Contracting

Author
Discussion

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,961 posts

163 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Having worked for the same company for 20years I'm thinking of making a change and moving into contracting - I'm a Programme Manager.

I've no idea where to start on this so anyone have any advice or pointers on what to read to get me underway.

I'm not sure if I need to register with an agency or go it alone.

Any help would be appreciated.

Kapenta

1,592 posts

195 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
May I point you in this direction? Please read the FAQs before posting any questions, since there are a lot of gladiators waiting to pounce...

Generally friendly lot, tho...

oilslick

902 posts

185 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
quotequote all
Kapenta said:
May I point you in this direction? Please read the FAQs before posting any questions, since there are a lot of gladiators waiting to pounce...

Generally friendly lot, tho...
I'm assuming you mean http://forums.contractoruk.com ?

98elise

26,381 posts

160 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
1. Hand your notice in (you need to be available to start in days, not weeks or months).
2. Apply for contract jobs on jobserve.
3. Get job
4. Appoint a good accountant (they will guide you though forming a company, business bank accounts, VAT reg etc)
5. Get insurances required for job
6. Start job
7. Save money until you have a reasonable buffer in your business bank account (3-6 months worth of wages at the very least)



CAH706

Original Poster:

1,961 posts

163 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks all....I will do some reading.


Kapenta

1,592 posts

195 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
oilslick said:
I'm assuming you mean http://forums.contractoruk.com ?
That's 'em... forgot to Ctrl-V

Yell_M3

389 posts

199 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Kapenta said:
oilslick said:
I'm assuming you mean http://forums.contractoruk.com ?
That's 'em... forgot to Ctrl-V
yeah, see you on there. Beware it's full of pedants and very annoying people. More so than any other forum. But that's cos it's full of techy's with no life outside virtual worlds.

jonnydm

5,107 posts

208 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
In general though, seems to be the way to go for most people in IT. Good starting points seem to be a strong background (20 years should do!), a good accountant, a decent network to hear of the better opportunities and to try and minimise hassle from agencies and a financial buffer to give you some piece of mind if work dries up for a bit or you end up waiting a bit between two contracts.

ETA Just seen pretty much all of the above posted by elise!

CAH706

Original Poster:

1,961 posts

163 months

Friday 15th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks jonnydm, it's good to hear the similar themes.

I'm sorted with the financial buffer part. Only consideration is that it's likely in 3 years I'll be made redundant with a sizeable (for me) payoff so do I wait it out. Decisions decisions!