What to do next?

[rashm2k]

I'm moving to London with my current company, I've been with them for 2 years (from UNI). However since I'm going to be in London I may as well be in finance.

My ultimate goals are to be a contractor, earn loads and then continue being a contractor up north (Manchester region) 3-5 years down the line, with the odd role in London.

So my question really is do I stay with my current company and turn my 2 years experience into 3 years (I'm a Java developer with a strong interest in Linux) or do I find a Job with an IB and then become a contractor? Which is quicker? But which will allow me have more saleable skills?

(BTW - I'm SC cleared in my current role.)

[nomadd]

I'm moving to London with my current company, I've been with them for 2 years (from UNI). However since I'm going to be in London I may as well be in finance.

Might as well, but it might not suit you. Still, if you never try...

My ultimate goals are to be a contractor, earn loads and then continue being a contractor up north (Manchester region) 3-5 years down the line, with the odd role in London.

Not much contracting work in finance in Manchester. Most look to body-shop you back to London anyhow. Few that remain have mainly outsourced overseas or offer c-r-a-p rates (see many posts on here on this subject.)

I moved from Manchester to London for a "short stint" 24 years ago; I'm still here... You have been warned.

So my question really is do I stay with my current company and turn my 2 years experience into 3 years (I'm a Java developer with a strong interest in Linux) or do I find a Job with an IB and then become a contractor? Which is quicker? But which will allow me have more saleable skills?

Well, if you stay in London and want the "big bucks", finance is your only choice, IMHO. So simply go for it. But then be careful about burning bridges - getting that new role in finance and a contract after it may be nowhere near as easy as you think. Your call.

(BTW - I'm SC cleared in my current role.)

Won't be of much use in finance, TBH.

[rashm2k]

Might as well, but it might not suit you. Still, if you never try...

I've worked in Finance before I'm confident I can get in again - I chose to work at my current company because they are a consultancy.

Not much contracting work in finance in Manchester. Most look to body-shop you back to London anyhow. Few that remain have mainly outsourced overseas or offer c-r-a-p rates (see many posts on here on this subject.)

Thats expected - but as long its around 300, i'm happy I'll be staying close to family and friend so I'll have to take a paycut, it probably won't be finance related contract work anyway. But the real question is how much of my skills will be transferrable.

Well, if you stay in London and want the "big bucks", finance is your only choice, IMHO. So simply go for it. But then be careful about burning bridges - getting that new role in finance and a contract after it may be nowhere near as easy as you think. Your call.

Not sure what you mean by the burning bridges statement (with my current company you mean?) and gettting a new contract? Would it be better to get 3 years solid experience and then move to contracting or jump to finance now and then after 12-18 months move to contracting?

[nomadd]

I've worked in Finance before I'm confident I can get in again

Then simply "go for it", like I already said.

I chose to work at my current company because they are a consultancy

Which leaves you at a significant disadvantage to those attending the same job interviews as you who have actual IBs and Finance Houses on their cv's. Hence why I said "go for it", if you feel confident enough.

(TBH, everyone has worked for a "consultancy". I've worked for all the Big 5 over the years, and I wasn't specifically looking to work for any of them...)

But the real question is how much of my skills will be transferrable.

No idea. What are your skills? Java on it's own (all you've mentioned thus far), simply puts you up against 1,000,000,000 Bobs.

The IB skills aren't in great demand in Manchester, from what I can see. But the technical skills are always transferable. So if you want to move around geographically, maybe specialising "in finance for the big bucks" - as you put it - isn't the right direction to go. You might be better taking on a multiplicity of roles across different industries instead.

Not sure what you mean by the burning bridges statement (with my current company you mean?)

Yes.

...and gettting a new contract?

And yes.

Would it be better to get 3 years solid experience and then move to contracting or jump to finance now and then after 12-18 months move to contracting?

Well, you opened with "I'm confident I can get in again", so why mess around? Simply go for it. Look at both permie and contract and see what comes up. No harm in trying.

[perplexed]

No idea. What are your skills? Java on it's own (all you've mentioned thus far), simply puts you up against 1,000,000,000 Bobs. .

Most of whom are utter tulip. Which gives some good opportunities when companies take development back in house, need people quickly to fix the tulip Bob code. Fixing that tulipe Bob code generally needs to be done ASAP. Which will cost them...

What I've generally found is Bob firms have some very talented Bobs - who do prototyping etc to swing contracts. They then move to next pitch, leaving the actual work to be done by VB Bob - after all, it's easy to code well in Java and it's assorted technologies just knowing VB. Just a matter of language syntax, innit?
Though some of the code I've looked at, I'd suspect they Bob company outsourced their work to local prisons, tbh.

[rd409]

Most of whom are utter tulip. Which gives some good opportunities when companies take development back in house, need people quickly to fix the tulip Bob code. Fixing that tulipe Bob code generally needs to be done ASAP. Which will cost them...

What I've generally found is Bob firms have some very talented Bobs - who do prototyping etc to swing contracts. They then move to next pitch, leaving the actual work to be done by VB Bob - after all, it's easy to code well in Java and it's assorted technologies just knowing VB. Just a matter of language syntax, innit?
Though some of the code I've looked at, I'd suspect they Bob company outsourced their work to local prisons, tbh.

I was involved in a project of reviewing code done by some Technology Services in India. My cost to the client per day was equal to an entire development team of 5 devs in India per week. After a short 3 months, when I did all the review, and put in suggestions, the actual work of re-coding was offshored again. I am waiting for the client to come back again for the next review, and give me loads of money again.

[eek]

Though some of the code I've looked at, I'd suspect they Bob company outsourced their work to local prisons, tbh.

I doubt that is the case as the prisoners would probably do a better job.

Heck one prison in London makes Sofas sold in Heals and the quality of those is far better then the usual DFS tulip.

[nomadd]

Most of whom are utter tulip.

Though some of the code I've looked at, I'd suspect they Bob company outsourced their work to local prisons, tbh.

Not my experience. I've found them to be thoroughly professional, highly-skilled and excellent communicators. First rate organisation skills and meticulous documenters. All-in-all, a pleasure to work with. I've learned heaps from them.

(Ps. Don't feed the troll. )

[rashm2k]

Given I've got only 2 years experience (J2SE 6, ECLIPSE, SQL, XML, LINUX, HUDSON, AGILE and usual stuff you expect on projects), could I get a contract - or would potential clients not even consider me because I'm so young/inexperienced?

[SueEllen]

Given I've got only 2 years experience (J2SE 6, ECLIPSE, SQL, XML, LINUX, HUDSON, AGILE and usual stuff you expect on projects), could I get a contract - or would potential clients not even consider me because I'm so young/inexperienced?

One problem with having limited experience is as a contractor you would be fighting with Bobs who could do the work and live on rates much cheaper than you could.

If you are permie at the moment you have a chance to expand your skillset and be promoted to a more senior level, so when you do go contracting you will be in a role that Bobs cannot generally do due to their language skills.