Becoming a successful contractor

Benefits of contracting

 

The appeal of working as a self-employed contractor is obvious.  Contractors can expect:

  • Variety – a chance to work across a range of organisations, assignments and tasks

  • Challenge – assignments with clear deliverables, tight deadlines, high profile and demanding stakeholders

  • Growth – work that will strengthen existing skills and develop new ones

  • Flexibility & choice – about when you work, how much and on what

  • Balance – the ability to balance work with family, community and personal needs and interests.

 

Making the decision

 

Successful contractors will typically fit the following profile: They…

  • Offer proven skills that are in demand

  • Demonstrate a record of success and confidence in their ability to deliver

  • Enjoy the challenge of quickly learning their way into new assignments, organisations and teams

  • Are comfortable working independently and relatively detached from workplace colleagues and culture

  • Are disciplined and productive under pressure, with a strong achievement drive

  • Can cope with uncertainty over contract duration and income.

We are happy to discuss the pros and cons of contracting with you and provide an honest appraisal of your suitability - just contact us.

We will also review your CV and identify ways in which you can make it work better for you. Click here for our top tips for a compelling CV. 

 

Making the transition

 

Contractors often transition from permanent or fixed-term roles.  Since most contracts are filled more quickly than the notice period required of an employee, you might need to resign without a specific role to move to.  Therefore, you need to be confident about your decision and be able to cover your costs without any income for 2-3 months.

Careering Options works mostly on public sector roles.  Our clients are open to contractors with private sector work experience but do expect them to understand and respect how the public sector works. 

Here is a downloadable guide to working through Careering Options, covering employment status, tax obligations, contractual responsibilities, payment for your services and privacy.

 

Making it work

 

We see successful contracting as a partnership between Careering Options, the contractor and the client.

First, we make sure we fully understand the needs of our contractors and our clients. We are not interested in forcing a fit.  The match has to work for both.  We make sure you have a genuine choice about whether a particular contract is right for you.  We are known for our commitment to flexible working arrangements, so we will always be open to a discussion about part-time or other options that enable you to achieve the flexibility and balance you prefer.

Contracts generally arise either from a client request or an approach we make to a client.  For the former, we will generally identify several suitable contractors and present them as a type of shortlist.  For the latter, we represent a single contractor who is generally well-known to us and a proven performer.  In either case, we will always seek your consent before representing you for a role.  We will also check with you on your availability and your preferred hours of work and hourly rate.

Should the client express interest in meeting with you, whether for an informal discussion or a more structured interview, your Careering Options consultant will help prepare you with client background and role-specific information. 

Most clients require a range of probity checks before finalising a contract.  These include reference checks (our standard is two), a criminal conviction check and, sometimes, a health disclosure.  Some clients will also require contractors to sign a confidentiality deed, committing them to confidentiality over information gained or created through their work.

From the beginning of the placement we work closely with both client and contractor to ensure things are going smoothly.  We help sort out any teething troubles and resolve problems.  We keep in touch throughout the placement, to ensure that things continue to work well and to respond to any changing needs.

At the end of the contract, we check in with both client and contractor to confirm that the placement has been successful and that both parties have a positive evaluation of the assignment.

 

Making sure

 

It is important that contractors are clear on their employment status, tax obligations and contractual responsibilities.

Further information and guidance on these matters for contractors engaged through Careering Options is available through our contractor portal.

 

Making it pay

 

The amount of work you secure and the hourly rate you earn depend on a combination of demand for your skills & experience and your reputation. We present contractors for roles which we are confident they have the capability to undertake competently. Clients expect contractors to have relevant skill and experience, to hit the deck running and to produce quality work first time, with little need for revision. These expectations, along with the value of benefits foregone as a contractor rather than an employee, are priced into your hourly rate.

Further information on pricing your rate and receiving payment is available though our contractor portal.

 

Making it secure

 

Contractors entrust important personal information to Careering Options in the course of working with us.  We recognise our obligation to keep your information secure and only to use it for the intended purpose.

Contractors have the right to review all of their personal information we hold and to correct or update it as required.  We will always check to ensure we have the latest version of your CV before representing you for a role.

Further information on information security and privacy is available through our contractor portal.