How to become a computer contractor.

Computer contracting can be a lucrative business provided you learn specific strengths and skills that are required to become a successful contractor.

Personal Qualities

  • A contractor must be flexible.
  • A contractor must be willing and eager to learn new skills.
  • A contractor must work well with people.
  • A contractor must learn to work outside the normal office channels, and yet be capable of strictly following all the rules and procedures that apply to regular employees.
  • A contractor must know his or her place, which may be exalted or humble, depending on the contract.
  • Within the constraints of the above, a contractor must know when to offer expert advice, however unpopular, and must know when to shut up and make the best of a poor situation.
  • A contractor must never be a Primadona.
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If you like to learn new skills, work in a challenging, rather than predictable environment, and hit the ground running, chances are that you can learn to be a well-paid and successful computer contractor.

Breaking In and Staying In

Here’s what you need to know and do.

  • What range of hourly dollars you will accept.
  • Whether you are willing to travel, locally, nation-wide, or internationally.
  • How long a contract you want. Some contracts last only a few weeks, others can run into several years.
  • Look up several employment agencies that specialize in contract work. Make a note of the jobs available, and the skills required.
  • Organize your resume to include every scrap of experience that you have.
  • Be prepared to modify your resume to emphasize experience relevant to any position that comes your way.
  • Contracting is about a wide range of expertise and an ability to hit the ground running. Mention this, your flexibility and your ability to work in diverse situations with a wide range of people. This should be covered in a paragraph on page 1 of the resume.
  • Get your resume(s) up to date. You may want several flavors of resume (team lead, programmer analyst, and tester.)
  • Brush up your interview skills. Contractors generally face potential employers several times a year. Prepare for the phone interview, which is quite common.
  • Organize. Lay out an interview suit (you’ll probably only need it once in a contract). You should have a computer on which you can track your job search efforts.
  • Network. This is important. Get and keep email addresses and phone numbers of your colleagues. By the time you have completed a couple of contracts you will have an extensive network. Many contracts are obtained via word of mouth.

Types of Contracting

Sub Contractor

You will work for a consulting firm. This way, you’ll get to work in different companies, and the consulting firm may give you medical insurance, a supply of jobs, and may even pay you between contracts. It will also take a cut out of your hourly rate, and you will pay taxes directly from your pay check. You won’t get paid as much as an independent.

Semi Independent

 This is similar to a sub contractor, but you will be responsible for your own taxes, on a 1099 form.

Independent or Corporation to Corporation

 You set up your corporation and are responsible for your own marketing, medical and liability insurance. There is no agency to pay, but you take care of the business details.

Contract to Hire

This is self-explanatory. Don’t get into this type of arrangement unless you seriously intend to become an employee after an initial stint as a contractor.

Pros and Cons of Contracting

  • As a contractor, you will need to constantly upgrade your skills. Don’t be shy in volunteering to work on new projects and new software. Look at the market for “hot” skills. The upside of contracting is that it is rarely boring.
  • As a contractor, you’ll be paid much more than a regular employee. You’ll learn new skills, including how to find a job. Life will become more interesting.
  • As a contractor, you should not get involved in office politics because, if you do, you’ll be at a disadvantage.
  • You are less secure in your position as a contractor, as opposed to a regular employee. Try to have two months operating capital when you start.
  • As an Independent, you will be letting go of a certain amount of stability. Make sure that you’re ready for this. Be prepared to change locations, colleagues, obsolete work habits. Also be prepared to produce more than a regular employee with less training. A few companies (not many) will treat you like a second-class citizen. You need to get your own health and possibly liability insurance. Be prepared to be unemployed at short notice.

Remember, this is your life. Contracting can be a great adventure, with lots of travel, good money, and many friends along the way. How far you go along this exciting road is up to you.

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