Going contracting
Discussion
Hello,
I'm reacing the point in my career as a software tester, where i'm thinking of contracting. My goal is to be contracting by near as dammit this time next year, i will have by then a good range of experience, skills and qualifications. My question is though, how the hell do you start contracting, how do you make that leap, cos from this side of the fence it looks really bloody scary!
Any advice tips, tricks links etc warmly welcomed.
Andy
I'm reacing the point in my career as a software tester, where i'm thinking of contracting. My goal is to be contracting by near as dammit this time next year, i will have by then a good range of experience, skills and qualifications. My question is though, how the hell do you start contracting, how do you make that leap, cos from this side of the fence it looks really bloody scary!
Any advice tips, tricks links etc warmly welcomed.
Andy
Hi
as a reasonably long time contractor (6 years +) it is scary starting out and to be honest its not for every one.. you need a good 6 months cash under your belt to live on at all times as although the money is good the work isn't always that ready (I have been out of work for long periods of time)
In the current market place I really would not reccomend contracting, most of the development type work is going overseas and it is getting harder and harder to find decent paying contract work in this country...
Just my two pence worth
as a reasonably long time contractor (6 years +) it is scary starting out and to be honest its not for every one.. you need a good 6 months cash under your belt to live on at all times as although the money is good the work isn't always that ready (I have been out of work for long periods of time)
In the current market place I really would not reccomend contracting, most of the development type work is going overseas and it is getting harder and harder to find decent paying contract work in this country...
Just my two pence worth
Contracting... There certainly is a big leap of faith, some people do it, some people talk about doing it!!
I think for testing you need to ensure you have at least ISEB and/or other similar recognised qualifications. Automated Testing techniques, such as QA are also in high demand..
The thing to do is then trawl around Jobserve / Monster and see what roles are on offer and what skills they're looking for.
The worst part is dealing with agencies (apols. to anyone on here who works for them!!) - initially they are interested, very interested.. Typically until they get your CV and then they know that if they put your CV forward, no other agent can do so. First come first serve. I've managed to avoid most of this, by being specialised and dealing with smaller agencies.
The next hardest part is organising yourself. Depending on how you set yourself up - I would also recommend looking at the PCG, Professional Contractors Group. Do you set up a limited company or work under an "umbrella"... You need to ensure that you are happy with the pros and cons of these sort of arrangements. IR35 has been and also IR60.. If you go the limited company route, then there's an accountant, try and get a good one - i.e. one that is recommended by others. They can handle quite a bit of the paperwork for you, together with VAT registration, etc.. Check out "flat" VAT if you do.
It can be highly rewarding, but there is extra work to do, extra records to keep, especially receipts, there's also things like Health and Pension... What do you do about those? and also expenses and of course wages!!
The other best thing to do, might be to tactfully ask any contractors you know and get on well with about it..
I've been contracting for about 10 years now, it's been great, I've worked abroad and it's paid for quite a few nice things, but now I've had enough and am looking for something closer to home, possibly permanent - but then again maybe not!!! It all depends what it offers.
I know that some friends just couldn't do it. Testing is certainly an area that's on the rise though - we've had the TSG onsite and they've been recommending quite a few extra testing techniques to apply to our Development...
If you do decide to do it, good luck!
I think for testing you need to ensure you have at least ISEB and/or other similar recognised qualifications. Automated Testing techniques, such as QA are also in high demand..
The thing to do is then trawl around Jobserve / Monster and see what roles are on offer and what skills they're looking for.
The worst part is dealing with agencies (apols. to anyone on here who works for them!!) - initially they are interested, very interested.. Typically until they get your CV and then they know that if they put your CV forward, no other agent can do so. First come first serve. I've managed to avoid most of this, by being specialised and dealing with smaller agencies.
The next hardest part is organising yourself. Depending on how you set yourself up - I would also recommend looking at the PCG, Professional Contractors Group. Do you set up a limited company or work under an "umbrella"... You need to ensure that you are happy with the pros and cons of these sort of arrangements. IR35 has been and also IR60.. If you go the limited company route, then there's an accountant, try and get a good one - i.e. one that is recommended by others. They can handle quite a bit of the paperwork for you, together with VAT registration, etc.. Check out "flat" VAT if you do.
It can be highly rewarding, but there is extra work to do, extra records to keep, especially receipts, there's also things like Health and Pension... What do you do about those? and also expenses and of course wages!!
The other best thing to do, might be to tactfully ask any contractors you know and get on well with about it..
I've been contracting for about 10 years now, it's been great, I've worked abroad and it's paid for quite a few nice things, but now I've had enough and am looking for something closer to home, possibly permanent - but then again maybe not!!! It all depends what it offers.
I know that some friends just couldn't do it. Testing is certainly an area that's on the rise though - we've had the TSG onsite and they've been recommending quite a few extra testing techniques to apply to our Development...
If you do decide to do it, good luck!
I'm currently working in an agile testing environment, with a big push towards automation via QTP primarily once our project gets into its rolling deployment after the initial release. I've been asked by my company to go to one of our consulting compaines to help them with the automation of some testing on our new big project, so i'm certainly due to get the experience there. My company is also pushing to get us trained up as well. I'm also about to start the Practitioners ISEB course (already have the first ISEB).
It is a big scary step, but worthwhile in the end i think.
Thanks chaps
It is a big scary step, but worthwhile in the end i think.
Thanks chaps
nuclearsquash said:
My question is though, how the hell do you start contracting, how do you make that leap, cos from this side of the fence it looks really bloody scary!
Any advice tips, tricks links etc warmly welcomed.
Andy
I've been contracting for fifteen years. Here are my tips
1. Get a good accountant
2. Ask him to set up a limited company. About £100 off the shelf
3. If you are going over £50K a year, register for VAT.
4. Fish for new roles on various web sites.
5. Always keep receipts.
6. Always keep 6-12 months of money tucked away
for a rainy day when the contracts don't come in.
7. Get PLI and PII insurance.
8. Agencies are the middle men you have to deal with.
They are like estate agents and car dealers, except
not so reliable. Be prepared to deal with dozens
in your search for work. Be prepared for them having
all sorts of daft rules that they like to stick to.
9. Be prepared for industrial amounts of paperwork
and red tape. UK Gov has made running a company
a lot more difficult over the last few years.
Vital paper pushers need to be kept employed
processing the forms you fill in.
Apart from that, it's great fun being your own boss.
I recommend it to everyone and I wish I had
started it a long time before I actually did.
nuclearsquash said:
I'm currently working in an agile testing environment, with a big push towards automation via QTP primarily once our project gets into its rolling deployment after the initial release. I've been asked by my company to go to one of our consulting compaines to help them with the automation of some testing on our new big project, so i'm certainly due to get the experience there. My company is also pushing to get us trained up as well. I'm also about to start the Practitioners ISEB course (already have the first ISEB).
It is a big scary step, but worthwhile in the end i think.
Thanks chaps
It is a big scary step, but worthwhile in the end i think.
Thanks chaps
What Agile technique are you primarily using and how long have you been doing Agile? Is your work done purely in a testing arena or as part of a development team?
If you decide to stay permanent, email me.
Hell, if you really want to go contracting, email me as well, I know a good agent who works in the Agile world...
I contracted from 1991-05 when I joined the darkside!
I'd recommend Quay Accounting in Bournemouth, do a google talk to Duncan
& tell him Jim Hearnden sent you.
Also stay up to date with the paper work don't get behind it'll bite you on the bum.
I agree with Agencies, aside from a few most are like something you've trod
in, in the park & are a necessary evil.
I'd recommend Quay Accounting in Bournemouth, do a google talk to Duncan
& tell him Jim Hearnden sent you.
Also stay up to date with the paper work don't get behind it'll bite you on the bum.
I agree with Agencies, aside from a few most are like something you've trod
in, in the park & are a necessary evil.
Trooper,
currently we are using scrum, but there is talk of moving to XP methodology, so much so we (by we i mean our dev team, and testers)may be getting some in house training on this approach. Our team is an intergration of devs and the testers. it's great being able to shout at the devs when things go wrong and generally make their lives a misery. Saying that i work with a great bunch of people who really know their stuff. Much more so than the last place i worked.
currently we are using scrum, but there is talk of moving to XP methodology, so much so we (by we i mean our dev team, and testers)may be getting some in house training on this approach. Our team is an intergration of devs and the testers. it's great being able to shout at the devs when things go wrong and generally make their lives a misery. Saying that i work with a great bunch of people who really know their stuff. Much more so than the last place i worked.
nuclearsquash said:
Trooper,
currently we are using scrum, but there is talk of moving to XP methodology, so much so we (by we i mean our dev team, and testers)may be getting some in house training on this approach. Our team is an intergration of devs and the testers. it's great being able to shout at the devs when things go wrong and generally make their lives a misery. Saying that i work with a great bunch of people who really know their stuff. Much more so than the last place i worked.
currently we are using scrum, but there is talk of moving to XP methodology, so much so we (by we i mean our dev team, and testers)may be getting some in house training on this approach. Our team is an intergration of devs and the testers. it's great being able to shout at the devs when things go wrong and generally make their lives a misery. Saying that i work with a great bunch of people who really know their stuff. Much more so than the last place i worked.
Sounds good, as I said email me via my profile if you are looking to move on, either permanent or contracting
nuclearsquash said:
I'm currently working in an agile testing environment, with a big push towards automation via QTP primarily once our project gets into its rolling deployment after the initial release. I've been asked by my company to go to one of our consulting compaines to help them with the automation of some testing on our new big project, so i'm certainly due to get the experience there. My company is also pushing to get us trained up as well. I'm also about to start the Practitioners ISEB course (already have the first ISEB).
It is a big scary step, but worthwhile in the end i think.
Thanks chaps
It is a big scary step, but worthwhile in the end i think.
Thanks chaps
If you fancy joining a test consultancy which will give you an idea of what contracting could be like but with a safety net, then contact me, we are desperate for staff.
A few websites that may help you:
www.contractoruk.com/first_timers/index.html
and
www.pcg.org.uk
www.contractoruk.com
www.shout99.com
www.itcontractor.com
Edit: @dcb - VAT registration threshold is £64k not £50k
www.contractoruk.com/first_timers/index.html
and
www.pcg.org.uk
www.contractoruk.com
www.shout99.com
www.itcontractor.com
Edit: @dcb - VAT registration threshold is £64k not £50k
Edited by JonRB on Thursday 15th March 16:15
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