IT Contractors

So an IT contractor is simply someone hired in to fulfil any sort of IT role? I was more imagining someone hired install or set up networks etc.
 
Any IT role. Networking infrastructure are actually arguably more likely to be permanent than project roles in my experience, assuming it isn't anything out of the ordinary.
 
Brian18741 said:
So an IT contractor is simply someone hired in to fulfil any sort of IT role?
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yup, albeit normally on a short fixed term contract that may or may not be renewed - so unlike a salaried member of staff you perhaps only expect to be hired for 6 months and at the end of that period they might keep you on for another 6 months or you might need to find a new contract elsewhere
 
And is this preferable to looking for a full time contract with a company? Or is it in lieu of full time rolls being available? Just curious!
 
Brian18741 said:
And is this preferable to looking for a full time contract with a company? Or is it in lieu of full time rolls being available? Just curious!
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The way I see it, you get paid more to be a contractor, however you have to ensure you have certain things up to date and keep up with qualifications that may possibly be needed. You also need don't have the security. It's more hassle from where I see it to be a contractor however if you can get a constantly supply of work you can always play people off of each other with pricing. The money does seem to be good, depends entirely on the job. The company I work from contracts a lot of staff and I work alongside people who have been working for the company as a contractor on and off for years and both of our situations have pros and cons.

Diddums said:
What are the earnings like in this field? I realise that's a broad question, just wondering what the min - max averages are, given that I'm starting a degree in this soon.
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That's a question that's really impossible to answer. Depends on the work type, the location, the experience etc. for example Project Managers pay will get more as the project becomes more complex
 
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What are the earnings like in this field? I realise that's a broad question, just wondering what the min - max averages are, given that I'm starting a degree in this soon.
 
Brian18741 said:
And is this preferable to looking for a full time contract with a company? Or is it in lieu of full time rolls being available? Just curious!
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depends - do you think it is preferable?

Some people think it is preferable thus they become contractors, others don't thus don't become contractors... depends on your personal circumstances. You'll take on more risk, potentially give up career progression and will often have to change jobs regularly but in turn you'll often earn more than the equivalent salaried person doing the same sort of work.
 
We use IT contractors for a number of different reasons.

- short term requirements for projects
- skills/knowledge gaps which need to be filled temporarily
- longer term contractors who can move from project to project

For contracting in IT, the easiest part is the first contract, as that will usually come from existing contacts within your network, the trick is the second and third one if you don't get renewed (or you don't want to be renewed).

Things to note:

1. No company pension (unless you run your business as a limited company rather than under IR35 or an umbrella)
2. No sick pay
3. No holiday pay
4. Expect to spend between 6 to 8 weeks out of contract per year as an absolute minimum
5. Indemnity insurance
6. Get an accountant
7. No training, so set aside a budget to keep your skills up to date
8. Fluctuating markets, if 2008 happens again you need to make sure you have a decent "war chest" of funds to keep you going when you can't get work

I considered contracting a few years ago, and did all the sums around whether it's worth it or not, in the end, if it's *just* for the money you're doing it, then re-consider. As you'll start planning great and wonderful things on that £600 a day, then when that ends and all you can get is £250 a day, you'll start wishing for a bit more consistency.

Perhaps if you gave your reasons for wanting to go contracting we can give you more information. The development team I currently look after is about 30% contractors, most of which are long-term (3+ years), so I can tell you what they are like and why they are successful if that would help...
 
Diddums said:
What are the earnings like in this field? I realise that's a broad question, just wondering what the min - max averages are, given that I'm starting a degree in this soon.
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Range for IT Software development, probably £200-£1500 a day, depending on a wide range of factors.

Average is again dependent on a number of factors. London/City financial institution, software developers average about £450 a day, that's about the rate we offer at the moment as a starting point for negotiations.

Highest I've ever heard of is £1,600 a day, which was for some extremely specialised, quite rare and extremely specific enterprise software vendor knowledge.
 
Diddums said:
What are the earnings like in this field? I realise that's a broad question, just wondering what the min - max averages are, given that I'm starting a degree in this soon.
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in finance 500-600 a day is quite standard

senior people can earn 2k a day
 
It's always interesting to learn something new. I'm self employed with a coach hire company so I suppose that equates to being a contractor. As long as I earn enough to cover the quiet periods I'd definitely prefer it but therein lies the rub.
 
I've been contracting since '96, haven't been out of work - beyond choice time off - for more than a couple of weeks.
 
which reminds me of this from a few years ago - RBS contractor list got sent out in an e-mail by mistake:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/24/hays_rbs_email_fail/

Recruitment agency Hays has committed a massive blunder at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

An email reminding managers to update timesheets in time for the bank holiday included an attachment with the day rates of 3,000 contractors. It was sent to 800 people at the bank.

The row will likely deepen divisions between temporary and permanent staff – top rates for contractors were £2,000 a day. RBS is, of course, owned by the British taxpayer and has been busy sacking permanent IT staff – 1,000 jobs went and some 800 were offshored.

Such cuts of course always mean more work for contractors.
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there will be very few actually earning 2k a day mind, but 500 a day is fairly standard somewhere like that, I know of a couple of people working at that bank on rather good rates including one who spectacularly failed an interview a couple of years earlier and has somehow managed to convince someone else there to hire him
 
I'm a 'fancy' developer, very experienced in lots of 'in demand' tech (low level, hardware/firmware/drivers, performance, tuning etc). You can get between 70 and 120 an hour depending on the lengths of the contract (and my interest in it). I don't charge by the 'day', I actually do charge the hour.

I would *never* go back to being an employee. When I was an employee, I was 'taken for granted'. These days as a sell-sword people I work with tiptoe around me to make sure I'm not wasting my time on thing that are worthless.

My suggestion? Think of a rate, and add 20%. People will not /respect/ you if you are cheap. I'm totally the same guy as I was before when I was an employee, when my (sound, VERY experienced) advise was ignored again and again because I was part of the walls. Nowadays, if I smirk at some comment in a meeting, people start asking serious questions about the whole thing. Go figure!

Also, don't get robbed by an agent, they will /try/ to get 15% from you, and if the /introduce/ you to a job, it's fair that they get a cut, but make sure that it's on your own terms -- make sure to ALWAYS be on lookouts for other opportunities, and renegotiate if needs be.

I personally think contracting is /the/ way. I'm having a lot of fun anyway, and I've more or less 3* or very likely 4* my net income since I was an employee. However, your mileage may vary -- I spend a lot of time keeping 'sharp' too: no pain, no gain.
 
I was making 1200-1500 a day before retiring. To make that much, forget about having a life. If you're not working or sleeping, then you'll be home learning to keep ahead of the game.

It all pays off in retirement though. :)
 
If you find "self learning" easy and actually complete bits of training/courses, contracting is totally the way to go. You do have to ensure you've got all the industry certs for your chosen field though.

I'd heartily recommend some form of database and linux (at least in IT) as one that never stops being good, certainly around yorkshire/greater manchester (mostly Sheffield, Leeds and Manchester but there's plenty of bits around in between). Anywhere with bank headquarters will generally find those 2 being pretty good.

It's completely possible to work about half the year and be pulling in 40-60k, you can get entirely more driven about it if needed/wanted though.
 
Most MSP will charge out staff to clients at £400 per day at bottom level and up to £1200 per day at top level. The trick is getting those jobs without going through an msp, who is going to take 70-95% of it. This one women who had worked at a law firm for 25 years ended up seeing that she is charged out at £400 per day now that she has been tupe out to msp, but she only makes 25% of that.

I only know recruiters in the legal industry, i think i should join linkeden to branch out in to other industry but i dislike putting all my info up on the public display like that.
 
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