Spec me...Getting in to IT Contracting? Advice please...

LordSplodge

LordSplodge

LordSplodge

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I know there are a few IT Contractors on these forums so I would like their advice. I currently work as Systems & VM Administrator in the Public Sector covering Windows 2003, 2008, Exchange 2007 and VMware ESX 3.5

The dual situation of work being fairly monotonous & easy combined with recent events where management have played CYA and tried to make me scapegoat for their failings (that's all I can say at the moment) has made me think about contracting.

So what is the best way of breaking into the contracting market and what are the pitfalls aside from some of the obvious ones?

I have many many years experience (more than 10) in systems administration, over 6 years experience in IT management, as well as AD design and administration experience, VMware experience and Exchange experience. I am also experienced in Mac OS X Desktop and Server. So I know I have skills that are suited to contracting I just don't know the best way of getting started. I have a raft of qualifications in the above area as well but I won't bore you by listing them all!

So OCUK I need your expertise.
 
The fact that there are no IT contract jobs at the moment is a good reason not to do it.

No job security, no paid holidays, no sick leave, if you don't work you don't get paid.

The only good thing about contracting is the (usually) higher hourly/daily rate.

you say you are in the public sector, that's about as secure as it gets.

Sort out the problems you have and be happy imo.

The golden days of contracting are long over.
 
Interesting, would be nice to hear what others have to say.
I'm a contractor/self-employed(I have my own money making websites i oversee)

PM me if you want more details on how I find my contract work.
 
Yep it's bad right now for contractors, we have stopped using all our graphics design contractors for the moment. My dad has been doing CAD contracting for 15 years and had just had to get a permanent job after many interviews at half his contract income, most of his mates have retired instead it's that bad.

There are still contracting agencies though, that you could talk to about possibly getting into this in a years time perhaps. You have loads of experience so could consider getting a consulting job instead? A lot of companies are spending to improve IT systems efficiency right now and it might even make you some good business contacts for when the contract market picks back up?
 
HarryPainful said:
You say you are in the public sector, that's about as secure as it gets.

Sort out the problems you have and be happy imo.
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Secure it is. Challenging or interesting it is not. I should be able to sort the problems out but that's not really the issue - the former is.

Flinkman47 said:
PM me if you want more details on how I find my contract work.
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PM is disabled on these forums but you can email me via my trust.

Five_Star said:
Yep it's bad right now for contractors

You have loads of experience so could consider getting a consulting job instead?
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Yes I have thought about consulting as I do have lots of valuable and proven experience but I have the same problem with that. Where do I go to find out and get into consulting?

Ok I get the point about contracting not being the best idea at the moment, thanks guys!
 
I have just been taken on full time from a contracting role, and I have to say I could not be happier. Fortunately Iv been taken on on a higher wage than I was given when I was contracting, plus paid sick leave/holiday :D
 
LordSplodge said:
I know there are a few IT Contractors on these forums so I would like their advice. I currently work as Systems & VM Administrator in the Public Sector covering Windows 2003, 2008, Exchange 2007 and VMware ESX 3.5

The dual situation of work being fairly monotonous & easy combined with recent events where management have played CYA and tried to make me scapegoat for their failings (that's all I can say at the moment) has made me think about contracting.

So what is the best way of breaking into the contracting market and what are the pitfalls aside from some of the obvious ones?

I have many many years experience (more than 10) in systems administration, over 6 years experience in IT management, as well as AD design and administration experience, VMware experience and Exchange experience. I am also experienced in Mac OS X Desktop and Server. So I know I have skills that are suited to contracting I just don't know the best way of getting started. I have a raft of qualifications in the above area as well but I won't bore you by listing them all!

So OCUK I need your expertise.
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I'm a contractor with that skillset, working in the public sector at the moment too. Until August, when i'll be looking for something new.

It is tough for contracting at the moment. LOTS of very well skilled people looking for work, frankly unless your CV has significant experience at the highest level (1k+ servers) as well as SC or higher clearance you'll be well advised to sit tight for the next 6 months.

I'm fully expecting to be on the bench for some time when this gig is up.
 
Stolly said:
It is tough for contracting at the moment. LOTS of very well skilled people looking for work, frankly unless your CV has significant experience at the highest level (1k+ servers) as well as SC or higher clearance you'll be well advised to sit tight for the next 6 months.
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Don't have any security clearance. Do have lots of experience with expensive hardware and running the budget for expensive hardware!

Guess I'll keep my head down and out of trouble (once the current **** blows over) and try again later...
 
LordSplodge said:
Don't have any security clearance. Do have lots of experience with expensive hardware and running the budget for expensive hardware!

Guess I'll keep my head down and out of trouble (once the current **** blows over) and try again later...
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There have been a couple of roles for local authorities lately, one today ws £30ph in west london. For me, thats not enough to work in London. Thats the sort of thing you would be looking at with your skillset. If you have experience with GCSX then all the better.

There are hundreds of people going for that sort of role however so i'd certainly say keeping your head down for 6 months is an attractive option !
 
I left a secure permy job for the joys of contracting, but I knew the contract I was doing was turning into a perm role so the chance was there that I could stay on (although still had to interview for it) if I wanted.

Best thing I ever did, and tbh I'm better off in the perm role taking the ever so slight cut in pay but gaining all that holiday and other benefits. Public sector rules for this I'm afraid, love my minimum of 33 days paid leave a year, plus bank holidays :).

One small thing, usually contract roles want someone to start asap, but being in a perm job you'll have your at least 4 weeks notice usually (ok you can take som eleave to finish up early).
 
dozer said:
rates are not worth it atm, better of going perm until the upturn happens, maybe next year.
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From what I'm seeing rates aren't that bad still.
My current contract ends in July and a renewal isn't guaranteed at the minute due to lack of funds so I'm starting to look around and rates still seem decent.
I'm on almost double what I was on when I was a permie anyway (even accounting for time off). This is C# development, not sure whether things are any different on the hardware side?
 
I've seen some decent contracts around, and one that I'd probably go for if it wasn't for the fact I can't speak fluent dutch. Or any dutch.
 
Haircut said:
From what I'm seeing rates aren't that bad still.
My current contract ends in July and a renewal isn't guaranteed at the minute due to lack of funds so I'm starting to look around and rates still seem decent.
I'm on almost double what I was on when I was a permie anyway (even accounting for time off). This is C# development, not sure whether things are any different on the hardware side?
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Guess it depends on what you do, tempted to go do some contracting for a while myself, but would have to be paying around 55k per year to make it worth while - typically what would you say you earning PA net?
 
dangerstat said:
Guess it depends on what you do, tempted to go do some contracting for a while myself, but would have to be paying around 55k per year to make it worth while - typically what would you say you earning PA net?
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Don't want to say exactly in public, but let's just say I wasn't too far off £55K in my last permie job.
Not sure where you are, but this is London, so obviously wages and rates are higher than elsewhere
(YGPM on Zorev with some more details ;))

Looking at possibly trying to get a contract for a bank as my next one, as I have some investment banking experience and most of them in the city still seem to be around the £500 per day mark.
 
Every contractor I know is trying to become permanent, the lack of job security along with the current climate (urgh I hate the phrase) means that contract jobs are drying up.
 
I'm another contractor currently in the process of going perm. Much safer and secure at the moment.

If your skills are still turning up loads of jobs then go for it, but if you aren't getting many calls about jobs each week, i wouldn't bother.

If you do do it, take a look at sanzar for an umbrella, 85% of your rate will go into your pocket, use me for referral and we can share the £500 i would get :)
 
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