Career boredom is one of the very common issues prevalent in today’s workforce. But again constantly switching over jobs can backfire one’s career if s/he is a regular employee within an organisation who is liable to tax deduction as well as getting various benefits from the employer. However, in recent times, working as independent contractors has seen a rise since it gives an individual the opportunity to ‘be your own boss’. Working as an independent contractor has its own advantages and disadvantages but the best part is that it allows you to work according to yourself while you take care of your other needs. One can even experiment with various job roles while working as a contractor to find what suits him/her the best while they are getting paid regularly.

Now coming on to finding an IT contract job, let me tell you it isn’t easy when you are just getting started. It is way different than a regular job hunt. Also, while searching for a contract based job you have to keep in mind that there are minimal unpaid gaps between contracts and therefore you need the right strategy.

Guide to finding IT Contract Work in UK

So if you are thinking of taking a dive into the pool of contract workers, you need a proper strategy in place to make the best out of it. And this article is all about preparing you well to get started with working as a contract worker and making out the best of it.

1. Are you ready?

   Contact jobs do offer flexibility and other advantages over a permanent one but the dilemma of leaving a regularly paying job for a contract job is difficult. However, figuring out whether you are ready for working on a contract basis is the first step towards building a successful career as a contract worker but it has to be you who need to make the decision, irrespective of what people and the internet has to say. Self-assessment is very important.

2. Area(s) of Expertise:

   Once you are ready, start working on a CV, mentioning your working interests in accordance to your skill set. Now since a contract job offers flexibility, one can opt for various job fields based on the skill set. You’ll need to list down your area(s) of expertise in doing so. It is also advisable to build different CVs for different job roles.

3. Set your contractor Rate:

   This is one of the key factors if you want to work as a contract worker. Only you know your true worth and therefore you must know what you’ll be charging for your services. Remember this will set a standard for your future contracts too and you should negotiate only when it’s reasonable enough.

4. Proper Research:

   Once you are done with the basics, starts the real process where you’ll need to make the best use of the internet by doing a thorough research. Internet has revolutionized how we work and in this age of technology one should know how to make the best use of it. Once you start searching on the internet, you’ll find enough opportunities to get started with.

5. Get in touch with recruitment Agencies:

   There are a number of IT recruitment and consulting agencies out there that can help you out with finding the perfect contract job for you. Get in touch with them and share your resume to boost your chances of landing a perfect job. However it is to be kept in mind that there are also scammers out there and you need to do proper research to avoid any phishing.

6. Regularly follow-up on your applications:

   Don’t just sit and wait for agencies and /or companies wherein you have applied to get back to you. There are so many just like you seeking a contract job and it may not be possible for agencies and companies to get back to you on time. It is more of your responsibility to put in extra effort and follow-up regularly with the concerned authorities.

7. Learning should be constant:

   Yes no matter how experienced you are, always remember there is someone out there who can outperform you and if you want a financially stable life while working as a contract worker, learning should never stop. Use the flexibility this job type has to offer to develop and grow both professionally.

8. Trusted Online Portals for contract jobseekers:

   Even though there are dedicated businesses solely serving companies in hiring the right workforce on contract basis, one can even look for a suitable job on his own via trusted online portals. Some of the recognized job portals are:

1. Reed.co.uk
2. Indeed.co.uk
3. Jobsite.co.uk
4. Monster.co.uk
5. Morganmckinley.co.uk
6. Cwjobs.co.uk
7. Totaljobs.com
8. Cv-library.co.uk

Conclusion:

It isn’t a bad idea if you wish to work as a contract worker. It may even be the best decision one can make in his /her career. However, like any job hunt, this also asks for proper planning and strategizing and I have tried to simplify things via this article. Hope you find this useful in making the best out of your independent contract worker portfolio.