INTRODUCTION
How to use this book
INSTALLATION AND SETUP
What is
IT?
What is an
IT contractor?
Consultants
Contractors
Temporary workers
Progression
A Brief history of
IT contracting
A changing world
Rate change
Outsourcing
Tax laws
Professionalism
Permies versus Contractors
How to break rank with permyism
Educating yourself on
IT contracting
Preparing for the move to
IT contracting
From the organizations viewpoint
From the
IT contractors viewpoint
The advantages
Flexibility
Financial compensation
Business ownership
Variety
Tax
The disadvantages
Security
Cost of liberty
Uncertainty
Increased personal dependence
Loneliness
More paperwork and rules
Money management
The successful contractor
Adaptability
Interpersonal skills
Humility and helpfulness
An observant self promoter
Diversified experience
An active networker
Outstanding reputation
What to do next
Do your research
Be prepared to compromise
Setting up your corporate foundation
Structure choices
Umbrella Companies
Composite Companies
Private company limited by shares
Other Company Structures
Accounting
Banking
Barebones
Medium use
High use
Other considerations
New customers only
Recent events
Planning
Loss of income consideration
Terms of departure from your permie job
Area of expertise to focus on in contracting
Certification, training
and experience
Travel/commuting/relocation considerations
Prerequisite preparation
Pension
Life, health and other insurances
Rate and length of your first contract
IR35 and other tax considerations
IR35
Draft contracts
Section 660
Financial planning
Taxes
How to get into
IT contracting
CV
Securing the first contract
Direct
Agency
Outsourcing
Basic interview techniques
Technical test
Telephone interview
Face-to-face
Interview structure
Introduction
Questioning
Closing
Pitfalls
Negotiating a rate
Writing an effective
IT contracting CV
Highlight relevant current skills and knowledge
Eliminate potentially negative information
Eliminate dull visual appearance
Visual presentation
Highlight the good and mask the bad
SEO considerations
References
Shortening your long CV
MAINTENANCE AND FINE TUNING
How to select an accountant
Specialist accountants
Personal accountants
MSC accountants
Accountancy firms
Smaller accountants
Fixed rate and percentage charging
Proactive or active
Selection process
How to protect yourself from litigation
The risks
Which types are available?
Run off cover
Paying your taxes
National Insurance Contributions
Mileage payments
PAYE
Benefits in kind
PAYE Thresholds
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP)
Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP)
Funding of SMP/SPP/SAP
National Minimum Wage
Collection of Student Loans
Corporation tax
Rates of Interest for Corporation Tax
Interest rate on late payments (from 6/08/2007)
Interest rate on repayments (from 6/08/2007)
Beneficial loan arrangements - Official rates
Indexation Allowance
How to secure your future
Pension planning
Government pensions
Company pensions
Personal pensions
Personal/Stakeholder Pensions
Executive Pensions
Healthcare considerations
Life insurance
Term
Types of term insurance
Level Term
Decreasing Term
Convertible Term
Renewable term
Increasing term
Family income benefit
Pension term assurance (PTA)
Whole-of-life cover
Unit-linked
With-profits
Universal
Permanent health insurance (PHI)
Private health insurance
Lowering premiums
Business policies
Health history declaration options
Claims process
Buying private health cover
Dental insurance
Accident, Sickness and Unemployment (ASU) Cover
Handling your money effectively
Delayed gratification
The collector mentality
Excessive spending habit
Lunches
Travelling to work
Walking or jogging
Cycling
Public transport
Personal vehicle
Subscriptions
Limited period offers and credit cards
PATCHING AND TRAINING
Effectively improve your
IT market value
Skills demand
Area of expertise
Certification and accreditation
Industry/sector
Geographic location
CV/Interview and professionalism
Introduction to professionalism
Advanced CV writing
Tone
Verb Tense
Persons Personal Pronouns
Pacing
Phrasing
Familiarity and Formality
Wordiness
Spelling
Grammar
Parallelism
Misplaced Modifiers
Passive voice
Subject-verb disagreements
Indicating possession
Singular noun
Plural nouns
Compound nouns
Joint ownership
Possessive pronouns
Advanced interview techniques
Mind Polarization
The conscious/subconscious mind relationship
Mental preparation for interviews
Winning before the fight
Self-Talk
Build belief whilst you sleep
Components of a good self-talk
Conflicts
Visualization
Confidence
Posture
Assertiveness
Play on weakness
Technical intimidation
Amiability
Thought projection
Warning against thought projection usage
Association
Personality traits
Doer
Socialite
Follower
Thinker
Personality conflicts
Body Language
Other interview points
How to consistently develop your
IT skills
Certification
Training
Boot Camps
Textbooks and home study
Courses
Computer or Internet Based Training
Brain dumps and cheat sheets
Five Read-through System
Examination
Retake rules
Updating
How to change fields
Moves and Changes
Support
Training
Testing
Development
Packaging
Webbing
Business Analysis
Becoming a BA
Project Management
Executive
PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY
Professionalism, industriousness and conscientiousness
Self-belief, self-confidence and self worth
Procrastinating
Office etiquette
Avoiding office politics
Each to their own
Massaging the real boss
Handling leavings do’s
Evaluating business value
Sexual considerations
Gossip and blabbermouths
Permie Jealousy
Power-Mad Permies
Dealing with spies, informants, jealous permies and insurgents
Effective after work drinking avoidance
How to look like you have sold your soul to a client
Smoking breaks
Toilet breaks
Female considerations – The female manager
Posture
Confidence
Breathing
Knowledgeable
Enthusiasm
Patience
Industriousness
Pervasive Permie Syndrome (PPS)
Money management
Office politics
Trusting the wrong people
Status
Money for nothing
The cure
Avoiding the debate and strong values discussion trap
Handling career progression fears
Don’t stop moving up
How much should you take lying down?
Mismanaging the ‘perfect contract’
Selling your soul to a corporate master
Tight-fistism and how to avoid it
Internet usage abuse
Office email usage
Theft, withholding assets and other foolish notions
Software theft and software piracy
Profits
How to always stay in work
Milking the cow
Claiming expenses effectively
Effectively managing your travel costs
Reliability
Cost
Duration
Impact on the environment
Avoiding the rate period trap
Effective interpersonal skills
Effective communication
Keys to better communication
Listening
Disagreeing
Sales skills
Peeling the onion
Practical application of effective sales skills
A pleasing personality
Effective clothes shopping for the
IT contractor
Travelling for the client
Rapidly increase your contract rate
Tax avoidance
VAT
Corporation tax
Income tax
Charges
Overtime
Contracting ethics discussions
Cheating, lying and stealing
Terminating your contract prematurely
Death and health
Conflicts
Wealth (or career building and greed)
Avoiding skill loss through consecutive short contracts
Advanced contract renewal techniques
The threat
The half threat
The invite
Contracting in the stealth mode
Goal tagging with contracting
How to effectively handle termination
How to terminate effectively
Personal
Maternity leave
Planning your pregnancy with contracting
Child care and
IT contracting
Avoiding nerdism, geekism and other anti-social behaviour
Holidaying within your contract
Racism, anti-contractorism and other prejudices
Offshore and foreign contracts
Ireland
Switzerland
Germany
Belgium
The Netherlands
U.A.E.
USA
Australia
Allaying outsourcing fears
Website usage
Agency hospitality considerations
Technical considerations
Documentation
ISO 9001 and other standards
Knowledge sharing
Handing over effectively
INVESTING FOR FINANCIAL FREEDOM
Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)
Individual Savings Accounts (ISA’s)
Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)
Corporate Venturing Scheme (CVS)
Child Trust Funds (CTF)
Government & corporate bonds
Index-Linked National Savings Certificates
Fixed Interest National Savings Certificates
National Savings Children's Bonus Bonds
Premium Bonds
Friendly Society Plans
En Primeur Wine
Wine Funds
Cellar Plans
Property
Fee versus commissions
Home Information Packs
CONCLUSION
APPENDICES
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Appendix 3
OTHER WORKS BY THE AUTHOR
NOTES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
