Pros and Cons

Contracting in the UK can be a great way to get work experience, improve your CV and earn money, but it’s not for everyone…

Advantages

A contractor can earn more than an employee, simply because they can charge the amount they wish to for their expertise.

A few years spent contracting will give you an experience not gained elsewhere. If you then decide to look for a permanent position, you may be more attractive to employers.

It is said that travel broadens horizons, and contracting abroad is an excellent way to travel the world. To work abroad and gain insight into different cultures and work environments can be very rewarding, and can help you grow as a person.

Flexibility as a contractor is something not always acheivable as an employee. You have the opportunity to fill your dairy as you wish.

You will also be available to take that course that you have been wanting to take to update yoru skills and make you more valuable. As an employee, often you are tasked with the one job in one company, which leads us onto the next pro…

Variety is the spice of life, and certainly as a contractor, you will get variety. As you move from one company to the next you will meet new people, learn about different companies and how they work and contincue to develop as a person. Often picking up business skilss as you go too.

Disadvantages

Work is not guaranteed. You may find you have to learn new skills in chasing the work. However, BITE Consulting are very good at helping you brand and market yourself in order that you get the right amount of work that suits you and your pocket. As you get established, the work finding becomes easier, and often work then finds you.

You’re almost certain to be working to tight deadlines, and the demands made on you are likely to be very stressful. Managers will have high expectations of you and the levels of work you can complete. You’ll be expected to hit the ground running and be an expert in your skill-set: people will look to you for the answers and you’ll be expected to deliver.

As a contractor you’ll often be at the sharp end of projects, where your contribution will be highly valued and critical to deadlines. This can stretch you more than a 9-5 job, improving your skills and your flexibility.

Contracting is for me – what next?

As a potential contractor in the UK, BITE Consulting can offer assistance not only in finding you the right type of contract work, but also helping you get started. Our packages can help you to set up as a company, help you to relocate to the UK, help you with the financial aspects by giving you the right kind of advice, and also help you market yourself in the UK (which can be very different from the job market in your homeland).

Our training sessions can help you adjust to our very different culture, our landing packs will help you hit the ground running, even down to providing you with a mobile phone on your arrival.

Take a look around our website for more information on how we can help you settle into contract work in the UK.