as London due to population.

cons
Weather (sorry for insisting, but OP is from Spain)