I can sympathise. I was an employee for years and then went contracting (I'm UK based like you so I guess you know what I mean by contracting rather than true freelancing - longer term projects in clients offices). I did that for 5 years and I did enjoy the projects and I learned a lot as of course I was embedded in teams, both filled with employees and in come cases all contractors. But eventually at the end of last year, just after buying my first house (my wife and I are a bit older than most first time buyers and we jumped a rung or two by stretching ourselves), my contract was cancelled with one weeks notice at Christmas. It was a remote contract which is great as we live in rural Devon with meetings in London every couple of weeks. But suddenly I was in a precarious position with a big mortgage and no work available locally. I didn't want to work away from home as both my wife and I find it very stressful but I felt it was my only option. Out of the blue, a permanent home based job came up that both paid well (all the permanent local jobs are pretty under paid round here), and offered the chance to get into whatever I wanted to a degree: the company uses C#, Java, JavaScript/Typescript, Kubernetes etc and everything is now in Azure and there was the freedom to use whatever we needed in Azure so long as we could justify it. Funding for conferences. Time to learn and then present in brown bags. The option to work out of an office or at home, and no need to go to any office more than once every few months or so if you want (ideal when you live in Devon!).
I applied, went through a multi stage process inside a couple of weeks and started less than a month after initial contact. And it's brilliant. I have security, which took away the gnawing anxiety and growing depression, I work with a team of brilliant developers based all over the UK and Europe, we all get to pitch in on reviewing applicants and interviewing so you have a say in how the team grows. The benefits are good. And best of all, no more worrying about how you're going to win business to pay the bills. I can concentrate on learning and improving myself and helping others as well.
I personally was a reluctant contractor. It was a circumstance thing and I never really enjoyed the stress of renewal time or trying to get new contracts or the hassle of paying the right taxes at the right time (even with an accountants services). So I completely empathise with your viewpoint.
Of course everyone's mileage will vary, and that's fine. But freelancing and contracting are not for everybody, although I would urge anyone to at least try it. I was fortunate to find a good permanent job at the right time that pays what developers are actually worth, bit I also think that in too many places developers are undervalued and underpaid still, which is a problem.
As you touch upon, I would consider freelancing and contracting slightly different things. I have always had fairly good experience with contracting, but again, always suffer with anxiety when it comes to renewing. It's not like it is an urgent threat most of the time, however, I suffer with anxiety pretty bad anyways, and I worry about things that don't necessarily need to be worried about! It sounds like you have found the ideal place though!
Me and my partner are currently Berkshire based but are looking to move down to Devon somewhen. I have been doing my research and you are right with the fact that many jobs that way are underpaid, however, the cost of living is substantially lower. My dream is to be employed fully remote for a London company, which allows us to up sticks and move down south and benefit from the lower living costs whilst still taking a city salary. It sounds like you have managed to sort out a similar arrangement :) that is awesome! Devon is a beautiful part of the country.
I know the area you're in fairly well - I was born in Wokingham and grew up for 10 years or so in Crowthorne, and my Dad retired to just outside Basingstoke. Devon is fantastic and your goal is definitely achievable: My offices are London and Shrewsbury and I have to go every few months at most. But I know a guy who is a dev manager (might even be more senior now) who lives near Barnstaple on a smallholding and goes to London every so often as well, so it's very do-able. My employer actually has a blog post on Medium on our interview process and how to apply to us (it's a code test) and they actually encourage people to apply speculatively, although they also have vacancies page but they do like to hear from good devs no matter what. I think that sort of attitude is slowly becoming more prevalent, which I believe is a good thing.
Don't be fooled by the cost of living thing: It can be cheaper but not everywhere. I'm in East DEvon and prices here for houses etc can be pretty steep. Of course, it will likely still be cheaper on average than in Berkshire, but you often have to use the car more and so on. Of course, if you want sea views then double the price for the same hou8se anywhere else, and if it's Dartmouth or Salcombe, then triple it :)
I'd definitely encourage you to follow that dream though: My wife an I love it here and are so glad we made the move. It's the quality of life as much as anything. Who knows, maybe there will be enough of us to start a home workers industry group for meet-ups and conferences and the like!
Oh yes, we are pretty much 20/30 minutes outside of Basingstoke :) Small world.
Yeah for sure, the quality of life is much different. Its good to hear from you first hand that you have made it work and know of other people who have done the same.
Hopefully, I'm making strides to allow that to happen as I plan on having a new job by the end of this year 🤞🏻
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I can sympathise. I was an employee for years and then went contracting (I'm UK based like you so I guess you know what I mean by contracting rather than true freelancing - longer term projects in clients offices). I did that for 5 years and I did enjoy the projects and I learned a lot as of course I was embedded in teams, both filled with employees and in come cases all contractors. But eventually at the end of last year, just after buying my first house (my wife and I are a bit older than most first time buyers and we jumped a rung or two by stretching ourselves), my contract was cancelled with one weeks notice at Christmas. It was a remote contract which is great as we live in rural Devon with meetings in London every couple of weeks. But suddenly I was in a precarious position with a big mortgage and no work available locally. I didn't want to work away from home as both my wife and I find it very stressful but I felt it was my only option. Out of the blue, a permanent home based job came up that both paid well (all the permanent local jobs are pretty under paid round here), and offered the chance to get into whatever I wanted to a degree: the company uses C#, Java, JavaScript/Typescript, Kubernetes etc and everything is now in Azure and there was the freedom to use whatever we needed in Azure so long as we could justify it. Funding for conferences. Time to learn and then present in brown bags. The option to work out of an office or at home, and no need to go to any office more than once every few months or so if you want (ideal when you live in Devon!).
I applied, went through a multi stage process inside a couple of weeks and started less than a month after initial contact. And it's brilliant. I have security, which took away the gnawing anxiety and growing depression, I work with a team of brilliant developers based all over the UK and Europe, we all get to pitch in on reviewing applicants and interviewing so you have a say in how the team grows. The benefits are good. And best of all, no more worrying about how you're going to win business to pay the bills. I can concentrate on learning and improving myself and helping others as well.
I personally was a reluctant contractor. It was a circumstance thing and I never really enjoyed the stress of renewal time or trying to get new contracts or the hassle of paying the right taxes at the right time (even with an accountants services). So I completely empathise with your viewpoint.
Of course everyone's mileage will vary, and that's fine. But freelancing and contracting are not for everybody, although I would urge anyone to at least try it. I was fortunate to find a good permanent job at the right time that pays what developers are actually worth, bit I also think that in too many places developers are undervalued and underpaid still, which is a problem.
Thanks so much for sharing your story :)
As you touch upon, I would consider freelancing and contracting slightly different things. I have always had fairly good experience with contracting, but again, always suffer with anxiety when it comes to renewing. It's not like it is an urgent threat most of the time, however, I suffer with anxiety pretty bad anyways, and I worry about things that don't necessarily need to be worried about! It sounds like you have found the ideal place though!
Me and my partner are currently Berkshire based but are looking to move down to Devon somewhen. I have been doing my research and you are right with the fact that many jobs that way are underpaid, however, the cost of living is substantially lower. My dream is to be employed fully remote for a London company, which allows us to up sticks and move down south and benefit from the lower living costs whilst still taking a city salary. It sounds like you have managed to sort out a similar arrangement :) that is awesome! Devon is a beautiful part of the country.
I know the area you're in fairly well - I was born in Wokingham and grew up for 10 years or so in Crowthorne, and my Dad retired to just outside Basingstoke. Devon is fantastic and your goal is definitely achievable: My offices are London and Shrewsbury and I have to go every few months at most. But I know a guy who is a dev manager (might even be more senior now) who lives near Barnstaple on a smallholding and goes to London every so often as well, so it's very do-able. My employer actually has a blog post on Medium on our interview process and how to apply to us (it's a code test) and they actually encourage people to apply speculatively, although they also have vacancies page but they do like to hear from good devs no matter what. I think that sort of attitude is slowly becoming more prevalent, which I believe is a good thing.
Don't be fooled by the cost of living thing: It can be cheaper but not everywhere. I'm in East DEvon and prices here for houses etc can be pretty steep. Of course, it will likely still be cheaper on average than in Berkshire, but you often have to use the car more and so on. Of course, if you want sea views then double the price for the same hou8se anywhere else, and if it's Dartmouth or Salcombe, then triple it :)
I'd definitely encourage you to follow that dream though: My wife an I love it here and are so glad we made the move. It's the quality of life as much as anything. Who knows, maybe there will be enough of us to start a home workers industry group for meet-ups and conferences and the like!
Oh yes, we are pretty much 20/30 minutes outside of Basingstoke :) Small world.
Yeah for sure, the quality of life is much different. Its good to hear from you first hand that you have made it work and know of other people who have done the same.
Hopefully, I'm making strides to allow that to happen as I plan on having a new job by the end of this year 🤞🏻