My experiences with contract jobs

2024-07-11

Now that I have lost two contract positions in a row, one after the other, it is time for me to do some retrospection. I should not look for reasons or try to blame other people. I should accept the outcome and figure out what the next steps are.

Looking for contract positions at various companies:

1. I’ve been doing this for so long and this is the only thing I seem to know.
2. I sell myself short to companies through various vendors - often multiple layers - all taking a cut.
3. I join the project and quickly get unhappy with it (at least, the ones I have worked on recently).
4. I do a mediocre job at it.
5. I lose the project.
6. It is obvious that I am doing something wrong. People that are less experienced seem to be keeping their jobs without any issues.

Downsides to this approach:

1. I cannot keep doing this indefinitely.
2. I am getting old and my responsibilities are increasing.
3. I don’t have any stake in these companies and they do not recognize me in any way, shape or form.
4. Other than the paycheck that I receive at the end of each month, I don’t have anything to show for it.

How do I break out of this cycle?

1. I am getting old and my responsibilities are increasing.
2. Recent college grads seem to be doing a much better job at finding full-time jobs than I do. I have a green card - but how am I using it?
3. With contracting, I feel like I am becoming an escape artist at work - doing the bare minimum that I need to do to satisfy the scrum master and not really contribute anything meaningful to the company.
4. Look for a full-time job.