So, you’ve made the leap to self-employment, but what’s the next step in your journey? As you are in charge of your career, it’s your responsibility to maintain a steady income by securing contracts.
Finding contracting opportunities is very different from your traditional job search for permanent employment, and finding an IT contract is no different.
Create your contractor CV
When it comes to putting together your contractor CV, things are slightly different compared to a CV of a permanent employee. Potential clients are on the lookout for your skills and knowledge, but on a short-term basis rather than permanently. This also means that you don’t need to include every personal detail, your name and contact details will suffice.
You must stick to the point and make the reader know exactly what your strengths are, at the beginning of the CV.
Keeping your contractor CV up to date not only makes sure your most recent contracts are listed, but also means your latest skills and accomplishments are listed.
Secure your next contract
As well as supporting contractors with their finances, we also assist with other areas of contracting. Speak to us today for advice on securing your next contract.
Call us on:
Finding a contract online
Online job boards
Finding an IT contract has become much simpler for contractors, thanks to the wide range of job boards and websites available online.
Employers are increasingly using specialist IT boards to post contract roles, knowing that professionals are more likely to use specific job boards over generic ones.
Take a look at the following websites to get started:
Over time, LinkedIn has changed the way we communicate. The site allows you to add your career history, qualifications and education history, as well as allowing you to apply for job roles directly.
This may not replace the traditional way of applying for jobs and submitting your CV, but it does allow potential clients and agents to find prospective candidates within seconds.
We would recommend following these tips to increase your chances of finding an IT contract:
- Connect with as many clients as possible.
- Add the word ‘contractor’ to your LinkedIn heading, making it simpler for recruiters to find you.
- Add your availability, and keep it up to date. If you are currently unavailable, you should also add when you expect to be available.
- Use your skills to your advantage by adding these to your heading. For example, if you are an IT developer, add this.
Looking to find a contracting role?
Our free guide to finding a contract will help you secure your next role.
What’s in the guide?
- Finding the right contract – Agencies or job boards? We’ve got you covered.
- Seven secrets to optimising your income – From experience to presentation skills.
- CV’s, e-CV’s and CV databases – How to make sure your CV is picked up.
- Five tips when writing your CV – why it is important to keep it up-to-date.
Flexibility
It’s important to be as flexible as possible, being able to work from different sites and adapting to a range of working conditions. Even being able to choose your own working hours gives you a higher degree of flexibility than a permanent employee.
Contractors are a cost-effective option for businesses, as they don’t need to pay for annual leave or sick pay. They are also under no obligation to rehire you once the contract has ended. This means that it’s a good, flexible option for all parties involved.
One thing to remember is that you must always be honest when stating your availability. If you have any commitments that could interfere with your contract, it is best to be upfront with your client.
Reliability
You also need to be reliable; nobody is going to choose a contractor who constantly pushes back deadlines and under-delivers.
You must have a can-do attitude towards your work, including:
- Promptly replying to emails
- Responding to voicemails
- Attending meetings and interviews
- Carrying out the work to a standard which you are proud of
- Underpromise and overdeliver
Most Popular Pages
If you need any further help or advice try these most popular links.
