If you are interested in learning how to get into contracting, there are a few things to consider before you begin your outreach and networking.
Contracting involves companies hiring individuals to perform services for a predetermined period. Unlike full-time salaried workers who usually work on an ongoing basis, contract workers usually have a start and end date for the project they have been assigned. Employers may pay contractors hourly, which may or may not include overtime pay at an adjusted rate. They are also not eligible for full-time benefits such as healthcare.
Employers who hire contractors, freelancers, and other independent contributors may require written labor agreements. Most firms understand the importance of clearly defining the terms of their agreement to ensure their contractors fully understand what to expect from working for their organization.
Which Industries Hire Contractors?
Contract work is not necessarily industry- or profession-specific. Some industries, such as the tech and the life sciences, hire contractors to support projects temporarily. These projects can require expertise spanning disciplines. Engineers, data analysts, project managers, marketers, and administrative professionals are just a few examples of roles that may be needed for contractual work.
Many companies will offer high-performing contractors a contractor-to-hire status. This means that the employer may provide a full-time offer if both parties are interested in pursuing that kind of opportunity.
If you are a beginner in the space who wants to know how to get into contracting and secure a new role, there are a few key steps to take in the initial stages of your search.
Initial Things to Consider
If you have started applying for a few positions, you should be excited about entering the world of contract work. These kinds of positions have plenty of opportunities and advantages.
You should also complete the following steps before you begin seriously conducting outreach to recruiters and potential employers:
- Determine Your Line of Work. If you are just searching for “contract work” on Google or LinkedIn, you will have a tough time finding a position that matches your skill set. There are hundreds of thousands of contractual jobs across industries. Narrow your search by finding positions that match your skills and interests within the industries you want to join.
- Build Your Resume. The interview process for a contractual job is different from that of a full-time position in some ways. However, recruiters will still want to know what experiences and skills you bring to the table. Include experiences from past or current full-time positions on your resume. The same goes for any information regarding side projects or independent work. Your portfolio can be a major difference-maker in an interview setting, so take your time refining it before you begin to network either online or in person.
- Network. Keep your LinkedIn and any other online job profiles up-to-date. Engage with recruiters and key decision-makers online through direct messages and comments on their public-facing posts. If firms that hire contractors are attending any in-person events in your area, try to meet them there as well.
Read More: Pros and Cons of Taking A Contract Job
What Are the Requirements for Contractual Work?
Most of the time, when companies are hiring contractors for their projects, their recruiters will want to see some level of hands-on experience in a related field. Entry-level contracts are rare.
You should also be ready to provide documentation proving you have completed any certification courses or training pertinent to the position you are seeking. In addition to your relevant work experiences, these certifications prove that you have the expertise to support the firm’s initiatives. These assets, in turn, can help you stand out from other candidates applying for the role.
What About Licensing?
It’s common for firms to require specific licensure for certain positions. A representative will usually notify you about these requirements early in the application process. The firm may not accept your application if you don’t have the correct licensure. If you plan on contracting long-term, it’s in your best interest to take any training and exams necessary to secure licensure that is relevant to your field.
Unfortunately, the vast nature of contract work makes it difficult to recommend the best licenses to obtain to maximize your potential of securing work. If you feel stuck, tap into your online and in-person networks to find individuals who work or have worked in your desired field. Set up Zoom calls, lunch meetings, or coffee chats to discuss your interests and determine which licenses you should pursue to increase your chances of finding the job you want.
If no one in your network can provide this information, conduct cold outreach to individuals you think may possess this knowledge. Online resources can help you with cold emailing, messaging, and calling for your first few attempts.
Best Practices When Networking for Contract Roles
Conducting quality research is one of the most underrated components of any job search strategy. When searching for contract work, researching your prospective markets can be instrumental to your success. Aside from learning about the industry and some of the projects you may contribute to as a new contractor, you can also gain a solid understanding of what hourly rates or per-project prices to charge for your work, as well as evaluate the competition within your niche.
You may want to consider incorporating your business before beginning contract work. Those just learning how to get into contract work are often unaware of this critical step. Incorporating your business can provide significant benefits, including more favorable tax rates, liability protection, and additional funding. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a great guide that any business owner can use to learn how to incorporate a business.
Networking Events
If you want to know how to get into contract work as quickly as possible, you need to foster strong connections throughout your network. You should also expand your professional circles to include individuals who can help guide you through the outreach journey. These individuals will be your best resources for tips in the application and interviewing stages of your job hunt.
Attending industry conferences or interest groups is a great way to build and maintain an active network. USA Jobs is a solid resource with detailed information regarding contractor-friendly events across the country.
If you’ve done a little contract work or freelancing, it can’t hurt to check in with your past clients and ask for referrals or testimonials for your portfolio. Even if the work you did for these clients differs from the responsibilities of the roles you are considering, you can still leverage their network and positive feedback.
Some people do contract work for long stretches of their career, while others prefer to take on contract positions for short bursts between full-time positions. It’s important to find an approach that best suits your lifestyle and your professional goals. If you can envision yourself as a lifetime contractor, take the necessary steps to set yourself up for success in the long term. If you prefer the stability of a full-time role, you may find more value in embracing contractual work periodically throughout your career.
Black Diamond Networks
Are you still searching for more information about how to get into contracting? Black Diamond Networks can help. As a professional staffing agency filling roles in the life sciences, engineering, and information technology sectors, we routinely work with contractors and prospective contractors.
The Black Diamond Networks job board consistently posts new opportunities. If you can’t find any roles that interest you, send us your resume, and our team of industry experts will work to find a role that aligns with your background.
Our Contractor Services Program
The Contractor Services Program provides both new and experienced contractors with timely support and assistance during their assignments. When an assignment starts, the Black Diamond Contractor Care Team schedules regular follow-up meetings with our contractors and their respective clients to ensure everyone is satisfied. We’re determined to provide our contractors with the tools, resources, and insights they need to succeed in the assignment.
Additional program benefits include hotel discounts, built-in timecard/expense report submissions, pay and expense discrepancies resolution services, benefits support, custom business cards, periodic in-person visits, and local contractor appreciation events.
We want to help our contractor pool enjoy a growing number of successful assignment completions, and we dedicate the resources needed to make it happen. This dynamic between Black Diamond Networks and our contractors is a two-way street, which is why our program leverages periodic surveys to rate our contractors’ experiences and provide ideas and constructive feedback to their clients. This allows clients to improve their contractor experience and further enhance contractor efficiency and retention.
Interested in learning how to get into contract work in your field of choice? Contact us today to learn how Black Diamond Networks can help you with your search.
