Contracting - what are your experiences?

FutileBreadMachine · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:15

I've been thinking about contracting for a while, and the recent job threads on here have really got me seriously considering it, so I thought I would ask you lot what your experiences are, since I saw there are quite a few contractors round these parts.

I've been in my current role as a Business Intelligence developer for 4 years and I'm pretty bored now, so I'm thinking that working for myself and making a bit more of the sweet coin will be an interesting challenge.

Overall I have 6 years of SQL Server experience (stored procs, UDFs, replication, everything basically) including 4 years of SSRS, SSIS and SSAS.

Do you think now is a good time to find contracting work? Have any of you tried contracting and gone back to permanant work? I've been browsing the contractorUK forums for info, but due to the nature of the site, I think all the guys there are happy contracting.

smokedog · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:19

Once you start contracting its difficult to go back to a permanent job. Get paid over 2 times more than a permanent role... why would you want to?

FutileBreadMachine · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:22

Cool, that's +1 to contracting

. The thought of more money is really tempting, but I thought I would make a post here and see if there have been any negative experiences around it. Also, any tips for avoiding pitfalls would be great. I guess I should set up a ltd company and register for tax before resigning from my current role? Are most contracts ASAP so they won't wait for my 1 month notice period, or are companies generally flexible?

PapaLazaru · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:27

You could waltz into Vodafone.

Stolly · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:29

I've been permie, gone contracting, gone permie again, gone contracting again and now at this moment in time is permie once again, over the space of exactly 20 years in the IT industry.

I'd say experiencing both ways of working makes you a well rounded professional.

I'm more about the role and where I see my career going rather than short term financial rewards.

FutileBreadMachine · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:35

PapaLazaru said:
You could waltz into Vodafone.

Hardy har...

I searched for contract and every thread was mobile phone contract related.

Stolly said:
I've been permie, gone contracting, gone permie again, gone contracting again and now at this moment in time is permie once again, over the space of exactly 20 years in the IT industry.

I'd say experiencing both ways of working makes you a well rounded professional.

I'm more about the role and where I see my career going rather than short term financial rewards.

Thanks, that makes sense. I think this could be one of those things I will regret if I don't try it, so having a go sounds like the right move. I do have a mortgage and family to think about though, so I have to weigh my options carefully.

Stolly · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:41

RationalGaze said:
Hardy har... I searched for contract and every thread was mobile phone contract related.

Thanks, that makes sense. I think this could be one of those things I will regret if I don't try it, so having a go sounds like the right move. I do have a mortgage and family to think about though, so I have to weigh my options carefully.

Yep i had 2 kids and a mortgage the last time I went contracting. Was a bit of a nervy thing to do, jacking in a job with nothing else lined up

Worked out fine for me, and that was in 2007 and through into 2009 when things in the market were pretty bad.

The kids were also the reason i went permie again. Being away from them on a contract in London was tougher than i thought it would be.

FutileBreadMachine · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:46

Stolly said:
Yep i had 2 kids and a mortgage the last time I went contracting. Was a bit of a nervy thing to do, jacking in a job with nothing else lined up

Worked out fine for me, and that was in 2007 and through into 2009 when things in the market were pretty bad.

The kids were also the reason i went permie again. Being away from them on a contract in London was tougher than i thought it would be.

Well done, you certainly have some balls!

Fortunately I live only 30mins from Victoria station, so I wouldn't have to stay away from home if I stuck to gigs in London and Surrey.

shifty_uk · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:55

Contracting seems to be relatively lucrative with IT professionals. Having little knowledge of the subject, how is it in other fields? Is it essentially freelancing but with more tightly written agreements and long-term work with specific clients? Without meaning to hijack the thread with my somewhat nooby questions!

LOAM · 17 Mar 2011 at 22:58

I'm contracting atm with a local authority (Architecture), money is good, flexy time etc. Only downside is having to Chase invoices all the time.