Do you have enough experience to be an IT contractor?

In this Contractor FAQ, one of our readers asks whether her relative lack of experience in the permanent world would be a problem when searching for her first IT contract role.

One employer for the past 7 years, now seeking my first IT contract position

The reader’s question

I’ve been looking through some of the guides on your site and must say they have been extremely helpful. I am thinking about starting out as an IT Contractor (Software Testing). My one big concern is that I only have experience from one IT company.

I have stayed with the same company for 7 years so have little experience when it comes to the different ways other companies work. I am, however, a very fast learner and extremely passionate about doing a good job so genuinely believe I’ll make it as an IT Contractor.

I’m not quite sure what position this will put me in when looking for my first contract. I plan on setting up a Limited Company but obviously, when it comes to looking for my first contract, it’s not going to look great on my CV when there are no contracts associated with the company and only one 7-year ‘permie’ position.

Is there anything I can do to maximise the potential of being noticed by clients with such little company experience? I know a good number of contractors and will start networking with them and plan on using a lot of my own time to boost my skills.

I’d hate to think my CV was overlooked because I’ve remained loyal to a company instead of doing a couple of years here and there.

Any advice you can provide would be much appreciated.

This is a common concern amongst first-time contractors.

---

---

Here is our reply. We first published our advice over a decade ago, so this has been updated for 2025.

Skills more important than permanent career history

Funnily enough, lots of people ask this question. They’re concerned that working for one employer for a long time is an impediment to contracting, but it isn’t.

If you’re about to start contracting, then agents/clients aren’t expecting to see lots of previous assignments on your CV.

What they’re after is a) the right skills for the job, and b) the right amount of experience – more than anything else.

The main difference between permanent and contract employment is that contractors are hired mainly for the skills they provide, and 7 years is a significant chunk of time – experience/skills wise – whether this has been gained via working for one employer or several.

How to position your experience

Highlight specific tools and practices from your experience (for software testing: Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Postman, JUnit/Appium, BDD/Cucumber, API testing, CI/CD integration, agile/DevOps exposure).

In 2026, automation-focused skills remain in strong demand, with median day rates around £435-£450 for automation/QA testing roles (per recent IT Jobs Watch data), though first-timers may start slightly lower while building contract history.

Getting started as a first-time contractor

As a first-timer, I’d certainly recommend reading this guide, which is our most popular article on starting out (updated for 2026 market realities, including IR35/Off-Payroll considerations).

I’d set up a LinkedIn profile right away (if you haven’t already) and start networking, as this is the best source of future contract opportunities.

Optimise your headline with keywords (e.g. “Software Tester | Automation | Selenium | Cypress | Seeking First Contract | Available Now”). Then add a professional photo, a detailed About section highlighting your skills and passion, and list achievements from your 7-year role, with quantifiable results.

Approach to your first contract

For your first contract, I’d be fairly open-minded, as you may not secure exactly the ‘perfect’ role you’re after, but over time, you will be able to pick and choose more.

Consider hybrid/remote options, shorter initial contracts (3-6 months), or umbrella company setup for simplicity while navigating the notorious IR35 (off payroll rules).

2025 updates and extra tips

The core advice from our original reply remains as valid as ever in 2026, but the market has evolved over the past decade.

• IR35/Off-Payroll rules remain key (clients determine status for medium/large firms; get professional review if outside).
• Demand for skilled automation testers remains solid amid digital transformation.
• Dedicate personal time to modern certifications (e.g. ISTQB Advanced) or GitHub projects showcasing automated suites.
• Network via LinkedIn and known contractors for referrals.
• Loyalty from one long tenure is often seen as a plus for reliability and quick ramp-up.
• You’ve got solid foundations – polish the presentation and go for it!