Contracting work is becoming more common in the 21st-century economy
Friday October 28, 2016
Not long ago, there was a basic expectation among pretty much all job-seekers that the goal was to find permanent, full-time work. People valued stability, and they could only get it from landing full-time jobs. Other work arrangements were seen as inferior, and many tried to avoid them.
Full-time work is still an option, but people are becoming more flexible in their employment requirements.
The paradigm is changing now. Full-time work is still an option, but people are increasingly becoming flexible in their employment requirements, and some are taking a closer look at the benefits of contracting rather than signing on for a permanent position.
What are the differences between the two? Which is right for you? Now's a good time to find out.
How contracting work is different
Plenty of companies these days, whether in digital IT recruitment or any other sector, are looking for employees who can work for them on a contract basis instead of permanently. For workers, this is an interesting prospect that's worth considering.
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, there are a few key differences between being a contractor and an employee. For one, contractors tend to have more control over their own work - they have more freedom to choose their hours, plan their workflow and generally plan each day however they see fit.
Having said that, there are still high expectations about the quantity and quality of work they produce. Bosses usually hire contractors to complete certain specific, highly specialised tasks, and they expect to see jobs done right.
What makes a good contractor?
Being a contractor requires slightly different professional skills than being an ordinary employee. Information Week recently explained one key difference - as a contractor, your challenge is to make your boss's job easier and not harder, which can be tricky if you're remote and not "part of the team" in the traditional sense.
Working as a contractor requires great communication skills.To make this work, it's important to show strong communication skills and a willingness to find diplomatic solutions when problems arise. Not everyone has this skill set, but those that do can go far in the contracting world.
A wide range of opportunities are out there
As you survey the job market and consider your next move, it's good to keep in mind that your future might be as an employee or a contractor. To maximise your flexibility, it would behoove you to work with a recruitment agency in Sydney that has connections to both worlds.
At The Recruitment Company, we have that kind of capability. With connections to all kinds of employers offering all kinds of gigs, we offer you the chance to keep your options open. Contact us today to begin the search for whatever type of work arrangement you desire.
