When is the right time to jump?

**malvolio** · 4 April 2015, 18:57

Two questions to get you thinking...

1. Have you delivered enough big things on your own, not as part of a team, to prove you can deliver from day 1, when set against people that have been doing that for some time?

2. Can you survive for three or more months with no income?

**spursman** · 5 April 2015, 14:48

Originally posted by malvolio View Post

Two questions to get you thinking...

1. Have you delivered enough big things on your own, not as part of a team, to prove you can deliver from day 1, when set against people that have been doing that for some time?

2. Can you survive for three or more months with no income?

Hi Malvolio,

Thanks for the response. When you say big, do you mean in terms of project value? My answers below...

1. I have delivered projects on my own, not as part of a team. And when I say on my own, I mean responsible budget holder, resourcing, stakeholder management, and managing 3rd party suppliers. I am currently managing 3 rollouts...2000 printers, 650 new starter kits, and 500 new laptops with the number to increase. On top of that, I have managed and sucessfully delivered a number of smaller projects (7-10 days PM) which includes server migrations, LAN upgrades, WiFi projects and also managing a portfolio of small projects.

2. Yes, probably even more. My other half also works full time.

These are questions I have thought about already and know the answer to. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you taking time to respond, but how will that help me?

**cojak** · 5 April 2015, 14:58

Originally posted by spursman View Post

Hi All,

I need some general advice needed on the world of contracting.

I'm a Project Manager for a fairly large IT services company. I have been doing the role for almost 2.5 years. I'm keen, passionate and determined to do a good job and deliver projects. My company recognize this and as a result, I find myself doing managing multiple rollouts, upgrades and a number of infrastructure projects all at the same time. Whilst I'm happy they have faith in me and it builds my confidence that they obviously believe I am doing a good job, I feel like i'm being worked into the ground. Promotions or pay rises are a no go zone - I can't see it happening here for a number of reasons.

I recently achieved my Prince2 Practitioner - the final to-do item on my list and now I'm getting itchy feet. I've always been keen to get into contracting for two reasons - New environments/people and the financial rewards.

My question is...when is the right time to get into contracting (Project Management)? Is there ever a right time? I've come across a number of contractors in my field with more experience then I have, but I've not seen anything special in them that makes me think...I need to wait a few more years or I'm not ready. Or do you think I am getting ahead of myself considering my relatively low 2.5 years of experience?

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

The right time is when you think it is.

**administrator** · 5 April 2015, 19:44

If you are confident then set up a Ltd Co and get a bank account so you have no delays when you are ready to jump. Try going for a few roles and see how you get on, just test the water. You may find notice periods prevent you gaining something quickly but if you get a few tickles of interest then there's nothing stopping you handing in your notice...

**malvolio** · 5 April 2015, 20:22

Originally posted by spursman View Post

These are questions I have thought about already and know the answer to. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate you taking time to respond, but how will that help me?

It's a different world, a different mind-set, a different approach to work (your job is being a contractor, not a PM) and you have no support group to hold you up other than IPSE and boards like this one where the experienced try to point the less experienced in the right direction. If you have already thought of that then well done; a lot of people don't, all they see is big numbers which are probably mythical anyway.

The biggest difference is that you get hired for what you have done, not what you can do and not what you might be able to do. Hence me asking if you have done standalone work (i.e. a PM who has driven the solution, not just elements of it). If you have then fine. However you are potentially competing with people like me who have delivered several multi-million pound projects over several years, so don't over-estimate your own skills. That's all I'm saying.

As for the money, you are unlikely to walk into a high paying role from day one and there is a possibility that you will have to resign, finish your notice, then find a job, then get paid. Hence, can you survive on no income for a while. Again, you believe you can so no problem. But budget on only working 7 months a year and you will be about right, especially as a PM.

**northernladuk** · 5 April 2015, 21:30

I dunno what everyone else thinks but two and a half years as a PM isn't a lot if you are going contracting. You can't have delivered many projects in that time frame to put on the CV so you will restricting the types of gigs you can get. The list you give aren't exactly complex pieces of work. You are getting in to a field with many contractors that have been PMs for decades so are really on the back foot being a newbie and so little experience. Id say now isn't the right time. Get yourself some major project experience somehow and then think about it.

**vwdan** · 6 April 2015, 17:29

Sounds to me like you just need a different job - I don't think 2.5 years is anywhere near enough to jump into contracting*, but it's a pretty spot on time to start looking for your next role.

*I should add that there are contracts for every level, but moving up in contracting is tough so if success/money is your thing then you want to be walking in at a reasonably senior level. As above, people will look at what you've done not what you can potentially do (To a degree, once you have a foot in somewhere you can be luckier) which can put you into a chicken and egg situation.

**gigahoe** · 9 April 2015, 14:00

Just to add to what others have said there are different levels of roles. So I have seen one PM role today that was up for £150/day and another that was £800. Obviously the level of candidates that will get a look in at one end will be different from the other. What you need to do when starting out is really highlighting anything you have done which makes you in any way a specialist.

From your description you have done a few physical hardware moves/deliveries. Now this won't be that rare but if a development PM is applying for the same role and has more experience you can still pip them by showing that your skills are a better match for that one role.

On the whole, I'd say 2.5 years will look rather light for most roles, as often they will state 5 - 10 years experience. But if you have Prince 2 (Practitioner) and the place you're currently working in is impressive enough then you will probably get some bites if you pitch yourself right.

When is the right time to jump?