New Contractor - Advice on Agencies Please

[southerngal]

You talk about hoping and jumps like 22 years old straight from university, who has read too many motivational posters.

Honestly???? I think that may be an assumption you are making.

[MasterP0]

OP, if I'd come on here first before contracting I think I would've been put off, the pure vitriol is astounding, but I guess it makes them feel better, my advice IGNORE, don't feed the trolls!

I got offered a 3 month contract working on the largest Hybris implementation in Europe with ZERO Hybris experience AND my contract extended after the initial 3 months. I was able to go on training which the client also paid for so anything is possible!

You can try and fail but at least you would've tried. Good Luck!

[SueEllen]

OP, if I'd come on here first before contracting I think I would've been put off, the pure vitriol is astounding, but I guess it makes them feel better, my advice IGNORE, don't feed the trolls!

I got offered a 3 month contract working on the largest Hybris implementation in Europe with ZERO Hybris experience AND my contract extended after the initial 3 months. I was able to go on training which the client also paid for so anything is possible!

You can try and fail but at least you would've tried. Good Luck!

I came in here before I started contracting and wasn't put off.

Maybe I had thicker skin than most newbies due to some of the tulip I had experienced in life, work and otherwise.

Then again I also didn't ask random questions and noticed that some posters points were backed up by others.

[TykeMerc]

OP, if I'd come on here first before contracting I think I would've been put off, the pure vitriol is astounding, but I guess it makes them feel better, my advice IGNORE, don't feed the trolls!

I got offered a 3 month contract working on the largest Hybris implementation in Europe with ZERO Hybris experience AND my contract extended after the initial 3 months. I was able to go on training which the client also paid for so anything is possible!

You can try and fail but at least you would've tried. Good Luck!

People get a hard time when they put on all the appearances of being one of the massive army of sockpuppet troll accounts that start off life posting in the professional forums. This is usually evidenced by posting multiple absurd questions, silly situations and arguing with the advice given.

A significant percentage of the questions have either been answered in detail very recently or are in the FAQ and guides so people who post that sort of stuff are clearly so disinterested in the answers they can't be bothered to check if the answer is already there.

It is of course entirely possible to start contracting with no warchest and no obviously marketable skillset, but those are avoidable risks that most experienced contractors advise against, it's your life, do what you like with it, but also don't moan when it goes wrong as it's your own choice.

[UglyBetty]

Three month's notice is a problem, especially if you have no savings.

Some less scrupulous people than myself might suggest you consider finding a new perm job, hand in your notice, then during the last few weeks of the notice period look for a contract and drop the perm job if you find one.

It's not foolproof - contracts can and do fall through at the 11th (or even the 13th) hour, but it reduces your risk.

Worst case you're in a new perm job, hopefully with a shorter notice period.

[unixman]

It really is true what they say about it being grim up North!!!!

I did expect to get SOME abuse but wow....

Well I do know exactly what I am - I am a Senior IT Project Manager with a great deal experience of deploying National NHS IT Projects. Working very closely with the major suppliers, BT and HSCIC. I am a good one too!

I am highly qualfiied and work extremely hard and the only reason I mentioned the secretary bit (which I have to say I have not been doing for over 14 years) was that I can go an earn some pin money in London while I am waiting for a contract. I was also very good at that too! So at least then I can pay the mortgage.

I have been running a programme for the last 3 years so I could apply for programme management perm jobs now but I want to have some flexiblity over where I work. I am not looking to become a programme manager as a result of contracting but rather contracting will give me experience of working at other organisations and expand my skill set.

Yes the savings are a problem....

Hi OP (original poster) It sounds like you have done a fair bit of research and have some good experience. I say go for it. If not you will always be wondering "what if...".

The only problem is your lack of savings. You need to live off them between contracts and maybe before getting your first contract. Of course it depends on your personal circumstances. Have you got other household income, for instance ? Or a large asset you could sell at need, eg a "posh" car ? Have you other debts ? People depending on you ? Taking a risk is one thing, but you shouldn't risk losing your house through being unable to pay the mortgage. You need enough savings to be able to live off for at least 6 months I would say. Personally, I did not start contracting (in 2006) until after I had paid off my mortgage.

Don't be disturbed by northernladuk and some others. He is always rude to new starters (for some reason), and seems in particularly belligerent mood today. But his advice is usually good and I often seek/listen to it myself. This forum is a bit rough and tumble sometimes, a bit like the contracting world in general.

[MasterP0]

OP I forgot to say, one of my good friends went into Contracting to save up to buy his dream home. He jumped from perm to contract (he only had to give 4 weeks notice with his perm job) and had only managed to save £2K over the few years he'd been working. He said to me at the time he had an overdraft, the £2k and credit cards available to see him through. For him it was a calculated risk, he served his notice and started on the contract role. He's still at the his very first contract role 1 year on and has just completed on his £500K home, moving in, in the next few weeks.

[TykeMerc]

OP I forgot to say, one of my good friends went into Contracting to save up to buy his dream home. He jumped from perm to contract (he only had to give 4 weeks notice with his perm job) and had only managed to save £2K over the few years he'd been working. He said to me at the time he had an overdraft, the £2k and credit cards available to see him through. For him it was a calculated risk, he served his notice and started on the contract role. He's still at the his very first contract role 1 year on and has just completed on his £500K home, moving in, in the next few weeks.

Well your story is "interesting".
For him to have achieved all that in 12 months not only must his rate on his first contract be almost stellar, his tax efficiency must be abysmal and his mortgage provider feeling very generous.

Quite honestly I struggle to see the truth (or even a shred of truth) in your tale.

[Roger Mellie]

Planning is of course the ideal way forward because this contracting lark can be hit and miss.

However, I moved to London over three years ago based on a permie job I scored. I walked after two weeks. I then scored another permie job on Fenchurch Street only to walk again after two weeks. Both 'walking out' reasons were down to the usual permie politics which I, for some reason, could no longer stomach.

After walking from the last permie role, and after the agent called me to let me know I had cost him "five f**king grand" I decided to upload my CV on Jobsite but stated contracts only. The next day I got a call for a gig in central London, the day after I had a telephone interview for the gig and then an offer within an hour of the interview.

I had no savings and I was near broke. I opted to go with a brolly for the first gig which delivered much needed funds and within a few weeks as the gig paid weekly. It was during the first gig that I decided I would go balls to the wall with contracting. So in the last month of the 1st gig I got the Ltd Co and accountant set up and all ready to go for the next gig. First gig was a 3 month but I got extended which took me to 6 months. Then 6 weeks on the bench and then a 6 month gig came up. The rest, they say, is history.

[Roger Mellie]

Well your story is "interesting".
For him to have achieved all that in 12 months not only must his rate on his first contract be almost stellar, his tax efficiency must be abysmal and his mortgage provider feeling very generous.

Quite honestly I struggle to see the truth (or even a shred of truth) in your tale.

Yep, I find that hard to believe too. Going from relying on OD and CCs to completing on a 500k house and all in 12 months from contracting??