Tired of your current career? Perhaps you’re looking to move away from doing the same thing day in, day out?
The good news is that there’s demand for people such as yourself. Tech contractors are popular right now as businesses look to bring in people that can complete short-term projects without staying on the payroll.
If you’re a skilled tech professional, then it’s certainly something worth considering. My colleague, Adam Shapley, has already explained the merits of IT contracting in his blog, from greater freedom in how and where you work, to the potential for higher income. However, before following this path any further, it’s important to ask yourself whether this is really right for you.
Here are six questions to help you determine whether IT contracting is the right fit for you.
A Hays poll of contractors on LinkedIn found that flexibility was the greatest advantage of contracting over permanent employment. By choosing IT contracting as a career path, you’ll have more control over your work-life balance and your projects. In short, you’ll be your own boss. If you’re not enjoying your current role or working with your manager, this can seem like a simple solution.
In truth, it’s not all flexible hours while the money rolls in. Yes, you’ll have more freedom, but you’ll almost certainly have far more responsibility too. This will take a solid understanding of marketing and branding, strong organisational skills and the ability to knuckle down and focus. You’ll be responsible for the following, which I’ll explore in more detail later on:
Another advantage of becoming an IT contractor is the exposure to different technologies as you move between projects and organisations. This can be hugely beneficial for you in developing your skills and CV, while the fresh challenges mean that work stays fresh and exciting.
Of course, this is most suited to people who are adaptable. You’ll need to be a fast learner who can get up to speed on using different software and IT systems. Beyond that, you’ll also have to understand new processes within the business.
While it’s true that some IT contractor roles will involve working with others, your relationships won’t be the same as in permanent employment. If you’re currently part of a tight-knit team or department, this can take some getting used to. You’re more likely to feel isolated in comparison to working in a permanent role, especially if you prefer to work outside normal hours.
That being said, there are benefits to this. You’ll be able to keep distance from office politics, while you can take comfort that you’ll only have to deal with people you don’t see eye to eye with for a short period. You’ll also meet other IT contractors who could well become part of valuable network and help you find your next project. This brings me onto my next point…
Being an IT contractor means finding work frequently, often while fulfilling your responsibilities at your current project. Being motivated to do this on a regular basis isn’t for everyone.
There are a number of things you can do to make this easier, such as working with a recruiter that specialises in finding IT contractor jobs every day. Another effective way to do this is through building relationships and keeping in touch with your network. It’s also important to stay on good terms with past clients in the event that future opportunities arise. Would you consider this as one of your strengths?
If you’re your own boss, then promoting the business is up to you – and it’s something you’ll have to do a lot. What does this entail?
Working on various projects is a great way to broaden your skillset. However, to take up these projects, your clients will need to know that you’re up to the task.
As technology evolves, contractors will need to stay relevant to secure projects. As uncovered in our UK Tech Contractor Day Rate Guide, 75% of IT contractors who responded confirmed that they would be upskilling in AI.
How will you upskill and reskill without access to an employer’s training resources? Of course, they are plenty of materials out there to help you, on topics such as using Microsoft’s Copilot to assist in data analysis, but you’ll need to be committed to finding these and learning in your own time.
Hopefully asking yourself these questions has helped you in deciding whether IT contracting is a good fit for you.
As a next step, I’d recommend talking to people who have experience as an IT contractor to gain a better understanding of what you’ll go through. These could be people you know personally, or members of IT contracting online forums, which can be a great source of information and advice.
If you want to see what sort of IT contractor jobs are out there, you can search our opportunities here.
James Milligan Global Head of Technology Solutions
James Milligan is the Global Head of Technology Solutions, having joined Hays in 2000. In his role, he is responsible for the strategic development of Hays' technology businesses globally.
