Permanent to Contracting (IT) - anyone done the move?

lmfy2k

lmfy2k

lmfy2k

Soldato
Joined
12 Feb 2004
Posts
7,377
Location
Manchester
Been working with my current employer (IT Services) for 9 years now and been thinking over last few weeks that a move is on the cards

Not really happy here any more, work is getting stale, no sign of any promotions or pay increase and the management is a joke, we have had really good techies up and go and its all falling to pot (in my eyes, not theirs!)

Been doing searches around for contract jobs as i think this is the way to go now, spoken to agencies who all say i need to be available relatively quickly, they like my CV and think i should have no issues securing contracts moving on, only thing is i have a 4 week notice

so my dilemma is, do i hand in my notice now, wait till week 2 of it and start hammering down on the job applications, or wait till i try secure a contract then hand in my notice (which from looking, its not easy applying for a contrract to start in 4 weeks unless i get lucky). catch 22

money is not an issue, i have savings to support my self well into next year.

of course its a big leap, from being comfortable getting fixed salary, going into the world of the unknown but it does excite me

ive already registered a LTD, need to do business bank account and accountant next

anyone made the leap and offer some advice?

many thanks
 
I went contracting in 2012, haven't looked back. If you're skilled and have a good CV then do it. Most IT contracts are 4 weeks notice anyway, so that's not an issue. Just make it clear during the application stage if you have or have not put in your notice. If someone wants you, they won't mind waiting.
 
Did it back in 2009, definitely recommended if you have the skills.

Wave bye bye to performance reviews and most office politics, say hello to lots of cash, long holidays, and a slight but simmering resentment from your permie colleagues :)
 
Plus if you like permanent work, you can use contracting to staircase promotions. For example, I couldn't have got more than £35-40k when I started contracting in 2012, now I'm regularly offered interviews for £55k+.
 
I've been contracting since 2004, when I left Microsoft. It's been great and no shortage of work. I did have to take a bit of a recession-buster contract in 2008, which lasted six years, but as soon as the market picked up I was back in London on the proper money.

I think it's very important to find yourself a decent accountant, one that is familiar with IT contracting work, stays on top of stuff like IR35 and other tax issues. I went through a few less-than-ideal ones before finding my current one. Shame you're so far away or i'd recommend them to you (I guess it could work remotely)..

Anything you want to know just ask.
 
I am in the same boat in a way, have had several jobs over the last few years but keep finding I move on because they have either been mis-sold (i.e. sold as project work then end up stuck in support), or politics/bad management get annoying.

Seeing as my last 3 jobs have been 12-18 months I keep thinking I may as well just go as a contractor and get some decent money! I know I have worked with a few contractors over the years that are no better then me skills wise and are getting £350 a day quite easily!
 
TBH I'd rather work in support than project! It sounds fantastic but then you have all the documentation to do and deal with idiots all the time. I spend most of my time currently in Word than I do actually doing the real work.
 
It's just easier contracting, you work your hours. You're measured on your ability to do the job you're hired to do, nothing else.

I handed my month's notice in on my 47k permie job and started looking for contracts. I ended up leaving a few days early to pick up a 550 a day contract I got offered. Was pretty painless. I used Nixon Williams who are IT contractor specialist accountants and they were very good, took care of everything above board.

Then I got offered a contract in Hong Kong and went there for 3 years :
 
just handed my notice in, manager was distraught and wanted me to tear it up :/

onwards and upwards!
 
Good luck!

You'll probably enjoy the contracting interviews....refreshing not having any of the HR fluff . Usually just a case of them asking a few questions to figure out if you can do the job or not then "Can you start tomorrow?" :)
 
When you say IT what do you mean.
Im a developer and am getting close to wanting to do this (need to do some saving).
But only 4 years experience Im not sure if thats enough (am Dev team lead now though).
 
I'm also considering this for next year, but worried with the never ending tax changes it's becoming less and less worth it? Rates haven't gone up in years but tax has! Not many dev roles outside London over £400 a day, and when you factor in pension/health insurance / sick / holiday etc. it's hard to balance.

Will still probably do it though :p.
 
I've been contacting since last June when I got made redundant, would say that when you've been permie a long time the unpaid leave etc. is a shock but some things are a hell of a lot better (not just the pay).

I was working on an emergency contract with 7 others that had been drafted in and let me tell you the difference in skills is massive, there's some really poor contractors out there.
 
Can I ask those of you who are genuinely contracting, what your take home is actually like? I know there's a lot of calculators out there, but they vary HUGELY!

EG.

http://www.sjdaccountancy.com/contractor_calculator/index.html
£350 day rate = £5994.73 take home

http://www.parasolgroup.co.uk/take-home-pay-calculator/
£350 day rate = £5,869.13

http://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/
£350 day rate = £4,415

Which is closest? I understand the top ones are accountants so want to get clients, but 1.5k difference!?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom