[Gllug] Temping or contracting.

[Jack Richards]

Its a hard world out there and you need some good connections and a couple of cash cow accounts, unless you do something specialist - or you work in an area where there is a skills shortage ( I was in the Lake district last week with a customer and they are paying 1200/day for Oracle DBA !!! 3 month Contract, because they can't get good people in the geographic they live in ).

> Moon Watch wrote:
> > I am looking for some short term employment in the IT world.  Can anyone advise
> > me on the kinds of agencies (if any) to approach.  It there a market for 
> > short term systam admin or system programmers.

Not really, though seasonal periods do exist where people will be in demand - such as winter holiday and summer break.
> 
> Such work is comparatively rare.  You'll need to have two or three 
> things you do _really_ well and hope that you kind find companies who 
> just want $thing doing but don't want to divert a full time human being 
> away from their regular work to do it.
> 
> My speciality, anti-spam & virus mail systems, and mail systems in 
> general, is one example of this.
> 
> > I am also considering selling my soul and doing an MCSE or CCNA as many 
> > jobs I see so many jobs web sites ask for these.  I am sure my experience is far 
> > above the level of these certifications.

Its a qualification people recognise, but if you are contracting, too many certifications can also loose you the job too.
 
> I wouldn't be so sure. People make fun of the MCSE but, in reality, it's 
>   not so easy to get. For example, using nothing more than a pencil and 
> paper, how many IP addresses are available for use in a /11 network?
> 
> > Any other comments or advise would be most welcome.
> 
> Unless you're really _really_ __really__ certain that you know what 
> you're doing, do all of your work through an unbrella company or, if you 
> plan to make a career of it, your own limited company.
> 
> The difference is that you personally can be sued for something you do 
> messing up if you don't go through a company.  It's your house on the 
> line if you make a serious mistake.

Professional Imdemnity insurance.  I cannot stress this enough.  Yes it costs, and yes some people might find it hard to find a company that will even provide you with a quote, but if you are working on other peoples systems, then you need it.  If you think you don't then go do something else because whilst you might be a Ltd company and can liquidate with minimal fuss, there is also a professional ethics issue here.  If you are happy watching a company go to the wall because of your mistakes, you should not be contracting. 


> Other tips?  Spell check your mail before sending and get yourself 
> something other than a hotmail account.  Get a gmail account instead, if 
> nothing else.

Don't over extend yourself, provide good documentation and good value for money - don't undercharge and if you give away the occasional freebee then make sure the customer knows about.

Regards,

Jack Richards


GNU Solutions Ltd and the GNU Solutions Device are registered tradmarks of GNU Solutions Ltd.Gazelle Retail Hardened Linux, UpStart and the devices are registered trademarks of GNU Solutions Ltd.


-- 
Gllug mailing list  -  Gllug at gllug.org.uk
http://lists.gllug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug