Securing a Contract
Contracting a lifestyle choice
So you’ve thought about it and decided that contract work is right for you. You’ve looked at the pros and cons, and you’ve done your research. For most people the chance to earn more for doing the same job is motivation enough!
Finding and securing a contract in the contracting market is a very different proposition to finding a full time permanent position.
The market works at a much quicker pace than the permanent job market and so you need to be fully prepared before you attempt to enter it. In order to avoid disappointment, you must be realistic about the kind of work you want to secure and don’t waste your time chasing up anything else.
Before you approach an agency or client directly it is wise to think carefully about the following:
- The rate of pay you are willing to accept
- The hours you are prepared to work
- The environment you wish to work in
- The level of responsibility you are able/willing to handle
- How far you are willing to travel
Rates of pay are dictated by the market and vary according to the supply and demand for the particular skills you possess. The level of experience, location of the contract, the clients needs and budget will also influence the rate of pay you are offered. There are also significantly more opportunities to work away/abroad than the average permanent position so factor this in when considering your options. You may find it helpful to talk it through with a recruitment consusltant before committing to anything.
It is also particularly important that you prepare yourself for the market in the following ways:
- Write the perfect CV - and a range of targeted versions
- Practice your negotiation skills – to quickly sell yourself to an agency/client
Producing the perfect Curriculum Vitae
In a competitive world a good CV is the key to quickly securing a contract.
A CV creates the first impression of you and your abilities and sells them to a potential employer. It acts as a brief summary of your abilities, education, experience and skills.
Potential employers may have dozens of CV’s to read and might only spend a few seconds reviewing your CV so it is important to target your CV to each application you make.
This may sound immensely time consuming, but if you invest the time today you could quite literally reap the rewards tomorrow. It won’t take you very long to build up a range of targeted versions that you can simply tweak here and there.
Be focused and punchy and don’t generalise on your CV. Don’t be embarrassed about giving them exactly what they are asking for! Adapt your job title/s, profile and expertise according to the job advert. Use the same words and phrases you see in the advert and keep your CV no longer than two pages of A4.
Searching for Contracts
Unless you have an impressive network of contacts you will probably need to secure your first contract through a recruitment agency or online job board.
Recruitment agencies will post all their contracts on a selection of online job boards, so in addition to finding potential contracts you will be able to access the contact details of the most appropriate agencies for you.
Send these agencies your CV at least a couple of weeks before you are planning on leaving a full time job. If you decide to source your first contract by yourself, rather than go through a recruitment agency, it would be wise to line up some potential clients prior to giving up your full time job.
Agency Support
Most contractors end up sourcing their contracts through a recruitment agency, because the majority of clients use recruitment agencies to help them fill their contract positions.
In simple terms the role of the recruitment agency is to bridge the gap between the client and the contractor and quickly match the contractor to the most appropriate contract – and vice versa.
To confirm that the agency is right for you ask them the following questions:
- Can you give me an honest assessment of the current market, the level of demand for my skills and what sort of rate I should expect?
- Do you have experience of dealing with my specific skill set?
- Will you be discrete if you need to contact me at my current work place?
- Will you ask permission before submitting my CV?
- How do you pay your contractors?
A good recruitment agency should be honest about your options and give you a realistic idea about your prospects – even if it isn’t exactly what you want to hear.
Read on ...
More information for a First Time Contractor
The contract its terms and conditions - How does IR35 Effect me?
Trading options available to contractors - Umbrella or Limited Company option?
Umbrella Company vs. Limited Company - which is best for me?
Contractors Umbrella option – What is an Umbrella Company - exploring the benefits?
Limited Company option - The ins and outs of setting up a company.
Introduction to contracting – the pros and cons of contracting.
Exploring the pros and cons of contract work – Living the dream and avoiding the pitfalls.
The contracting basics - What is contracting and is it a viable option?
For a detailed overview please download JSA's First Timers Guide to Contracting.
You may also find the following pages, guides and testimonials helpful.
Our Services – how JSA can help you
A guide to IR35 – what it means and how it affects you
Case studies – find out what our current clients have to say about JSA
Request a call/email back – we can call or email you back at a time that suits you
Talk to one of our experts
Register your interest online now.
Email our advisors at newenquiries@jsagroup.co.uk.
Or call free phone 0800 25 26 40.