Re:Ask HN: From contractor to permanent
by seanrrwilkins on Thursday September 25, 2014 @11:04AM
(#8367524)
I've been back and forth as an FTE and contractor for the past five years, and it's been nothing but beneficial. I use the contracting to gain a variety of experiences with different companies and screen them over time to evaluate whether I want to work with them full time.
The variety of experience is key as you'll hone your problem solving skills in a more valuable way than in your F500 gig. You're forced to get scrappier and deliver consistently in a tighter timelines. It just forces you to be better.
And as a programmer the world is your oyster these days. Do the work to zero in on your specific skillset and language/product focus so you can better target you outreach.
Starting with an agency can be easy, but they'll take 20-30% and limit your opportunity for a direct relationship with that client. You could ease into this with a few months of side work while you keep the safe F500 job. Build a couple clients in your portfolio and break out when your personal pipeline equals, or beats your current salary.
The variety of experience is key as you'll hone your problem solving skills in a more valuable way than in your F500 gig. You're forced to get scrappier and deliver consistently in a tighter timelines. It just forces you to be better.
And as a programmer the world is your oyster these days. Do the work to zero in on your specific skillset and language/product focus so you can better target you outreach.
Starting with an agency can be easy, but they'll take 20-30% and limit your opportunity for a direct relationship with that client. You could ease into this with a few months of side work while you keep the safe F500 job. Build a couple clients in your portfolio and break out when your personal pipeline equals, or beats your current salary.