Re: FN-FORUM: contracting and how to take the leap..!

date posted 14th May 2008 09:20

Quoting Dan B [EMAIL REMOVED]

>
> Hi guys,
>
> I am a software developer and have worked at the same company for
> about a year now but I am the kind of person that thrives on change
> and new projects, especially developing a system from the ground up.
> My first employment post-university was entirely by accident at P&G
> where I developed an n-tier system in .NET used by a few hundred folk
> (long story but it started out with me temping in admin...!) but since
> then I have been working on legacy systems and code maintenance in my
> new role and don't feel like I am learning any new skills.
>
> If you want to cut out the blurb my question is 'when is the best time
> to jump into contracting' I'm relatively young nipper at 24 but have
> had a good 4 years of (commercial) experience on top of a lifetime of
> bedroom coding on both my own and some open source projects and have
> finished my degree with a fairly solid 2:1. I feel that moving into
> contracting would allow me to diversify as-well as focus on what I
> love to do (develop) rather than get bogged down in business meetings,
> customer workshops etc...
>
> Would you have considered yourselves too young at the age of 24 to
> jump into something like this?
> I really want to go for it, but quitting my job is a big step, and I
> have an unfortunately long period of 8 weeks notice :o)
>
> Any advice from you 'seasoned professional types' greatly appreciated,
> even if it is "don't do it, kid" :-)
>
> Cheers
>


If you're going to do it, do it.

I don't think 24's too young at all - I think I got started at about =20
the same age, and haven't stopped since.

I'd suggest that first you look at things like Jobserve.com , find out =20
what's available in your area and what kind of rates. Talk to agencies =20
etc. too, find out what they're looking for. Make it clear to them =20
that you've got an eight-week notice period, which might help on the =20
lead-time thing.

Initially, I would suggest going through an umbrella company rather =20
than jumping straight in to having your own limited company. Yes, they =20
can be a bit more expensive, but they make the transition a lot easier =20
(in general) in that you can concentrate first of all on the work, and =20
leave the joys of tax, NI etc. to the umbrella company while you =20
decide whether you actually like contracting or not. I've used =20
Parasol in the past, and they're OK but not great - mind you, you'll =20
probably find that with all the umbrella companies...

Agency-wise, I've worked through Hays IT a lot now, and have never had =20
a problem with them. I've also worked well with Computer Futures and =20
would recommend them. There does seem to be a policy with some =20
agencies of advertising non-existent jobs just to add more people to =20
their lists of CVs, but that's just something to be aware of, rather =20
than beware of.

That's where I'd start from, anyway.

Oh, and have fun!

Alex
http://www.ozbon.com