Do not jump into contracting now!!!

**thunderlizard** · 14 March 2008, 22:06

I went to one of Bear Stearns' presentations on the undergrad milkround. Proper oily bacon-faced faux-chummy yanks with their "800 years without an unprofitable quarter" smugness and $10m average bonuses they were. Nice to see them fudging their cashmere trousers for once.

**Francko** · 14 March 2008, 22:12

Originally posted by Turion View Post

The point I'm making is, if you're in a permie job and thinking of quitting for contracting, wait a year or two.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/mai...rsplash114.xml

Good tip, wait to get some redundancy money (hope you were not referring to the "security" of a permie job during downturns or else

).

**gingerjedi** · 14 March 2008, 22:16

Back in 2002 I went from a 14k permy role to a 40k 12 month contract in my first year of venturing into this IT lark, sometimes you have nothing to lose!

On the bench now though.

**Turion** · 14 March 2008, 22:43

Originally posted by Francko View Post

Good tip, wait to get some redundancy money (hope you were not referring to the "security" of a permie job during downturns or else

).

True that permie jobs are not secure, but it's in a different league from contractors. They do not have to rely on 3 month contracts and then hope for renewal or have to spend ages on the bench before another short contract. Contractors are easier to let go. A permie has a much better chance of sailing through any downturn, with maybe a pay freeze as the only symptom that things aint right.

**Board Game Geek** · 15 March 2008, 02:27

I've noticed what seems an increasing number of 'potential contractors' posting on this board. Most have a very casual attitude, have done little research and use words like 'wanna get into this contracting lark'. However they do not seem to realize that contracting is a completely different ballgame....And it's about to become very dangerous for many of these newbies. They seem to think that it's double your money for nothing or your money back, guaranteed! RISK FREE.

A bit like those banks who thought those mortgage backed bonds were a no brainer for guaranteed high yields. Risk free. As the contaigion spreads, it looks like we're in for it and these newbies, with fewer skills, experience, contacts and savings will suffer most. As in any downturn contractors are first in line for the chop.

The point I'm making is, if you're in a permie job and thinking of quitting for contracting, wait a year or two.

Umm...you sound like an embittered permie who listened to a contractor too much and followed his advice...and got your nose cut off...hence u are now bitter and twisted.

**Tingles** · 15 March 2008, 09:17

Good advice....

Stay in your cosy jobs - unpaid overtime, 3% rises and a pat on the back at annual appraisal time.

T

**PAH** · 15 March 2008, 09:56

I'm not worried about a handful of contractor newbies trying to get the same gig as me. My experience must count for a lot as so far I've had 100% success rate in interviews.* The hardest part is getting the interview in the first place.

* That might change this time, I'm going to be a bit out of my comfort zone but that's one of the attractions of contracting, not being stuck doing the same stuff for the same people year after year. Two to three years is my maximum then I start to feel like a permie with someone elses bank balance.

**Turion** · 15 March 2008, 10:19

Originally posted by Board Game Geek View Post

Umm...you sound like an embittered permie who listened to a contractor too much and followed his advice...and got your nose cut off...hence u are now bitter and twisted.

...and you sound like a lonely p!sshead saddo.

1998 followed my own advice and been contracting ever since through good and bad. During 1990-1992 recession I sailed through that as a permie, suffering only a pay freeze. I did see the fallout though, as any ITer out of work (perm or con) had a real problem. In 1998 I was a £30/hr Lotus Notes dev, now I'm a £££/hr SAP Netweaver expert

. Done this by skillfully selecting contracts to upskill. It wasn't always easy though.

In the boom of 2000/1, then as a Java dev I saw swaythes of non-risk types permies get drawn into the contracting gold rush. They had convinced themselves there were no risks. Probably from agents and people like you. Many enjoyed a single contract before getting benched during 2001/2/3. Some lost relationships, some lost houses, some managed. Most eventually went back to permie. For me I was benched 7 months during 2003, got divorced as I was no longer judged a good provider, learnt SAP, started work again, eventually re-married, new family, investments and houses. Never looked back and have a huge stash or cash. Don't actually need to work. You see, Mr Geek, after 9 yrs in the game I'm ready for any downturn, most newbies are not.

Bitter moi? non monsieur, je continuerai comme déjà fait

PS: au revoir M., vous êtes maintenant sur le mon ignorez la liste

**PAH** · 15 March 2008, 10:30

Originally posted by Turion View Post

1998 followed my own advice and been contracting ever since through good and bad.

Snap.

Originally posted by Turion View Post

During 1990-1992 recession I sailed through that as a permie, suffering only a pay freeze. I did see the fallout though, as any ITer out of work (perm or con) had a real problem.

That explains why it took me almost a year to land my first IT job after leaving uni in 1991.

So how long did it take to learn SAP?

Often wondered how I'm going to make the jump from dogsbody developer to something else. I managed to leave behind Unix for the relative easy life of Microsoft dev tools when I started contracting so I know it's possible.

Do not jump into contracting now!!!