Find solution
Work in finance as a developer?

Does it make sense to drop a full time job for contract work?

  • I work in a niche area of finance (business valuation) but want to move into something more entrepreneurial. I am not a developer or marketer, or any of the traditional freelancing types. The few contracting opportunities I have seen look more like outsourcing moves so companies won't have to pay benefits rather than meaningful project opportunities (e.g. data entry or similar). Do meaningful contracting opportunities exist for someone with my background or is contracting solely the domain of computer programmers? And if I were to pursue contract work, would that be a negative for future employers if I wanted to go back to full time?

  • Answer:

    There's no such thing as traditional when it comes to freelancing and almost any type of jobs can be outsourced these days, so long as you have the tools and technology to work on the project.  You are in a highly specialized niche and that means less competition.  You can tap companies to open their doors for you and you can even do B2B.  Now, before you drop your full-time work to consider going entrepreneurial, you can: 1. Do market research first.  Market seems so small?  Then, create the need for your industry. 2. Have 6 months' worth of savings so you can be your most productive because you won't have to worry about finances. 3. Prioritize what you will need to run your business and how much it will cost you. 4.  Don't forget that the most important skill to have is: Networking.  Leverage sites like LinkedIn and Twitter. 5. Love the 3Ps:  as in Passion for your work, Patience while working on your goals, and Perseverance no matter what the odds are. Good Luck!

Shaleen Shah at Quora Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

I'm an ex-employee of Hewlett-Packard due to a contracting opportunity I took up a couple of months ago. The hunt for employment is still underway. I will never be a contract worker again. If I hadn't taken up the offer, I would still be employed. Enjoy the job you have. The reason I couldn't go back, was because they would have to fire my replacement, and that's not fair, considering I had already left the company.

Donovan Hernandez

You CAN get stuck in a rut at a job, and then they can toss you out anytime they want anyway. It would not be a negative for future employers--I think if you want to take the entrepreneurial route one of the things you WANT is to expand your skillset, right? You have to be willing to do that. And you can start today, by going to Barnes adn Noble or reading up on kinds of work that dovetail with yours. See if you can get some free-lance work or even a chance to try doing some work for some one else for free in something related while you still have a job with benefits. Because benefits are a beautiful thing. People who want to change have to accept that they have two jobs now--one where you do your best at your current job (and squirrel away as much money as possible)--and as a learner of new skills. Also, develop a cohort. By that I mean make friends with as many people as you can whose work dovetails with yours. You may find they are the best source of work you can ever find.

Alexandra Hanson-Harding

yes - if you are not happy with your work environment, your boss, your career path rate of growth - then go freelance!

Marc Canter

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.