Newb Intro and advice request

[mrjaywarren]

Hi All,

I've been browsing around over Christmas and now have a few questions, firstly a little bit about myself.

I am 29 and an information security/risk management specialist, I've been working in the field for 10 years - 2 in a big payment/tech company, 2 in Consultancy, 3 in FS and a further 3 years of regulatory compliance with a local security company (in order of most recent). i have a small war chest 5K plus a 2k overdraft, I am engaged with no kids and a mortgage (currently looking to move home so not looking to make the jump till after this)

My questions are (in order of importance) -

1, is now a good time to go contracting, IR35 and expenses changes coming? I understand this might push some contractors back into permie roles but won’t there always be a demand for contractors (supply demand etc.)?

2, I am pursuing some industry qualifications to make myself more marketable however I am also looking at a prince2 do you think this would be beneficial?

3, Are there any guidelines/steps in going contracting, things you need to set up or have in place I think I know the basics (company registered, accountant, template contracts drafted, private pension set up? what else)

4, Any advice on building out my network further?

5, anything else I should be aware of?


Thanks in advance,

[BrilloPad]

A very warm welcome!

Firstly, please don't get married.

A lot of people on CUK say its a bad time because of the things you mentioned. I don't see the problem myself. It will still be attractive after April. Just not as attractive as it was.

Training and qualifications will never do you any harm.

To build u your network, why not attend a CUK real life meet up?

[northernladuk]

Hi All,

I've been browsing around over Christmas and now have a few questions, firstly a little bit about myself.

I am 29 and an information security/risk management specialist, I've been working in the field for 10 years - 2 in a big payment/tech company, 2 in Consultancy, 3 in FS and a further 3 years of regulatory compliance with a local security company (in order of most recent). i have a small war chest 5K plus a 2k overdraft, I am engaged with no kids and a mortgage (currently looking to move home so not looking to make the jump till after this)

But do you like gladiators?

1, is now a good time to go contracting, IR35 and expenses changes coming? I understand this might push some contractors back into permie roles but won’t there always be a demand for contractors (supply demand etc.)?

Dunno... If you are good yes, if not no. There will always be contract gigs for highly qualified effective consultants. Sadly contracting has been watered down by 1000's of tick box contractors with less than 5 years experience all starry eyed with the rates. Hopefully the up coming changes will change this.

2, I am pursuing some industry qualifications to make myself more marketable however I am also looking at a prince2 do you think this would be beneficial?

Personally I'd do it just to get past the agents. Prince2 is pretty bloody useless for your day to day gig but the agents think it's the bee's knees. For the price of the course I'd take it if not just so you pass their keyword check.

3, Are there any guidelines/steps in going contracting, things you need to set up or have in place I think I know the basics (company registered, accountant, template contracts drafted, private pension set up? what else)

First timer guides to the right-->
Contracting 101 thread sticked somewhere in the prof forums.
Speak to your accountant
Search function as described in the sticky at the top of this area of the forums.

4, Any advice on building out my network further?

Schmooze the right people. If you don't know who the right people are then you need understand who is worth knowing and who isn't.

5, anything else I should be aware of?

If a radiator isn't hot from the top to the bottom when it's on it needs bleeding.

[mrjaywarren]

A very warm welcome!

Firstly, please don't get married.

A lot of people on CUK say its a bad time because of the things you mentioned. I don't see the problem myself. It will still be attractive after April. Just not as attractive as it was.

Training and qualifications will never do you any harm.

To build u your network, why not attend a CUK real life meet up?

When is the next event?

[mrjaywarren]

But do you like gladiators?

Thanks for the response, as I thought.

The gladiator thing was lost on me?

[northernladuk]

Thanks for the response, as I thought.

The gladiator thing was lost on me?

But do you like them?

[mrjaywarren]

But do you like them?

The game show from the 90's? Of course!

[BrilloPad]

When is the next event?

Keep an eye on Social / Events

I expect there will be a meeting before too long. Isn't February the CUK annual fancy dress party? Last year almost everyone was dressed as a gladiator...

[mrjaywarren]

Do we have many security guys here?

[northernladuk]

Do we have many security guys here?

Yep. We have Cojack and NotAllThere... And RealityHack once a year or so. They prefer to be called Moderators rather than Security, bouncers, bullyboys(gal) etc though.