My Guide to Software Engineering Contracting in UK

You mention you get to learn new skills and technologies; but if they only want to hire people who can immediately do what they need, how does that happen?

Does it involve a bit of stretching your experience?

Re: My Guide to Software Engineering Contracting in UK

#5

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 9:56 PM UTC

mp05 wrote: post #3

> When hiring contractors it is a little like hiring a plumber. This comparison is more true than a lot of devs want to admit.

[deleted]

Re: My Guide to Software Engineering Contracting in UK

#6

Post by T-zex » Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:00 PM UTC

> Contractors can get a new role almost immediately...

Perhaps inside IR35 and perhaps for a low rate. Big corps mostly do umbrellas these days.

Re: My Guide to Software Engineering Contracting in UK

#7

Post by OnlyMortal » Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:00 PM UTC

Dayshine wrote: post #4

codedeep wrote: post #2

My experience and tips for being a software developer contractor, in the UK

You mention you get to learn new skills and technologies; but if they only want to hire people who can immediately do what they need, how does that happen? Does it involve a bit of stretching your experience?

Freelancer here. Yes, you have to sell yourself.

If you’re smart, you’ll pick it up on the job or read a little about it before the interview.

Re: My Guide to Software Engineering Contracting in UK

#8

Post by sirsinsalot » Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:00 PM UTC

This is good entry level stuff. As a contractor in the UK exclusively for the past 20 years tho, it doesn't paint a very full picture.

The most inaccurate bit is day rates. They're underestimated by quite some way in my experience.

What I would say is contracting in the UK is a game with different layers. This is the basic "coder for hire" layer. There's levels above that, with contracts spanning 10 years+ and higher day rates, but it is much more like dark magic.

Re: My Guide to Software Engineering Contracting in UK

#9

Post by sirsinsalot » Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:02 PM UTC

T-zex wrote: post #6

> Contractors can get a new role almost immediately... Perhaps inside IR35 and perhaps for a low rate. Big corps mostly do umbrellas these days.

Don't touch umbrella setups. Don't go inside IR35.

Businesses either hire contractors for a liquid and expendable workforce...

Or they hire high skill people who take on more liability and charge for it accordingly.

Be in the second group. They don't use umbrella setups.

Re: My Guide to Software Engineering Contracting in UK

#10

Post by sirsinsalot » Sun, Mar 10, 2024, 10:04 PM UTC

mp05 wrote: post #3

> When hiring contractors it is a little like hiring a plumber. This comparison is more true than a lot of devs want to admit.

It is true at some level. If that's how you want to present yourself.

You can be a plumber or a safe cracker. A person who does, or a person that knows.

The latter pays better day rates.