Contracting was once perceived as a risky way to work, suitable only for short-term gain with a lack of security and future. According to Yvonne Kelly, founder and CEO of Glow up Careers, "times have most definitely changed".
You can have a long healthy and fulfilling career as a contractor. Ambitious professionals could really be missing out on key opportunities and a fruitful, prosperous and varied career if they are not aware of the many benefits contracting can offer. In fact, now professional contractors often have the opportunity to accelerate their careers at a faster rate than their permanent counterparts because of the breadth of their exposure to a range of different projects, work environments, people and responsibilities.
Yvonne adds “Once you have proved yourself, you can really be in control and create your own flexible path as a contractor.”
It can feel difficult to know where to start. Consider reaching out to someone who has already been a successful contractor for advice and mentoring. Consider also being a bit more flexible for that very first role, maybe on your rate, or location – remember this isn’t forever it’s just the first step.
Brenton Henderson (founder of Oncore and long-term contractor) reminds us “Once you have that first contract role on your resume – you are a contractor. Be persistent, build your network, do your research, make a plan of what you want to do and where you want to be”.
When a company needs a contractor it usually happens very quickly, according to Yvonne:“There is often only one or two interviews and the candidates that can be flexible with interview times and show enthusiasm for the role, often are the successful ones.”
So you need to make sure you are organised, poised and ready to hit the floor running into Contractor life.
Recruitment agencies are often used by companies to source their contractor talent. Because contract roles are usually time-sensitive, it’s much easier and more appealing to be able to find someone quickly, that fits the role, and has already been vetted.
This is why it’s so important as a contractor to build a close working relationship with your agency. Make sure you choose agencies that specialise in your area of expertise. Yvonne says, “You should be able to establish who the good quality recruiters are in your field by reviewing the types of roles they are advertising, and then work on building a good relationship with them.”There are many examples of recruiters having long-lasting relationships with contractors, placing them in multiple roles throughout their careers. Matthew Pepper, a professional career contractor in IT for over 20 years says he still works with a handful of recruiters that he has been with from the start and is lucky enough to call many of them friends.
Job boards can be a great resource for contractors, especially when starting out. They offer:
Popular 'job boards' are Seek, Indeed and LinkedIn, which is 71% of job seekers who use social media to look for jobs, preferring the platform.
However, not all jobs make it to job boards! Industry expert Yvonne Kelly highlights that:
The takeaway? Job boards are helpful, but networking and direct recruiter relationships are just as if not more important! Diversify your job search strategy to maximise opportunities.
A recent Hays survey found 7 out of 10 job seekers use social media, with 71% of those preferring LinkedIn to other social media platforms. It’s also s great way to keep in contact with and grow your professional network.
As a contractor who will likely be working on a number of fixed term roles, you need to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date to match your resume. It’s also preferable if you use an updated and clear profile photo. You can set your profile to “open to work” so that you can be seen by recruiters or hiring managers.
Be active. Post, share and engage with relevant content in order to keep your name front of mind for your contacts and recruiters. If you don’t put yourself out there you may miss opportunities.
The great thing about LinkedIn is you don't have to post daily to still show up in newsfeed. Set up a weekly habit to start with and take it from there.
Matthew Pepper adds, “So many of your roles will come through your network, both personal and professional. Build up your good name, work hard in each role, build your reputation and word will get around.”
A resume is a great opportunity to stand out in a competitive crowd. It should be a live, working document that you adjust each time to target the specific job you are applying for. Hiring Managers are interested in what you know, what you’ve done and what your impact has been, so keep the fluff light and focus on being short and concise, with quantifiable and relevant achievements.
Here's a great resume guide by Seek: Seek resume guide
With the right preparation and research, a move to contracting can undoubtedly be a fulfilling and lucrative career change for you; offering more flexibility, reward and with the right attitude more stability and security than a permanent role.
This paired with the trend towards businesses hiring contractors in the current climate means that now could be the right time to be exploring your options as a career contractor.
For further information about how to get off to the best start and be successful as a contractor, you can contact Oncore's team.