The US job market has evolved a lot in the past few decades. A new generation of professionals is entering the job pool, which is making it harder to pin down the best full-time opportunities. This competitiveness has created a trend towards contracting amongst many IT professionals – both in the US and the world over.
Have you thought about becoming a contractor? Then register for our upcoming webinar on Wednesday 21st August at 1pm (GMT), where we’ll be discussing everything you need to know. For now, though, here are just a few benefits:
1 You’ll be able to negotiate a better salary
As a contractor you’ll be paid at an hourly or weekly rate. So, when it comes to agreeing on a salary, you might find it’s much easier to negotiate a higher pay rate because you’re talking hours and weeks, instead of months and years like in traditional employment.
2 You’ll get to judge a company’s culture before you commit
How many times have you felt stuck in a job that makes you unhappy? A problem for so many at certain points of their careers, but not for the contractor.
Being a contractor gives you the freedom to get a feel for the company, test drive the position and figure out if the culture of the organisation is a good fit before you commit to a full-time position further down the line.
3 You’ll gain flexibility
The IT function is the supporting pillar of every corporate organisation. It’s demanding work and a big responsibility, which can often be stressful for the full-time IT professional. However, if you’re a contractor, you don’t have to carry the weight of an entire organisation on your shoulders.
4 You’ll broaden your network
The IT world is very interconnected, so it’s important to start building a network early on in your career. When you’re a contractor, you’ll be able to meet a broad range of colleagues – both senior and junior – that will convert into a large professional network. Through working for different companies and brands with different cultures and personalities, you’ll gain exposure and stand out as a strongly faceted professional in your market.
5 You’ll progress at a faster rate
The beauty about contracting is that it’s autonomous. You get much more independence and you’re trusted to manage your own projects. This means you’ll be able to leverage yourself into a senior position much quicker than if you were working in a traditional environment, where promotions are much more difficult to achieve.
The bottom line is, you can build character and strengthen your skillset by breaking away from traditional employment and becoming a contractor. If you have goals of one day starting a company of your own, contracting could be a good start.
And while there are many things to think about before you break away from traditional employment, we’re here to help you. On Wednesday 21st August at 1pm (GMT time), we’ll be hosting a webinar on everything you need to consider before making the move into contracting.
So, if you’re thinking about becoming a contractor then what are you waiting for? Click here and sign up to the webinar today.
