Watching the past few weeks has made me reflect on the world of work and what I want to be a part of next. Having been out of work for a few months now, it has to be said that in many ways I actually am starting to enjoy not having to deal with all the hassle and protocols that you have to follow in an office. Being in control what you do each day and when is actually quite liberating although self-dicipline certainly has to be exercised or before you know it, the day has flown by.
So what next for me? Well still plodding on with applying for jobs but starting to realise that maybe my days working for someone else may have come to an end. So I am looking into setting up on my own working for companies that I actually want to work for so watch this space people. Creating my business plan as we speak so one day I can emulate my hero Stuart Baggs!
My business plan is simply "make enough money that I don't have to sign on." :-) I use on-line markets to bid for work. Competition from developers in emerging economies means that I struggle to make the minimum wage. I don't have a social life, except what I grab on line. And I have to do all the admin and accountancy and technical support myself. So, to be honest, I long for a job where I'm insulated from the economic realities of the world... But yeah, there are compensations, particularly on a sunny day.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, good luck. When you secure your first contract, you'll need to notify the Revenue that you have entered self-employment. Depending on the value of the contract, you might want to fill in form CF10 (to avoid NI) and apply for working tax credit.
Ouch on-line markets are a tough way to bid for work. Not value just the lowest price and in most instances the emerging countries are likely to undercut you. Hats off to you.
ReplyDeleteActually my ex was a developer, straight out of uni he set up a games company with his best mate and ended up selling to a big US company and lived in Vegas for a while running it.
He moved from the developer side to strategy to cushion himself from the future erosion of rates from globalisation. He now has some bigwig job doing special projects stuff.
I have savings but the main thing for me will be to really go for it and earn a decent salary within a year otherwise I will have to go back to job hunting.
My biggest outgoing is my rent so the aim is not to screw up too badly and end up homeless as I kind of don't have anywhere to go!