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Relatively new graduate looking to persue BA career, and eventually become contractor

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    Relatively new graduate looking to persue BA career, and eventually become contractor

    Hi guys, this is my first post on Contractor UK, just looking for some advice/direction. Firstly a bit of background, I recently graduated from university and I am currently working as a Data Analyst for a large utilities organisation.

    My long term goal however is to become a Business Analyst contractor. I have been thoroughly researching over the last couple of months, and in a nut shell have come to the conclusion I will need around 3-4 years minimum experience in a perm role before i can work on a contract basis. As for remmuniration am I correct in thinking a BA's daily rate is anything between 350-500 (dependant upon experience).

    Just thought I would put this out on the forum and get the opinions of the more experienced guys, are my assumptions correct? is there anything i should/should not do? All replies are much appreciated.

    Kind Regards.

    #2
    Who knows that the market will be paying when you are ready to compete - don't bank on the rates that people talk about on here being what you can get in reality (either now or in the future).

    Before you jump to contracting (whenever that is), make sure you know exactly what you are taking on, do lots of research first, and then make your decision about whether to do it.
    Originally posted by MaryPoppins
    I hadn't really understood this 'pwned' expression until I read DirtyDog's post.

    Comment


      #3
      The market is going to change considerably in that time. Forget planning to be a contractor, it is just a different method of providing your skills to a client instead of an employer.

      Focus 100% on getting your skills up to date and understanding business, career paths. You might actually find that being a BA for there rest of your life isn't acceptable and you can charge up the career ladder in to something that can command a much better rate in a couple of years more. I think planning to be a BA contractor is a pretty short sighted career path. I can only imagine you are doing this because of the dollar and there is much more to a contracting, and indeed a life long career than the dollar.

      Forget dreams of contracting for now. Focus on solid experience with a couple of different companies and THEN when you have a saleable and demonstrable skill come back and see what the state of the market is and what you can do.
      'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

      Comment


        #4
        Check out the day/hourly rate stats and decide for yourself:

        Business Analyst Contracts, Contractor Rates for a Business Analyst

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by CheeseSlice View Post
          Check out the day/hourly rate stats and decide for yourself:

          Business Analyst Contracts, Contractor Rates for a Business Analyst
          But before you get giddy at the rates remember

          They will be very skewed between London and everywhere else
          They will be scaled on experience. There are 1000's of people out there with 10's of years of experience
          That page is a scape of job boards so will include fake ads, over inflated rates to get interest and multiple posts for the same gig
          That is now. Rates and availability are different to what they were 5 years ago and will be very different in the next 5 years
          Roles are getting bobbed out at pace now so the market for new/mid skilled BA's in 5 years could be a little different to say the least.
          'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by CheeseSlice View Post
            Check out the day/hourly rate stats and decide for yourself:

            Business Analyst Contracts, Contractor Rates for a Business Analyst
            That's a pretty accurate reflection of the BA market.
            "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
            - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

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              #7
              Firstly thank you for the responses, my main motive for becoming a BA is that I belive its somthing I will enjoy and excell at. The contracting part is based upon my belief that it will give me more flexibility in working hours and with time off, I am also aware of the negatives of contracting.

              Just out of interest how do you guys think the market will change in approximatly next 5 years, and how have you seen it change in previous years?

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Prabs91 View Post
                Firstly thank you for the responses, my main motive for becoming a BA is that I belive its somthing I will enjoy and excell at. The contracting part is based upon my belief that it will give me more flexibility in working hours and with time off, I am also aware of the negatives of contracting.

                Just out of interest how do you guys think the market will change in approximatly next 5 years, and how have you seen it change in previous years?
                Am I also correct in beliving a BA role can open access into project managemnt roles too?

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Prabs91 View Post
                  Am I also correct in beliving a BA role can open access into project managemnt roles too?
                  Not as a contractor it won't. There is no career path in contracting. There are exceptions but they are exactly that. You need the demonstrate you are the best in market to get a gig so with no PM experience you won't get the roles. This is what I mean about start your career and focus on it as a permie and then jump when you have a marketable skill. If you can do well as a BA why not focus on PM or even higher at programme management? Why cut career short on purpose?
                  'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Prabs91 View Post
                    Am I also correct in beliving a BA role can open access into project managemnt roles too?
                    There are benches full of BA's with wannabe PM pretensions. That's why I specialise in BA work only - clients know that I won't try to 'corrupt' the role into something different.

                    Be a PM or a BA, wavering between the 2 may get you the worst of both worlds.
                    "I can put any old tat in my sig, put quotes around it and attribute to someone of whom I've heard, to make it sound true."
                    - Voltaire/Benjamin Franklin/Anne Frank...

                    Comment

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