Considering contracting?
IT contractors tend to be highly skilled professionals and are typically hired on short-term contracts to fulfil a specific role on a project.
If you have always been permanently employed, contracting can make an exciting and very different alternative. Here, we’d like to give you a bit of information so you know all the advantages and pitfalls before you take that step.
To become a successful contractor you need to be self-sufficient and self-motivated, able to work on your own as well as in a team. You have to be prepared for ups and downs in your income and – unless you are able to find continuous work – you may have gaps when you aren’t earning. Some people don’t enjoy this insecurity – others thrive on it. Here are a few more pros and cons:
Advantages:
· You can be your own boss, running your own company and business affairs
· Contractors usually earn significantly more than permanent employees
· You can be flexible, choosing when and where you work
· You’ll probably move around among clients and projects, giving you wide variety and experience
Disadvantages:
· You may not know where the next contract is coming from, so you may spend a lot of time on the look-out for the next piece of work
· You will be responsible for maintaining and developing your skills and funding any training yourself
· You will be responsible for managing all your own business affairs and ensuring your business is compliant, which means being aware of and reacting to changes in legislation
Find out as much as you can before you make the leap by talking to other contractors and doing your research; we recommend Professional Passport as an impartial source of valuable information, www.professionalpassport.com/contractors/outsource.
