Could you be an IT contractor?
If the question above has sparked your interest, read on!
This article could help you make a decision that will change your life and career, forever. The IT contracting industry is one of the most established and talked about markets in the recruitment world, and always close to the news. Recent news stories about pay rates being sent out to entire organisations, and an often negative perception of contractors as mercenaries may be enough to have put you off the idea forever. Or it may simply be that the risk of no longer being a permanent employee and having to secure new contracts on a regular basis doesn’t fill you with confidence. Becoming a contractor is not for everyone, but there are thousands of top professionals across the UK and global market that have forged a strong and successful career as full time, professional contractors. A simple Google search on ‘becoming a contractor’ will give you millions of hits and ‘self-help’ websites, with facts and figures to keep you entertained, and probably confused, for hours. As a contracting recruitment specialist, I wanted to give you a different perspective on the life of a contractor. I’ve spoken to a number of professional contractors I work with on a daily basis to ask them some questions that I feel could help you better understand life as an IT contractor. I have included the questions I asked so you can identify the topics most relevant to you.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in contracting?
Surprisingly, not all responses were related to the financial benefits that contracting can offer (although that did come up on more than one occasion!). The most consistent theme that I discovered was the ability to be in control of your own career – from the projects and technologies you work on, to the location and industry. One contractor described his experience as similar to working for a large IT consultancy, but with the final decision on the project and location resting in his own hands; it is this ability to be in control of your own destiny, often through short-term assignments, that was readily apparent in everyone I spoke to.
Believe it or not, IT contractors do not just take the first contract that comes along, nor necessarily the best paying. IT contractors look to work on projects across a range of industries and business functions, building their skill portfolio, and making themselves more attractive and marketable for future assignments. In fact, not everyone had set out to pursue a career in contracting – a number had taken interim roles following redundancy or a change in personal circumstances, and haven’t looked back since!
What do you enjoy most about being a contractor?
Probably the most consistent answer from all my interviews was flexibility and variety. The ability to work across a range of companies and industries is something that is difficult to achieve in a similar timeframe with a permanent role, and clearly something contractors relish. This response from one person provides great insight:
“I enjoy having the flexibility to be able to work with various people within the business. This allows me to gain recognition from my seniors and peers along with enabling me to understand and gain knowledge of how the other functions within the business operate. Also, having to work with a sense of pressure and urgency to provide the best possible service has its element of enjoyment, as once completed, the appreciation generally helps with self-satisfaction.”
What are the differences to being an employee?
One of the key topics highlighted here was training, or the absence of it; one of the key motivators for permanent employees is the training and personal development that their company offers them. As a contractor, it is highly unlikely you will receive any training during your assignment (unless it is related to a specific software package or business process). So how can you ensure your skills stay current and your personal development continues? I always advise my contractors to ensure they allow time between assignments for self development, including certifications and soft skill development. Often, contract assignments will require knowledge of a specific methodology or technology, so it is worth staying ahead of the curve.
What do you consider before accepting a contract assignment?
Along with the ‘standard’ responses around contract rate, duration and location of the assignment, one of the most interesting factors here was the culture of the organisation. It may be easy to fall into the trap of accepting an assignment because it is paying the best rate, or is the closest to your home. Assessing people and culture is often over-looked by contractors, but is critical to your short, medium and long-term success. Not only will it impact your enjoyment of your assignment, but also determine your ability to succeed in delivering on your objectives. If the organisation (and/or people) have a negative perception of contractors, does this mean that you face more hurdles than you should? Are you walking into a hostile environment or one where contractors are used as ‘scape-goats’. You should take the time to research the organisation thoroughly, and use your network to speak to anyone that has contracted with the company before. Often, this information will prove more valuable than any you will get from an interview process. One of the significant benefits of being a career contractor is that your assignment is for a defined period, usually from 1 month to 2 years. Your due diligence at this stage will determine not only your success for this assignment, but also your ability to use it as a case study for future projects.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career as a professional contractor?
The message here was clear from everyone I spoke to; you must make sure you invest sufficient time to way up the advantages and disadvantages, the positives and the negatives. A career in contracting can be exciting, fulfilling as well as financially rewarding. It can also be stressful, lonely and risky; becoming a contractor involves you running your own business – from sales and marketing, through to payroll and credit. It is not just about the current project – you must always keep one eye on the next project, and the skills you need to develop to ensure you stay marketable and at the top of the contracting talent pool.
Becoming an IT contractor is not just about posting your CV on a job board and hoping a recruiter calls you with an assignment tomorrow; it is about making a conscious decision to control your own destiny, and seek out projects and companies that enhance your professional reputation. Ultimately, you may decide it is not the lifestyle for you, and I hope my thoughts have gone someway to helping you in your decision making process.
Article by Ceren Uyar, Managing Consultant for Michael Page Technology
