4 ms·

as a contractor, the OP points stay the same, it is extremely hard to get customers

salmonlogs 4y ago
In my personal experience, and through my network of friends/former colleagues, it's incredibly easy to find work as a contractor - in the UK at least. I've never met a contractor who was short of contracts and options. There is pretty constant demand. Most of my contractor friends work 8-9 months of the year, take an extended break, then when they are ready for new work will land a new contract within 2-3 weeks at most. Totally normal to land a new contract within a few days.
- jalapenos 4y ago
  Is this because of the kind of specialities they focus on or their connections? Also do any of them work from overseas?
- nathias 4y ago
  yes, if you are from an english speaking country you probably don't have issues, I work with the most popular stack and still have very few opportunities, but poor networking skills definitely also play a role ...
  - askonomm 4y ago
    I'd actually say that working with the most popular stack could be the reason you don't get many opportunities - because you have so much competition. I work with Clojure and 8 out 10 CV's I send result in interviews, and I've never looked for a job more than a few weeks tops, simply because there isn't a lot of competition. I'm from Estonia.
    - nathias 4y ago
      yea, I considered it but I had even less luck with more unpopular stacks, maybe Clojure is the sweetspot
svorakang 4y ago
Getting customers from abroad is tough in my experience as well. Have been doing contracting with a Swedish private limited company (AB) for soon ten years. Had many interviews for foreign companies, most within EU, but I have always fallen short, despite that it should be really easy to employ. Within Sweden, though, I have never had an interview that did not lead to an offer, so the national borders really matter in my view. To me, the reason(s) is/are unknown.

In my personal experience, and through my network of friends/former colleagues, it's incredibly easy to find work as a contractor - in the UK at least. I've never met a contractor who was short of contracts and options. There is pretty constant demand. Most of my contractor friends work 8-9 months of the year, take an extended break, then when they are ready for new work will land a new contract within 2-3 weeks at most. Totally normal to land a new contract within a few days.

jalapenos 4y ago
Is this because of the kind of specialities they focus on or their connections? Also do any of them work from overseas?
nathias 4y ago
yes, if you are from an english speaking country you probably don't have issues, I work with the most popular stack and still have very few opportunities, but poor networking skills definitely also play a role ...
- askonomm 4y ago
  I'd actually say that working with the most popular stack could be the reason you don't get many opportunities - because you have so much competition. I work with Clojure and 8 out 10 CV's I send result in interviews, and I've never looked for a job more than a few weeks tops, simply because there isn't a lot of competition. I'm from Estonia.
  - nathias 4y ago
    yea, I considered it but I had even less luck with more unpopular stacks, maybe Clojure is the sweetspot

svorakang 4y ago

Getting customers from abroad is tough in my experience as well. Have been doing contracting with a Swedish private limited company (AB) for soon ten years. Had many interviews for foreign companies, most within EU, but I have always fallen short, despite that it should be really easy to employ. Within Sweden, though, I have never had an interview that did not lead to an offer, so the national borders really matter in my view. To me, the reason(s) is/are unknown.