Topic: IT Contract Work

[Graeme]

Out of interest mate, is it just IT you do (stuff like sys admins) or do you have experience with languages like Javascript/PHP?

Not much in the way of languages sadly. My day job is as an ICT Designer for a local authority, so when the council is looking to procure a new application I do the design work for the infrastructure, client software, AD/GPO/Exchange etc.

Sometimes the requests I deal with are around integrating data across systems, so I do a little bit of PS scripting as well to edit the format of data and automate the transfer of the data from A to B etc.

[Buck Pete]

Guys

Don't really want to just google this and RAWK advice is always good in my experience.

Can anyone please recommend any decent agencies or recruitment consultancies that help find contracts.  Specifically, in my case, Project manager roles in the Unified Comms/Telecoms/IT field.

Are there any agencies out there that will take your CV and do their best to find you a suitable contract.  After all it is in there interest too.

I am deeply unhappy in my permanent role and need to get out before unhappiness turns into something more ugly. 

Advice really appreciated folks

[pw1008]

From my experience mate agencies are just lazy arses they don’t really specialise in anything. You might get the odd one or two with niche stuff like  Security Cleared jobs or nuclear

Just got on likes of JobServe or CV Library. Seem to get most jobs. I’ve had about 7 contracts in 8/9 years all with agencies I’ve never heard off. Had loads of calls from Hays, Reed, Harvey Nash but nothing ever come of them. It’s odd how it works some unknown agency from Milton Keynes gets all the contract work at a big local authority in north west for example or an agency in Belfast getting financial services jobs in Surrey.

Also a lot of agencies never bother getting jobs in their own websites just on likes of JobServe. LinkedIn has come along massively for me last year or so loads of Jobs on there direct with companies cutting out the agency

As for going contract they will want yous available in about 2 weeks tho depending on references credit checks dbs checks  etc. If your On a 2-3 month notice period you might have to leave first and look or throw one in and blag sick etc

[Buck Pete]

Cheers mate.  As it happens got registered with CV Library earlier tonight and applied for a dream contract with a company doing IT/Comms for the Commonwealth games venues in Brum in 2022.  Its direct with the company so no agency bollocks to contend with.  Not sure of the daily rate yet but to be honest I don't really care as long as it pays the bills.

If I'm lucky enough to get the role and they want me ASAP, my current work place can like it or lump it.  I'm offski.

My current notice period is 12 weeks but I know from my manager that's negotiable.  Exactly how negotiable, I am not sure until it comes to it.

Serious question here.  Say the company want me to start in 2 weeks time and my notice period is reduced to say 8 weeks.  What would be the ramifications of me simply walking away and taking the contract.  Could my current employer sue?  Any ideas how to get round this?  I don't care how sneaky it is either as I won't feel guilty.  They are a big company who have dough and Ive given them 20 years of loyal service.

[wampa1]

I always feel a bit wary that for the ridiculous daily rates of pay on offer for some contracts they will want you to work miracles?

I'm permanent staff and having worked with contractors the amount of mopping up needed for the mess they always leave behind is ridiculous. They're a law unto themselves and a menace. So naturally I'm looking into moving into contract work myself.

[pw1008]

Cheers mate.  As it happens got registered with CV Library earlier tonight and applied for a dream contract with a company doing IT/Comms for the Commonwealth games venues in Brum in 2022.  Its direct with the company so no agency bollocks to contend with.  Not sure of the daily rate yet but to be honest I don't really care as long as it pays the bills.

If I'm lucky enough to get the role and they want me ASAP, my current work place can like it or lump it.  I'm offski.

My current notice period is 12 weeks but I know from my manager that's negotiable.  Exactly how negotiable, I am not sure until it comes to it.

Serious question here.  Say the company want me to start in 2 weeks time and my notice period is reduced to say 8 weeks.  What would be the ramifications of me simply walking away and taking the contract.  Could my current employer sue?  Any ideas how to get round this?  I don't care how sneaky it is either as I won't feel guilty.  They are a big company who have dough and Ive given them 20 years of loyal service.

I’m not sure on what can actually happen - a mate of mine reckons if you just start spouting how much you earn more than others even if it’s not true they’ll ask you to leave quickly. Or I think you could just go off sick if it got nasty but doubt you want to leave on bad terms. That’s problem with contracts it’s hard to get into cos of the notice period so either got to take a chance and hand notice in before you get one or deal with the notice period thing.