David Freeman, Procurement Manager

1. How long have you been contracting for?

Around 17 months.

2. Why contracting versus permanent work?

The variety and diversity of projects makes it both challenging and interesting also, working in different locations.

3. Advice for others starting out contracting?

Don’t be afraid of change, good skill sets are a valuable commodity

4. Future of contracting – what do you think?

The outlook seems to be very good, given the rate and change of pace in business, contracting is great way of bringing in highly capable staff who can hit the ground running.

5. Can you recommend a good book/magazine/website/blog?

Revzilla.com for all your motorcycle needs! 

---

John Woolley, Senior Marketing Manager

1. How long have you been contracting for?

10 months

2. Why Contracting vs Permanent work?

By contracting you have the opportunity to work with many different types of organizations in different capacities. These experiences can accelerate your career and knowledge and offer greater flexibility for future employment down the road. I find that many newly acquired skills, and previously developed skills, can be transferred to the new contract roles. It also allows for lifestyle options, and wider exposure to different industries and opportunities.

3. Advice for others starting out contracting?

While you may miss out in some employee benefits a good contract will look after you financially and grow you in areas of your expertise. It also allows you to broaden your industry / company experience, and ‘trial’ the position and company from the 'inside’ first.

4. Future of contracting?

There is a future for short term or long term contracting, and some may even lead to the offering of a permanent position after both the company and yourself have been working together. Something that both employers and employees should look at for short term expertise, specific projects and growth opportunities, as well as developing both parties strategic long term goals.

5. A good book / magazine / website / blog you can recommend?

Seth’s blog, The 4 hour work week

---

Sharon Smart - Accounts & PAYE 

"Frog took me under their wing and provided all the information I needed as a contractor.  The contracting team have a vast expanse of knowledge and are only too happy to help when I asked them and always with a smile. Then Frog Recruitment exceeded all my expectations in providing a Contractors Conference with a variety of interesting and entertaining speakers who provided even more insight to the contracting world."

1. How long have you been contracting for?
I started working as a contractor 18 months ago, which was a big step to take after being in PAYE roles all my life. It was a struggle not knowing what it involved and if I was doing the right thing. I then struck gold in September of last year and secured some contracting work with Frog Recruitment.

2. Why Contracting vs Permanent work?
Being a contractor I have flexible hours, higher hourly rate and can claim against general costs: travel, mortgage/rent, power etc.

3. Advice for others starting out contracting?
The most important piece of advice I could give to someone starting out contracting is to get support from others who can guide you. Sometimes it’s a bit slow starting up, so having a little financial backing helps.
If you are seriously thinking of working for yourself, I say take the plunge, talk to Frog Recruitment and you will never look back.

4. Future of contracting?
For me personally, contracting suited due to my age. I have the experience, but generally, companies are looking for younger staff which makes it harder to find work.

5. A good book / magazine / website / blog you can recommend?
I highly recommend Smart Business – A guide for businesses and non-profit organisations

---

Neil Campbell - Project Analyst

"I've learned that a phone call from Frog is almost always good news."

1. How long have you been contracting for?
About one year.

2. Why Contracting vs Permanent work?
Sometimes it's about the role right role for your development, regardless of permanent vs contract. Contracting has allowed me to learn from a large number of people across different companies in a shortened space of time.

3. Advice for others starting out contracting?
Keep your eyes open. Look out for learning opportunities - you might have the chance to learn about people, company culture, different work practices, workplace trends, new systems and software.

4. Future of contracting?
I can only see contracting growing. Normally this would be as demand from business grows, but I can also see the demand from contractors increasing as more workers look for a different work/life balance and choose contracting.

5. A good book / magazine / website / blog you can recommend?
Not about contracting, but I'm current reading Timothy Ferris' 4 Hour Body - a fascinating read (he also wrote "The 4hr Workweek")

---

Susan Smith – Project Manager

1. How long have you been contracting for?

10 years

2. Why Contracting vs Permanent work?
Flexibility, being paid for the hours I work, and not having to be part of the internal politicking that occurs when you are in a permanent role.  

3. Advice for others starting out contracting?

1. To be sure that you are in a financial position that you aren’t worrying about having full time work all the time
2. Remember the best Contractor is the one that makes themselves redundant – you are not there to create a position for yourself
3. Treat the organisation you are working for as your own

4. Future of contracting?
I have seen it more & more becoming an acceptable part of an organisation’s people mix. 

5. A good book / magazine / website / blog you can recommend?
The 4 hour work week – book  by Timothy Ferriss

---

Jennie Hutchinson - Marketing Manager

“Frog have been great. No palaver at all - they are to the point and get on with finding me work. They ring about a potential role, tell you what it is and get me the contract. Payroll have also been great and I have really appreciated it.”

How long have you been contracting for?

I have been in this role with Croxley since November, but I've been in previous roles and independently for 5 years altogether, mainly in FMCG.

Why Contracting vs Permanent work?

Contracting offers many benefits:

• A fresh challenge - every business and role is different. No matter how generic the job description may seem on paper, the experience of learning a new business, in a new industry, with it’s inevitably unique culture, is very rewarding.
• The learning opportunity – So you walk in, get a quick introduction, and a list of half understood tasks to be getting on with. Immediately. What better way to learn? At Croxley I humourously coined the term “marketing forensics” to describe the process of finding out what I needed to know to get the task at hand done. If you are taking up the reins of a role left vacant for a while then you will feel like a detective on a cold case for a while.
• Friends I haven’t met yet – I am always delighted by the warm reception people give to the “new contractor”, often in environments where there has been a lot of change. We start as strangers and end up as friends; a cliché but true all the same.
• Financial – As your own business, there are advantages.
• Lifestyle options – the lack of certainty, particularly in short term roles should be off-set by the ability to plan the number of weeks a year you work and have as holiday. I have found it has worked well with family, acknowledging that in a recessionary environment this is a higher risk.

Advice for others starting out contracting?

• Make sure you understand the difference between permanent roles and contracting. There are lots of obvious differences, but many subtle ones also.
• Make sure the brief for the role is clear. This is about managing yours, and your employer’s expectations
• Problem solving and the ability to work autonomously are essential.
• Don’t expect to be spoon-fed. I remember a role when the collegue who hired me left on 3 weeks leave. I was left sitting in a corner with only the vaguest idea of what I should be doing as it was an IT project, and I had a Marketing & Sales background at the time. I had the good sense to realise that this did not look good and that if I did not figure out what I was required to do quickly, then maybe I wouldn’t be required. So I found the project manager, politely bugged as many people as I could, picked up key tasks and was suddenly kneed deep in alligators. My idea of a good time!
• Make sure you deliver.
• Make sure you find out quickly who you can go to for information / guidance / on the job training. Croxley were exceptional in identifying those people for me as soon as I arrived, so I self managed a quasi-induction programme.

Future of contracting?

Very strong.  Businesses change constantly and contractors provide great flexibility and brilliant skills (we are all very clever!).  Bette still, we are available to start right away.

A good book / magazine / website / blog you can recommend?

I would replace this with working on your personal and professional network. Contracting is about doing, not thinking about doing.

---