Quick Guide for IT Contractors & Freelancers

Transcription

1 Quick Guide for IT Contractors & Freelancers

2 Overview As the workforce shifts towards striking a better work-life balance and the hiring environment changes to favor job seekers, many technology experts both newly minted and seasoned professionals are considering more flexible work arrangements. Working on a contract or freelance basis offers multiple benefits, such as: schedule flexibility higher earning potential tax advantages more control over your career trajectory ability to choose to work only on projects that interest you an easier transition into permanent work exposure to a variety of work environments and projects the opportunity to broaden your skill set If you re considering contract work, there are some steps you can take to boost your chances of success. This guide will show you how to prepare for your career as an IT contractor or freelancer, and transform a temp/contract job into a permanent, full-time opportunity.

3 Success Tips for IT Contractors: Set the Stage 1. Figure out your finances. Calculate how much you ll need to charge clients in order to cover business expenses, insurance premiums, and taxes, and still earn a profit. There are a lot of startup and ongoing costs you must factor in as well, such as website development/advertising, travel, office supplies, business cards, professional services, and more. Don t forget to also budget for time off! Your estimate of billable hours per year will affect how much you charge. Monster suggests that a good place to start calculating your hourly contract rate is to take your annual salary figure (or how much you want to earn in a year), and then dividing that number by 1, Determine what type of assignments you ll take on, and whether and where you re willing and able to travel. It s important for your career to consider more than the money when accepting contract work; CIO notes that part of your goal with every contract should be to diversify your business skill set. So ask yourself questions like: Will you be building upon your mobile development skill set, or using other indemand technologies? Will you be gaining expertise in a different field, like Big Data? Will you be working on a consumer-facing application, or getting exposure to potential clients? 3. Get your application materials in order. That includes your resume, cover letter, and project portfolio. You should be continuously updating them as you complete projects and gain experience.

4 Success Tips for IT Contractors: Be the 3 S s Be Smart To avoid falling victim to scope creep, make sure you understand the client s expectations and define the project scope before accepting the job. Organization is vital; document and record everything appointments, tasks, notes on prospective employers and interviews, project proposals and timelines, and fee agreements. Be Selling In order to be a successful contractor or freelancer, you not only have to maintain your marketability but also market yourself to potential employers. Find ways to continually network and share your expertise, such as writing articles, blog posts, or e-books, or speaking at user groups or conferences. Soft skills such as communication and teamwork are vital to building a great reputation and a strong client base, both of which can net you referrals and repeat work or even a bridge to permanent employment, should you desire to transition to it. Be Showing Off Take advantage of opportunities to self-promote and demonstrate your knowledge and skills. You should also always be adding to your portfolio, and have it readily accessible online. Include examples that showcase your entire skill set in a range of projects.

5 How Can Tech Contractors, Freelancers, & Part-Time Employees Benefit from Recruiters? Your IT contracting career can take off when you partner with a recruiting firm like Advancer-IT, who has the industry resources and expertise to help you find jobs that fit your skills and interests (new, diverse assignments are continually flowing into the recruitment firm s pipeline!); market your services; negotiate and administer pay and benefits; and handle other legal, financial, and administrative matters so that you can focus on your career. In fact, one of the biggest challenges contractors or part-time workers face is replacing the insurance benefits that come with being employed full-time. Many recruiters can assist you with these types of issues by taking care of withholding or offering group buyins or workers compensation. Staffing firms can also help you better manage your finances. Many guarantee a regular pay schedule, offer direct deposit, withhold taxes, and negotiate overtime. And if you decide to rejoin the ranks of the full-time employed, Advancer-IT can help you with that transition too. Partnering with a recruiter who has a strong relationship with the client can give you an advantage should you wish to be considered for a permanent position. In addition, because recruiters have established relationships with hiring managers and a longer-term, higher-level view of what those organizations need, they can help you identify where you need to improve in order to increase your marketability and qualify for particular employment opportunities. Good recruitment agencies can provide (or can point you to) training and career development resources should you need them. Remember: your recruiter s success is intertwined with yours, so they are on your side!

6 Try Before You Buy: The Scoop on Temp-to-Perm Jobs Temp assignments are a great way to get your foot in the door of hiring companies. In fact, 58% of employers report planning to hire part-time or temp/contract workers within the next five years, and nearly 75% of those jobs are expected to become full-time, permanent positions. Both hiring companies and job seekers get value from this type of work arrangement. A contract position serves as a trial period that gives you the opportunity to prove that you re good at the job and on the team, and allows hiring managers to have more time to assess your candidacy and fit. To make a temp-job stick, make sure you re putting your best foot forward: Get a great start. Work with a recruiter who will accurately and positively represent your skills and experience to the hiring manager. Be reliable. Do your best to always be punctual, pleasant, and dependable. Network. Building strong relationships with your colleagues will help you better integrate into the organization and culture, increasing the likelihood no one will want to see you go. Share your expertise. Don t be afraid to stand out in the board room! Showcase your skills and voice your perspective. Be patient. Express interest in a permanent position and then work enthusiastically to convince them that you deserve it! Of course, contracts are not guaranteed to be converted into long-lasting positions. To get the most out of contract work, both employers and potential employees have to be upfront and clear about their expectations and ideal outcomes. The best way to find temp-to-perm or contract-to-hire work arrangements is to work with a talented recruiter like Advancer-IT who can match you with the best-fit opportunity from the start and help facilitate communications that will ease the process of moving you from temporary to full-time status.

7 Ready to Dive into IT Contracting? Take advantage of an experienced, reliable IT recruitment firm like Advancer-IT to find the best of both worlds: the flexibility and rewarding assignments you want, and the consistent, long-term connections that you need for a successful career. Get in touch with Advancer-IT today at info@advancer-it.com or to see how we can help you find the right IT contracting or part-time assignments or employees. We look forward to hearing from you!

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