| Why do you think you need a direct hire in order to | | | | move on to the next discipline.The Joys of Contract |
| make a living? It seems that 99% of 'direct hire' job | | | | WorkThere are so many perks to working contract |
| seekers are looking for security above everything | | | | it's almost hard to address them all! Here is a small |
| else. But the truth of the matter is that over the | | | | sample: |
| past 2-3 years the bulk of companies in America | | | | -New companies/industries year after year |
| experienced a slowdown and were forced to layoff | | | | -You set your pay raises (but you still have to be |
| both contract employees as well as direct | | | | realistic!) |
| employees; but when things started coming back | | | | -Seeing different parts of the world (if you choose |
| around in 2004, guess who those same companies | | | | to be a National Contractor) |
| hired back first....the contractors!Contract hire work is | | | | -Building a network of dozens of hiring managers and |
| often times a different line item on a company's | | | | recruiters |
| budget than a direct hire employee. Companies can | | | | -Reference letters! Everyone loves people saying |
| hire contractors without having to pay their benefits, | | | | nice things about them, why not have a big collection |
| unemployment insurance, holiday & vacation pay, | | | | of them! |
| (usually the recruiting firm pays for these items) or | | | | -If you travel to get to a company's location: Per |
| match their 401k plan. This makes hiring contractors a | | | | Diem! Ask virtually any direct employee what kind of |
| relatively easy and painless task for a company going | | | | living expense he/she gets for working at the same |
| through a slowdown. The projects/work might not | | | | company! |
| be as plentiful, but they still need employees in order | | | | -Meeting new people and working in new teams! |
| to do it!Have you ever been with a company as a | | | | -Try before you buy! If your ideal situation is to |
| direct hire and fantasize about NOT working for that | | | | become a direct hire at the company, now you can |
| company? The road ahead looks grim and job hunting | | | | date the company before marrying it! |
| is tough to do while you are trapped in a cube 8 | | | | -Overtime! Most contractors are hired on an hourly |
| hours a day. But you have security there, right? You | | | | basis. You work 45 hours in a week; you get paid for |
| get a raise once a year, as long as the economy is | | | | 40 hours regular and 5 overtime. Ask most direct |
| strong. As a contractor you only have to stay for | | | | hires what they get paid when they work 45 hours a |
| your project/assignment and then you are free to go | | | | week!How Do I start?Some folks think that you |
| (or if another project comes up internally, they might | | | | have to be a big risk taker in order to be a |
| ask you to stay), then on to the next gig for a more | | | | contractor. What I actually see is people who aren't |
| attractive price!Or, on the other hand, I can think of | | | | necessarily risk takers at all, rather people who stay |
| countless times where a company has hired on a | | | | on top of a small database of recruiters and |
| contractor through me, and they were such a good | | | | consistently contact them with updates. I have |
| match, at the end of the contract they hired the | | | | worked with plenty of contractors who aren't even |
| contractor on direct with a raise and all! You can't win | | | | looking for a new gig, but stay in touch with me on a |
| if you don't play. In fact, there are some companies | | | | weekly or biweekly basis. They update me on the |
| that ONLY hire certain disciplines on a contract basis | | | | status of their current project, whether the company |
| before making any sort of long-term commitment. | | | | they are with is hiring or laying-off and any new |
| Am I talking about a 'contract to direct' or 'temp to | | | | updates they want to add to their resume (or my |
| permanent' placement? No, they are open-ended | | | | database). The whole call lasts 3 minutes, but one |
| contract positions with no long-term commitment."I | | | | thing about contracting it is a contact sport-the more |
| don't want my resume to look like I am a job | | | | people you contact, the better you do.I would |
| hopper!" That's exactly what it will look like if you try | | | | recommend working with 3-5 different recruiters; |
| to play 'Contractor' with direct hire positions. A | | | | provide them with your resume, cover letter, and 2-3 |
| contractor's resume may or may not even have | | | | professional references. Call or email them on a |
| dates on it. Companies usually don't care how long a | | | | weekly or biweekly basis and let them know that |
| contractor was at his/her last position. But if you | | | | you are in fact excited about short or long-term |
| show a Hiring Manager your Direct Hire resume and it | | | | assignments.SummaryI couldn't even tell you the |
| has 10 different companies on it in a 3 year period, | | | | number of Contractors I know that wouldn't trade |
| what would make the Manager think you were going | | | | their career for anything. Some of these people have |
| to stay put at their company?ExperiencePersonally, I | | | | traveled literally all across the globe on different |
| would rather take a 1-year contract position with a | | | | assignments, while others choose to stay local. |
| certain Minneapolis-based medical giant than a direct | | | | Contract work is a great way to expand your |
| hire position with Bob's Medical Device Company. This | | | | comfort zone, work in a variety of industries, and |
| particular medical giant is a highly acclaimed company | | | | meet lots of new people. Not to mention it's a great |
| recognized throughout the world and the experience | | | | way to control your own career, set your own pay |
| I would gain there is more than likely hand-over-fist | | | | rates, and plan your own vacations! Who wouldn't |
| more valuable than any direct position | | | | want this?Dale Robert is a MicroBusiness Coach, |
| elsewhere.Contracting is especially good for Junior | | | | Career Coach, and Speaker/Seminar Leader. Dale has |
| level candidates who don't really know what their | | | | worked in the Staffing Industry, primarily in the |
| niche is yet. If you are a Jr. level Mechanical Engineer | | | | medical device field in Minneapolis, for 6 years. He is |
| but you don't know if you want to do design work, | | | | also a Competent Toastmaster, and the Vice |
| project management, engineering sales, or whatever | | | | President of a Toastmasters club in the Minneapolis, |
| else, contracting is a great way to figure out your | | | | MN area. He is currently rolling out a 'Consultant |
| calling. If you start out on contract doing design work | | | | Business Start-up Coaching Package', which helps |
| and you hate it, then once the assignment is over, | | | | Would-Be Consultants get started in business! |
| you can eliminate 'design' from your checklist and | | | | |