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From: Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.java.programmer
Subject: Re: Should I take a contract position?
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2012 18:28:57 -0700 (PDT)
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kramer31 wrote:
> So I am pretty good Java dev who transitioned to a managementish
> position inside of the company where I was working about two years
> ago.  Recently, I got laid off.  I would really rather find a position
> more similar to the one that I transitioned to, but Java devs are in
> pretty high demand and I could pick up a contract position doing Java
> development pretty easily.
>=20
> I haven't really worked in a contract position before, so before I

I've worked many contract positions.

> spend a lot of time interviewing, etc. I have some questions:
> 1) Do contracts usually stipulate a minimum amount of time that a dev
> will work at a position?  Are there penalties for leaving early (in
> case I find something more to my taste)

I haven't ever had a minimum-time contract, but you leave clients dangling =
at your long-term peril.

> 2) Do these contract positions provide insurance usually?

Not usually, but senior developers with a good relationship with a contract=
ing firm can get insurance sometimes.

> 2) Any other sage words from people who have done contract work?

Most companies hire "at will" whether you are a contractor or a direct hire=
. In other words, we're all temps. Temps can do pretty well, if you keep yo=
ur skills lively and can hit the ground running on your assignments. The ke=
y is to be comfortable with the temporary nature, and productive immediatel=
y upon start of each assignment.

As an interim step while searching for longer-term employment contracting c=
an be a good way to go for a while.

--=20
Lew