Thinking of taking the leap into contracting

[Ash2003]

Hi all

I am 24 and have 3 years industry experience in data and analytics. This has built my skills in scrum meetings, sql, excel, power bi, ssrs, crystal reports, data warehous mapping and understanding feeds, working off jira or vsts boards. Having worked with many contractors in my permanent role i feel that i have enough working knowledge to be a data analyst / business analyst contractor.

However, i am unsure what the leap consists off, where i start, where to look for contract jobs.

So far i vaguely understand the self employed contractor vs umbrella contractor. I am more drawn to self employed with a experienced accountant. The next step is where do i apply? Or are there firms that specialise in placing contractors in positions like this.

Any info is welcome

Thank you

[northernladuk]

My honest opinion is that 3 years is no where near enough. You can discount the first year or even more as training/learning so you have very little solid experience to sell. You will be up against many people with 10's of years experience in their field let alone in contracting. You have a year or two in the field and none contracting.

You need to stay perm, job hop a little to move up the chain in the more senior positions and get some demonstrable experience delivering and then you can think about contracting.

At best you will be looking for very junior roles which are prime for being taken by the big consultancies for next to nothing.

Forget all the questions about how you do it. Look at yourself and what you have to sell first.

[Trillionski]

This thread mirrors my position too. I have just received a contract via a consultancy. I have been out of work for some time after 1 year experience in Software Testing but I've been offered a contract role which I have accepted and is too good to say no to at the moment even if it is for a temporary amount of time to get back into work and earn some money.

I havn't got into a perm role yet as my cv is weak but the contract I have been offered I understand the business and have experience in that domain. Am I making a mistake.

[cannon999]

Don't listen to the naysayers. 3 years is plenty assuming that you are a bright individual and are able to get stuck in.

Both me and my mate did it after 2 years and I know plenty of others who have done the same.

[northernladuk]

Don't listen to the naysayers. 3 years is plenty assuming that you are a bright individual and are able to get stuck in.

Both me and my mate did it after 2 years and I know plenty of others who have done the same.

Someone walked on the moon as well but it doesn't mean it works for the masses.

[cannon999]

Someone walked on the moon as well but it doesn't mean it works for the masses.

Contracting in general doesn't work for everyone but it doesn't mean that you need to be a permie for 10 years before stepping out to become a contractor.

[northernladuk]

Contracting in general doesn't work for everyone but it doesn't mean that you need to be a permie for 10 years before stepping out to become a contractor.

One contract does not make a contractor.

And it generally is a good idea where you are stepping in to market that revolves around selling your skills.

[Guvernator]

It is possible to go contracting after 3 years, just very difficult. As the poster above has stated you are selling your skills\experience. Yes you can get contracting roles for junior positions too but the day rate will be so low, it may not be worth the hassle and yes contracting is a much bigger hassle than being a permie.

You've also probably picked the worst time to do it with it very likely that our dear Chancellor will be declaring open season on contractors at the end of this month. I'd at least wait to see the what the outcome\fallout of this is going to be before considering leaving a nice safe permie role right now.

[cannon999]

As the poster above has stated you are selling your skills\experience. Yes you can get contracting roles for junior positions too but the day rate will be so low.

Can't vouch for any other industry but this is simply not true for IT. You can get pretty good in a couple of years and go off on 500-600/d which is not a bad starting rate.

[northernladuk]

Can't vouch for any other industry but this is simply not true for IT. You can get pretty good in a couple of years and go off on 500-600/d which is not a bad starting rate.

Generally is, just in any other industry. We have endless threads on here about how people get junior PM and other similar level roles and the advice is usually the same. It's just not worth it. Stay perm and come back in as a senior/experience PM or whatever.

How do you know anyway? You've just started your first gig.