Hi all
I've been lurking for a while but have just registered to get your take on my situation. I've read a couple of threads about moving from permanent to contract roles but wanted to just air my situation - apologies if its a repetition of something that went before it;
I am currently employed by an insurance company as a Business Analyst in the North West. I have five years experience and am getting paid peanuts (£25k). I have been thinking for a long time about moving into contracting but have been putting it off for various reasons but just recently I have the bit between my teeth and really want to go for it - but it's a massive decision for me.
Rather than go into loads of details, I'll bullet my circumstances and ask some questions later on.
So;
I'm 30, am married but have no kids (the other half is willing to move)
I've been doing business analysis for 5 years with my current company
I'm tied into a 3 month notice period (!!) and haven't handed my notice in yet
I don't have much in the way of savings, probably 2 months at most but could rely on family to help out if needs be
I specialise in an insurance CMS which seems to be growing at the moment (Guidewire).
Here's what I've done so far;
Got my LinkedIn profile sparkling
Ripped up my CV and produced a new one following all manor of "best CV" type guides from various contractor sites
Signed up to CWJobs and Jobsite and get jobs by email
Registered my limited company and got my website/social media presence sorted
And the response I've got;
Discussions and a telephone interview done with ...... in Fareham
Early discussions with ...... for a role in Manchester/York
Been contacted by an agency that specialises in Guidewire resource and had my details sent on to two insurance comapnies
Had various other email/LinkedIn contact
So nothing firm yet, but the noises sound right (especially from .../... as the contacts were from within the company and not an agency, and they contacted me directly).
So - here's the difficult bit;
My notice period is stupid - yes I know, I signed the contract. I don't really know how to play this, or if there is even a choice. I am all set for handing my notice in, but I'm not sure if it is a sensible thing to do.
I have about 5 days of holiday left, so that knocks a week off, but I am currently assigned to a project where I am the BA and SME which basically could not continue (unless they scrapped the "old" system and got a new one - thus removing the requirement for the knowledge in my head) without me
Sorry for the long post. If anybody has any advice, on the points raised or indeed anything that a permie needs to know moving into contracting, then I'm all ears.
Thanks in advance!
Mod Note: Removed client details. You have much to learn young Padawan...
I've been lurking for a while but have just registered to get your take on my situation. I've read a couple of threads about moving from permanent to contract roles but wanted to just air my situation - apologies if its a repetition of something that went before it;
I am currently employed by an insurance company as a Business Analyst in the North West. I have five years experience and am getting paid peanuts (£25k). I have been thinking for a long time about moving into contracting but have been putting it off for various reasons but just recently I have the bit between my teeth and really want to go for it - but it's a massive decision for me.
Rather than go into loads of details, I'll bullet my circumstances and ask some questions later on.
So;
I'm 30, am married but have no kids (the other half is willing to move)
I've been doing business analysis for 5 years with my current company
I'm tied into a 3 month notice period (!!) and haven't handed my notice in yet
I don't have much in the way of savings, probably 2 months at most but could rely on family to help out if needs be
I specialise in an insurance CMS which seems to be growing at the moment (Guidewire).
Here's what I've done so far;
Got my LinkedIn profile sparkling
Ripped up my CV and produced a new one following all manor of "best CV" type guides from various contractor sites
Signed up to CWJobs and Jobsite and get jobs by email
Registered my limited company and got my website/social media presence sorted
And the response I've got;
Discussions and a telephone interview done with ...... in Fareham
Early discussions with ...... for a role in Manchester/York
Been contacted by an agency that specialises in Guidewire resource and had my details sent on to two insurance comapnies
Had various other email/LinkedIn contact
So nothing firm yet, but the noises sound right (especially from .../... as the contacts were from within the company and not an agency, and they contacted me directly).
So - here's the difficult bit;
My notice period is stupid - yes I know, I signed the contract. I don't really know how to play this, or if there is even a choice. I am all set for handing my notice in, but I'm not sure if it is a sensible thing to do.
I have about 5 days of holiday left, so that knocks a week off, but I am currently assigned to a project where I am the BA and SME which basically could not continue (unless they scrapped the "old" system and got a new one - thus removing the requirement for the knowledge in my head) without me
Sorry for the long post. If anybody has any advice, on the points raised or indeed anything that a permie needs to know moving into contracting, then I'm all ears.
Thanks in advance!
Mod Note: Removed client details. You have much to learn young Padawan...
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