This article is part of Jenrick CPI’s series on the beginners guide to IT Contracting. Being an IT Contractor is very different from being employed. You do not have the stability of permanent employment, but equally there are many advantages. In particular the financial rewards can make contracting very appealing as well as the variety of work.

Although this article is a great starting point for anyone considering IT Contracting for the first time, it is especially relevant if you live and work in the UK. Furthermore, the questions below apply equally to IT professionals who are seeking their first job after completing their training / qualifications / degree, or those who are considering switching from permanent to contract after being within the IT industry for a few years.

Question 1. Do you like the idea of being you own boss? For some people the idea of running your own business (yes, that is the core what being a professional contractor is all about) can be extremely enjoyable and satisfying, but for others it can be an incredibly daunting thought. Running your own business means that you are responsible for all aspects of the legal and financial operations of your company, which is very different from being an employee on PAYE. In addition, being the boss also means you must be self-disciplined with your time-management and work ethos, as you no longer answer to anyone.

Question 2. Are you very financially driven? If you have a great internal drive to earn money then this is a definite sign that contracting could be for you. Overall, contractors earn (in some cases) up to 40% more than permanent staff. Yet, you need to also be quite financially aware, as you will have to deal with your personal and company tax, as well as working with Accountants on a regular basis.

Question 3. Does the thought of working on new projects get you interested and excited? Working on new projects is something that contractors tend to gravitate towards. They like how they have the ability to constantly go into new companies and be working on something new the company is looking to implement.

Question 4. Would you like the opportunity to work with the very latest technologies? Contractors are usually at the forefront of all new projects, so if this appeals to you then this is another sign that contracting is probably the route for you to go. In the 25 years we have been managing contractors, when a new project comes on board contractors are usually the first in (to get it going), with the permanent teams joining them when the project is must closer to launch.

Question 5. Office politics bug me! Contractors, due to the fact that they are independent to the company in which they are working, have the luxury of being able to just get on with it without needing to worry about all the office politics that can come with being a permanent member of staff. So, if you like just getting on with your job, then definitely consider this point.

To finish - These initial questions are a good starting point to see if contracting is right for you, but before you go giving up your job do some more research. There is so much more that you need to understand. People do tend to think that the change is only minor, but our experience has shown that it is far from that.

Tags: Advice for IT contractors, contract it jobs, it contracting in Germany, Top 5 Tips for IT contracting

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 3rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm and is filed under Videos and Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.