contract coming to an end

[comports]

Hi All,

After 10 years in my "short term" contract for a large Pharma company in the UK I think my contract is going to come to an end soon.

What should I do. I am the usual - very skilled at what I do but what is it I do - sort of person.

Does anyone know of a good agency in the south east/London to go to for contract jobs or do I go full time somewhere now I'm getting on (39.. )

I would love to do more free lance but can't guarantee the money to pay the mortgage... at present I'm too busy to go out and find lots of small jobs to build the company up..!

Any suggestions..?

Thanks

 

[Sp!ke]

10 years on a short term contract in IT for a large pharmaceutical company?

You should be able to retire

 

[comports]

The big problem is you live to your means. A couple of years ago with the contract being fairly stable (they just renewed it for 12 months every time it was up) we moved into a big house with a mortgage of £2,400 a month. We have 5 kids so we needed the space. With the contract it's no problem at all but the management changed and things are not looking so good..

Now I have some put to one side but it won't keep me going for long and need a plan of action...

 

[recycled]

That was a very long short term contract.
What type of job do you do?

 

[comports]

Well I started off as a Web Designer and moved into a full blown eMedia consultancy role after a few years. I still do some design work but my role is now of a more technical nature. I handle all aspects of electronic media for them.

I deal with a lot of IS Demand issues as I'm a good interface between the business areas and the IT function. (I speak both languages if you know what I mean) and am involved in lots of project management roles for delivering new technologies into the business.

I'm working on a portal strategy at the moment and I'm trying to introduce a global "desktop video streaming" service to the employees. (65,000 worldwide).

Does any of that mean anything to anyone..?? (I got lost half way through it.. )

 

[recycled]

Well I started off as a Web Designer and moved into a full blown eMedia consultancy role after a few years. I still do some design work but my role is now of a more technical nature. I handle all aspects of electronic media for them.

I deal with a lot of IS Demand issues as I'm a good interface between the business areas and the IT function. (I speak both languages if you know what I mean) and am involved in lots of project management roles for delivering new technologies into the business.

I'm working on a portal strategy at the moment trying to introduce a global "desktop video streaming" service to the employees. (65,000 worldwide).

Does any of that mean anything to anyone..?? (I got lost half way through it.. )

Of course it does. you could try accenture .My friend works for them on a contractual basis, if you are into .NET

 

[fuzzer]

Well I started off as a Web Designer and moved into a full blown eMedia consultancy role after a few years. I still do some design work but my role is now of a more technical nature. I handle all aspects of electronic media for them.

I deal with a lot of IS Demand issues as I'm a good interface between the business areas and the IT function. (I speak both languages if you know what I mean) and am involved in lots of project management roles for delivering new technologies into the business.

I'm working on a portal strategy at the moment and I'm trying to introduce a global "desktop video streaming" service to the employees. (65,000 worldwide).

Does any of that mean anything to anyone..?? (I got lost half way through it.. )

sounds salable , are you prince2?

 

[GrahamC230K]

Plenty of PM jobs about that will pay your mortgage off in a couple of months!

 

[Sp!ke]

Lots of business analyst jobs around in IT too right now. That sounds more up your street than project management.

 

[television]

My youngest son,your age does work of the same type as you with agencies, and does very well out of it.
I have been self employed all of my life , one day in 1970 I was approached by Yamaha Hi FI to service all of their goods for the UK, Nakamichi followed then in 1978 they came to the UK themselves and within 2 weeks my little world collapsed, another door opened and within weeks I was making reading and recording aids for blind school children and Manpower Services Commision.
This ended in 1982 when Harmon asked me to service all of the Teac, JBL and Harmon Kardon products, that went well till 1987 when Teac came over from Japan and opened their own place. I was offered the chance to run it, but I declined and went to Sweden doing work for Swedish Radio and soon picked up the Musical Fidelity and Micro Mega service contracts.

So like you, life can be a little uncertain, the fear is the worst for the unknown, I think in the long run its who you know that matters more than what you know, now is the time to ring and talk to people that you know, chin up, there could be something better around the corner

 

[High-Lo]

There are still plenty of IT contracts currently available and the rates are increasing. I've been an IT contractor since 1993 and my last contract was for 9.5 years (6 months extensions every time) before I moved to the bank I'm at now. Unfortunately there is a 'two year rule' for contractors in most banks now so the long term contracts will be harder to find.

The introduction of IR35 didn't do the contracting industry too good either

 

[comports]

Hi all and thanks for the encouragement.

I guess it's right - The fear of the unknown is probably much worse than the unkown itself..! The ony down side for me is that my company have let me work from home for the last 3 years but going to Manchester/London/Sweden or the US for meetings so I'm kinda in a comfort zone. I know that will have to change.

Had a look on JobServe this evening and there are 9 jobs that are right up my street and some of them pay more than I'm on anyway..! I've just got out of the "going for interviews" stage but, as a contractor, I knew this day would come.

We have an "11 month rule" at my company for new contractors but they always said it makes no difference for me now as I have been there 10 years anyway so I always got away with it.

I will either have to get used to being a "contractor" again or take the serious pay drop and get a job..!

 

[television]

Hi all and thanks for the encouragement.

I guess it's right - The fear of the unknown is probably much worse than the unkown itself..! The ony down side for me is that my company have let me work from home for the last 3 years but going to Manchester/London/Sweden or the US for meetings so I'm kinda in a comfort zone. I know that will have to change.

Had a look on JobServe this evening and there are 9 jobs that are right up my street and some of them pay more than I'm on anyway..! I've just got out of the "going for interviews" stage but, as a contractor, I knew this day would come.

We have an "11 month rule" at my company for new contractors but they always said it makes no difference for me now as I have been there 10 years anyway so I always got away with it.

I will either have to get used to being a "contractor" again or take the serious pay drop and get a job..!

I know its easy to say, try and keep your positive side up, you are worth it, so go out there and prove it, if you sink, no one will want to know.
In a couple of years you may wonder why you did what you are doing now

 

[comports]

Thanks Television.

Fuzzer - I'm not Prince 2 and often wondered what it was all about.

I'm also self taught on everything and as I have an interest in the area I found it easy to learn. I think my experience is worth more than a piece of paper but it's convincing someone you don't know that.

I notice a lot of specs out there ask for degree or other official quals so perhaps I should investigate these. After 15 years of doing the job I should be able to get some qualifications. After all - if I was no good they would not have kept me on for 10 years..!!

Just need to find out whats involved and see what happens.

 

[television]

Thanks Television.

Fuzzer - I'm not Prince 2 and often wondered what it was all about.

I'm also self taught on everything and as I have an interest in the area I found it easy to learn. I think my experience is worth more than a piece of paper but it's convincing someone you don't know that.

I notice a lot of specs out there ask for degree or other official quals so perhaps I should investigate these. After 15 years of doing the job I should be able to get some qualifications. After all - if I was no good they would not have kept me on for 10 years..!!

Just need to find out whats involved and see what happens.

I do not have one piece of paper with any qualifications and I for the best part have been at the top.

My son doing what you are does not have anything either, yet he does work for all of the big banks, and always gets work.

funny foot note, Alan Sugar asked me to work for him in the mid 70.s I said no thanks.

 

[barryj]

funny foot note, Alan Sugar asked me to work for him in the mid 70.s I said no thanks.

If Alm Sugar asked me to work for him now I would say no thanks.................................

 

[fuzzer]

Thanks Television.

Fuzzer - I'm not Prince 2 and often wondered what it was all about.

I'm also self taught on everything and as I have an interest in the area I found it easy to learn. I think my experience is worth more than a piece of paper but it's convincing someone you don't know that.

I notice a lot of specs out there ask for degree or other official quals so perhaps I should investigate these. After 15 years of doing the job I should be able to get some qualifications. After all - if I was no good they would not have kept me on for 10 years..!!

Just need to find out whats involved and see what happens.

Its an industry standard qualification for project management. Its a framework on which your supposed to work to etc just like ITIL.

can get more info here. [URL="http://www.prince2.com/"]http://www.prince2.com/[/URL]

 

[R2e]

Contracting

I assume you are operating via a Limited company? If not, you'll need one to continue contracting, you can do it online for very little. Also if you're not already a member of the PCG, it's well worth joining if only for the tax investigation insurance, IR35 is a frightening thing (I had a two year investigation, and with the help of Lawspeed, paid for by the insurance, I was judged to be outside IR35. Mind you I have multiple concurrent clients, clearly show investment in the business, etc).

I would suggest that even though you're looking for a contract in the first place (and with your knowledge you shouldn't have any problem) it's well worth expanding your business in other areas (helps to proof against IR35 and is ultimately likely to be more rewarding), granted this requires that you work longer hours and harder. If you want a contracting 'job' only, you might as well become a permie if you can earn sufficient to maintain your lifestyle.

 

[comports]

HI R2,

I do indeed run a LTD co. Have done for 12 years now. I am ok with IR35 as I do have more than 1 customer. I have my day job (5 days a week) through the agancy plus my company is set up as a supplier to the end company and I have 2 other small contracts directly with them. I do 4 days resource for one customer and 2 days for another for which I invoice seperately.

I also do some freelance web work for one or two people locally. I does'nt pay much but helps as I can demonstrate multiple customers.

I am still in an ongoing 7 year battle with the Inland Rev which is soon to be resolved but have an ace accountant (who used to work for the IR)..

 

[R2e]

HI R2,

I do indeed run a LTD co. Have done for 12 years now. I am ok with IR35 as I do have more than 1 customer. I have my day job (5 days a week) through the agancy plus my company is set up as a supplier to the end company and I have 2 other small contracts directly with them. I do 4 days resource for one customer and 2 days for another for which I invoice seperately.

I also do some freelance web work for one or two people locally. I does'nt pay much but helps as I can demonstrate multiple customers.

I am still in an ongoing 7 year battle with the Inland Rev which is soon to be resolved but have an ace accountant (who used to work for the IR)..

Ah well, you're fully set up and savvy, you should have no problem. I know a number of contractors who treat a contract like a job, work the five day week, don't even have a business phone at home or accounting software to make their lives easy, particularly for VAT returns, etc. As they are not really running a business they are at great risk from IR35. Even so, most of them seem to get away with it.

Fortunately I've never had a contract longer than around two years (I'm usually doing European implementation projects, when the implementation's done, I'm done!) so I tend to move on before I feel part of the furniture! Hope you get the IR sorted out, there is nothing worse. I used to wake up in the middle of the night absolutely furious that, contrary to the principles of British justice, I had to prove myself innocent when it was absolutely clear I had no case to answer. My lawyer made sure that everything they asked was queried, aparently the IR cost these inquiries up, so much for a letter, etc, and review at the end whether it has been worth it. The more you cost them, the less likely they are to be back. They take their own sweet time doing these things which puts a tremendous strain on the poor individual undergoing the inquisition, I'm sure it's done on purpose.

I've spread things as far as I can, apart from a support contract with a major company which I do with a partner and a separate company (direct contract, no agencies involved!), I do a bit of web hosting on a leased server, doesn't make any money but offsets costs and hey, it's another half a dozen customers, have become a Quickbooks Professional advisor and sell EDI software (which we interface with Quickbooks, using C# and .NET courtesy of my son), programming and EDI for numerous customers on an ad hoc basis, and various other bits and pieces. Anything to earn a crust . I do tend to work 7 days a week quite a lot though. Fortunately I enjoy the work and most of it I can do from home.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll have no trouble and there's nothing more fun than getting into a new contract and hitting the ground running!