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How good are you? I started contracting at 22, but had been programming since a young age, and could back it up. If you think you'll be one of the top devs at most places, you're probably ready, if not ... You'll be one of these contractors complaining they're out of work half the time! :-)

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Sorry, but I don't agree with that at all. You're propagating the myth that contracters are supposed to be shit hot developers, the 1%, and that's simply not true. While it might be true to a degree in the US, it certainly isn't in the UK. Most contracting positions in the UK are for bog standard .net / Java developers doing grunt work, not hit-the-ground-running/take-over-the-project developers. An average/reasonably-ok developer with 5 years experience is fully qualified to contract in the UK, and shouldn't expect any serious downtime.

That gives me lots of confidence because I am a hit-the-ground running type :)

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