Trapped Permie looking to break free

[flapjack]

I'm in the same boat albeit different circumstances!

Hi,

The thread title "trapped permie looking to break free" fits me perfectly so rather than creating a new thread, I figured I would avoid people's wrath by replying to this one.

My circumstances are a little different to the OP but we're both looking to get into contracting nonetheless. My situation is that I've been working with a tier 1 consulting firm for the last 7 years and worked on some major transformation projects creating a specialism in process design & optimisation as well as PMO reporting. I work alongside many contractors on the client I work with as a consultant and have actively been involved in selling work for my firm over the last 12 months so have familiarity in invoicing and getting a contract signed. The problem however is that despite applying for contracts on many of the popular job sites and being put forward for a few roles by recruiters I seem to have had no offers. :-(

I'm fully mobile and willing to travel as required. There are no visa / work restrictions. The day rates I've been looking at are around £500 - £550 per day. This is based on the fact that clients currently pay £800 - £1000 per day for me at the firm I work for. At first I thought the lack of interest was because I have to serve a notice period but after experimenting to see if interest would change if I put down '2 weeks availability' - I still got back zilch.

Could anyone give me pointers for how to break into the contracting scene? It just seems ridiculously competitive. I know I can do the work but just can't seem to get a break. Happy to share my CV if anyone is able to give some constructive feedback. I just feel stumped after 3 months of actively searching.

[SimonMac]

It's more attitude and applicability than age. I started at 27 with a jack of all trades set of skills.

And look where you are now!

[MarillionFan]

I also think that 28 is quite young for a contractor wait until you're at least 35/40 + so they will think you have a lot of experience.
Remember they expect contractors to hit the ground running, no training, no 2 months doing nothing as you're new on the job etc.

It's more attitude and applicability than age. I started at 27 with a jack of all trades set of skills.

[northernladuk]

With regards to specialist skills, I have been mulling over what I offer and a lot of the lower level jobs on jobserve etc, seem to fit what I can offer (to my surprise). I am someone who requires very little hand holding and so I think it will be risky but potentially fruitful.

Just to be a bit brutal but if you need to mull it over I think you have a problem. You are a specialist in a skill set you can sell to clients or you are not. Shouldn't be much mulling to be done. Also 'seem' to fit won't work. It fits like a glove or doesn't. If it doesn't you don't have a hope.

You have to be very clear and very pragmatic if it is going to work. The client want's an experience contractor to do a very specific job and there are plenty out there. If there is any grey area around this then it is going to be hard work.

Even more of the above if you are looking at lower end. There will be a lot more people to pick from.

Sorry to be harsh but that is the reality.

[Ronni]

Edison - Thank you very much for your response.

It offers me encouragement for sure. I am going to play this as smart as possible.

With regards to specialist skills, I have been mulling over what I offer and a lot of the lower level jobs on jobserve etc, seem to fit what I can offer (to my surprise). I am someone who requires very little hand holding and so I think it will be risky but potentially fruitful.

The plan is to monitor the situation over the coming months / year - not to rush and hastily make a decision.

I will be on this site quite often and so I know should I need any advice I would be offered it readily.

Again I appreciate all your responses, it has really helped me fine tune and make my goals a lot more realistic.

[Eirikur]

I also think that 28 is quite young for a contractor wait until you're at least 35/40 + so they will think you have a lot of experience.
Remember they expect contractors to hit the ground running, no training, no 2 months doing nothing as you're new on the job etc.

[edison]

Words of encouragement

Hi Ronni,

(Newbie here, my 1st post...)

I can offer you some words of encouragement. I have just made the switch from perm to contractor after 22 years experience - I start my first contract next week.

I would echo the words of some of the wise posters above. It is vital to understand what exactly it is you can offer to end clients. I have had 10 perm jobs including five years at one of the top management consultancies and worked in many industries and countries. There isn't much I haven't tried in my field. However, when it came to discussing contract roles with agents/clients, I had to be very specific about my skills and more importantly experience.

I am at the upper middle/senior management level and wasn't sure how my skills could translate to the contract world when my type of role is nearly always a perm one. My approach was to monitor the main job boards like Jobserve for a few months to gauge the types of role available/frequency they appeared/range of rates. With that in mind I made the decision to quit as a permie but I had the luxury of having a large warchest behind me as regularly recommended on CUK.

My situation may be a bit different to others on CUK in that I get a lot of approaches from headhunters for perm jobs so I was also in the position to think if contracting doesn't work out, I can easily go back to being a perm. I'm sure the grass won't necessarily be greener - perm and contractor have their pros and cons. However, you need to understand the merits and risks of each. It might be worth you staying as a perm for a bit longer. Talking to some recruiters I know well, the market is picking up but I can only talk for London and the South East.

Good Luck.

[Ronni]

Thank you all for the good advice

Thanks everyone who have been brutally honest. I will definitely try specialising, the fact that I pretty skim over a lot of varying skills can be useful in the long run.

However I need to offer clients a unique skillset so that I can slot. The business analyst role sounds like an ideal fit at the moment so I will be pursuing that.

Fingers crossed I can be in a position to work for myself in the not too distant future.

Ronni

[northernladuk]

sounds more like a business analyst to me. Have you thought about going down that route? Although, jumping in as a contractor doing that could be a risky move. It might be best to find your specialisation as a permie, then go contracting once you have experience to back it up.

+1 to that.

[Bunk]

I am considering taking my PRINCE2 this way I can specialise in project management.

That's all well and good but every contractor PM and his dog has done PRINCE2.

This part:

build rapports with business users and translate requirements and other information between them and the technical team/developers

sounds more like a business analyst to me. Have you thought about going down that route? Although, jumping in as a contractor doing that could be a risky move. It might be best to find your specialisation as a permie, then go contracting once you have experience to back it up.

[Ronni]

The trick is to convince the client that you are a master of all of them - jack of all trades, master of all trades.

Seems to work OK for me.

If you don't mind me asking, what types of roles do you usually go for?

[Ronni]

Reality Checked

Thanks guys, I think I will have to not come across as a jack of all trades.

I think to say I am a master of none is under-selling what I do in particular, I will need to look at each role and be honest to myself and work out if I will be competent in that role.

One thing I do not do is say I can do something when I cannot. I am considering taking my PRINCE2 this way I can specialise in project management. I have in the past worked in an agile environment which is ideal for a short term delivery, however I believe you guys are right, I really need focus my energy into a specialist field.

Do you guys know of any contracting roles such as project assistance? or is this more of a permie thing?

[TheFaQQer]

Unfortunately this is going to be your problem I am afraid. Clients are looking for specialists in their field who can demonstrate years of doing specifically what the role entails. Clients are not looking for jack of trades. There will be plenty of people out there that is a master at the role you are after and easily demonstrate it.

The trick is to convince the client that you are a master of all of them - jack of all trades, master of all trades.

Seems to work OK for me.

[northernladuk]

Essentially the firm I work for is small so I have my fingers in all the pies, project initiation work, requirements, testing, installation, P1 support. Jack of all trades master of a few.

Unfortunately this is going to be your problem I am afraid. Clients are looking for specialists in their field who can demonstrate years of doing specifically what the role entails. Clients are not looking for jack of trades. There will be plenty of people out there that is a master at the role you are after and easily demonstrate it.

I would camp on jobserve or something similar and be very honest with yourself and work out if you are the man for that job. Try not to look at it and say 'I could do that'. You will have to be really honest.

Make sure you plan your exit from your perm job well. It is highly likely you are going to need quite a warchest behind you.

[Ronni]

Hi All,

I am a permie currently looking within the next few months to begin a venture into the world of contracting.

I am going to be looking for an accountant to assist me in setting up the ltd company and then advising me on my options so that I can hopefully have myself setup for that first contract.

I am 28 and I have minimal commitments so this seems like a good idea to build a better life.

My current role incorporates, Application support, lots of SQL based work, reports, data manipulation and diagnostic work. I have also done a years placement during university at Oracle corp.

I have performed system upgrades, interface configuration, webserver work, as well as being very hands on with clients, including many a site visit.

Essentially the firm I work for is small so I have my fingers in all the pies, project initiation work, requirements, testing, installation, P1 support. Jack of all trades master of a few.

I was introduced to the world of contracting when I was seconded last year on a year long project, where the contractors I worked with were actively suggesting I pursue a career as a contractor.

My biggest asset I would say is that I find it easy to build rapports with business users and translate requirements and other information between them and the technical team/developers.

I was hoping I can draw on the experience of members of the site to help me get started, currently the task is a bit daunting and I don't have much in the way of guidance on how to really get the ball rolling - what kind of role would even be available to myself, considering i am not a developer.

Which agencies should i sign up to? What to avoid, etc.

I thank you guys for taking the time to read my post and i look forward to your responses.

Kind Regards,

Ronni