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Careers & workplace advice from Hays

In today’s evolving job market, more professionals are choosing to work as contractors, freelancers or temporary staff. This contingent workforce is growing rapidly, offering flexibility and opportunity. But with that growth comes complexity, especially when it comes to how contingent worker classification. 

If you’re a contingent worker, your classification isn’t just a technical detail. It defines your rights, your income and your career path. Misclassification can lead to missed benefits, unexpected tax bills and even legal disputes. So how can you protect yourself? 

Why contingent worker classification matters 

Worker classification determines whether you’re treated as an employee or an independent contractor. 

In this edition of our LinkedIn newsletter, the Talent Blueprint, Dan Craddock, Associate Director for Outsourced Service Sales at Hays UK said: “If someone is wrongly classified, they may miss out on important protections such as holiday pay, pension contributions, sick leave and other statutory rights. 

“On the flip side, if a genuine contractor is incorrectly engaged as an employee, they may lose the flexibility and freedoms that come with being self-employed.” 

In short, misclassification impacts your financial wellbeing, work-life balance and long-term career prospects. 

Legal landscape: what’s changing? 

Governments across the globe are tightening regulations around contingent work. As an example, IR35 legislation in the UK has reshaped how contractors are taxed and protected. In the EU, the Platform Work Directive could mean that gig workers are presumed to be employees unless proven otherwise. 

Nick Williams, Chief Procurement Services Officer for Hays Enterprise Solutions, notes: “Compliance scrutiny has certainly intensified, with landmark legislation reshaping how organisations engage talent.” 

These changes mean that both employers and workers need to stay informed. What’s legal in one country may not be in another, and what worked last year might not be compliant today. 

The cultural impact of misclassification 

Beyond legal and financial implications, misclassification can affect how you’re treated at work. Contingent workers often miss out on training, incentives and even social events, which can lead to disengagement and a sense of exclusion. 

“Some of those subtle differences can be quite impactful over time if they’re not managed effectively,” says Shane Little, Managing Director for Hays Enterprise Solutions in APAC. 

Feeling like an outsider can affect your motivation, your performance and your reputation. That’s why it’s important to ensure your classification reflects your actual role and contributions. 

How to protect yourself from misclassification

Whether you’re new to contracting or a seasoned professional, here are four key steps to safeguard your career: 

1. Understand different models 

Are you better off as an independent contractor or working through an agency? Each model has its pros and cons, and varies depending on your location. Contractors may enjoy more freedom, but agency workers often receive more support and benefits. Seek guidance to understand what suits your goals and lifestyle. 

2. Ask questions early 

Before you sign a contract, clarify the terms. What are your responsibilities? How will you be paid? What benefits are included? Matt Hayes, Senior Director for Flexible Recruitment Solutions at Hays Hong Kong, advises: “It’s in the interest of any contingent worker to know as soon as possible what the terms and conditions of that contract are.” 

3. Review your contract carefully 

Make sure the language in your contract matches your expectations. Are you being paid for deliverables or time? Are you classified correctly? If anything seems unclear, ask for clarification before you begin work. 

4. Take action if you’re unhappy 

If the reality of your role doesn’t match your contract, don’t stay silent. Keep records of your work, including who directs your tasks and how you’re paid. Then seek an independent review or escalate your concerns through your agency or HR department. 

Your career, your control 

Understanding your classification is key to protecting your future. It affects not just your pay, but your professional identity and your ability to grow. By taking a proactive approach, you can ensure that your work is recognised, rewarded and respected. 

Learn more about success in a contracting career and unlock your potential with our free Contractor Toolkit. 

We’ve all heard of a tech stack, the layers of software and tools that help businesses run smoothly. But have you ever considered a human skills stack? These are the soft skills for career growth.

In today’s AI-driven job market, technical skills alone aren’t enough for a jobseeker to stand out. Employers across many industries are increasingly looking for candidates who bring strong soft skills, or as we prefer to call them, human skills, to the table. These are the skills that make you adaptable, collaborative and effective in any workplace.

What is a human skills stack?

Your human skills stack, as discussed in a recent LinkedIn newsletter by Hays called The Talent Blueprint, is the combination of essential interpersonal and cognitive abilities that help you succeed at work. They are the soft skills needed for career growth in 2025.

You may see a human skills stack as a portfolio of your soft skills that compliment your overall abilities and capabilities in the workplace.

Top human skills employers want in 2025

Some of the most critical human skills to develop are:

  • Problem-solving – Your ability to find solutions to certain situations.
  • Communication – How well you come across in written or spoken communications, but also your body language.
  • Leadership – Your ability to inspire others and get results from them.
  • Adaptability – Your willingness to change gears when needed.
  • Emotional intelligence – How well you handle and manage your own emotions, whilst being aware of others’.

These aren’t just nice-to-haves anymore. They’re the skills that employers are struggling to find, and they’re increasingly becoming the differentiators in hiring decisions.

In our latest Salary Guide surveys, thousands of employees across the globe identified the following human skills as the most valued for career progression:

  • Ability to adapt to change
  • Communication
  • Problem-solving
  • Willingness to learn and upskill
Human skills to develop in 2025

You’ll notice a strong overlap with the skills employers say are missing in their organisations. This presents a golden opportunity for jobseekers to stand out in a competitive market.

How to build your human skills stack

Building your human skills doesn’t require formal qualifications. In fact, showing awareness and a willingness to practice can often be enough. Here are a few ways to strengthen your stack:

1. Communication

Marc Burrage, Managing Director of Hays Asia, shared 10 ways to improve communication skills, including:

  • Listening actively
  • Checking your body language
  • Projecting confidence
  • Knowing your audience

These skills are especially important if you’re aiming for leadership roles, where motivating others and resolving conflict are key.

2. Leadership and collaboration

Shane Little, Managing Director of Hays Enterprise Solutions APAC, advises candidates to highlight their role beyond technical tasks: “Perhaps you’re in an agile environment where you participate or even lead team groups and virtual meetings. These elements of your everyday can be important indicators to the human skills you possess.”

3. Problem-solving and adaptability

Volunteer for cross-functional projects, take on new challenges, and reflect on how you handle change. These experiences build resilience and show employers you’re ready for the future of work.

Showcasing your skills to employers

Once you’ve developed your human skills, it’s crucial to showcase them effectively, during the hiring process. Here’s some tips to help:

  • Use real examples in your CV and cover letter. It’s not enough to say “I’m a great communicator.” You need to prove it with real life examples.
  • Prepare for behavioural interviews with stories that demonstrate communication, leadership and adaptability.
  • Highlight transferable skills from volunteer work, side projects, or team initiatives.

For more tips on showcasing this skills during the application process, read our detailed blog.

Your stack is never finished

Human skills aren’t static – they grow with you. Whether through day-to-day interactions, feedback from colleagues, or online courses, there’s always room to improve.

Your human skills are what make you, you. In a world where AI can replicate technical tasks, your ability to connect, lead and adapt is your career advantage. So start building your human skills stack today, and keep refining it as you grow.

Additional content to help you

How to show your skills in a job application

What are people skills and why are they important?

5 ways to improve your collaboration skills

Download our CV Guide for free

While artificial intelligence (AI) may not take your job, you can’t ignore the growth of AI in the workplace. By not developing your skills today, you risk being less qualified than candidates with strong AI skills in the future. Here’s how to develop your AI skills.

Gen Z are now part of the workforce, adding further competition to a crowded job market. By the end of 2025, tech savvy Gen Z candidates will account for 27% of the workforce.  

In this blog, we’ll discuss the importance of developing your AI skills sooner rather than later. We’ll also delve into developing your human skills alongside your technical abilities. Read on for our expert insight.  

What does AI in the work environment look like in 2025? 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more prevalent in the workplace than ever before. Our client data shows that 53% of companies are recommending the use of AI technology in their organisation. According to our Tech Talent Explorer survey the effects of AI is also being felt worldwide: 

  • 62% of tech professionals predict that AI will have the biggest impact on their work in 2025  
  • Only 47% feel confident and fully prepared for further advancements to AI systems  

Is AI putting jobs at risk?  

A US study by YouGov found that 56% of professionals feel that job opportunities will decrease because of AI. The equivalent UK survey found that 74% of professionals believe the adoption of AI tools will result in fewer jobs. The solution to stay relevant in the workplace is to upskill and reskill.  

Julia Cames, Hays CMO, explains: “In addition to learning outside work, this involves finding ways to retrain with employers. Just over half of workers who feel strongly about AI are getting the workplace skills training they need.” 

How can you develop your AI skills? 

Despite the increase in AI tools throughout the workplace, Hays Salary Guide data reveals that 43% of workers have yet to receive any training on AI from their employer. If you find yourself in the same position, don’t worry. Even without employer training, you can still begin your AI skills development.  

The three main strategies for improving AI skills include a combination of: 

  • Technical education 
  • Hands-on experience 
  • Staying up to date with industry trends 

Take an online course or boost your technical education 

Many online providers offer courses of varying levels. Think about how much you already know about AI and choose an option that suits you. Some options include: 

  • Google – Generative AI Certification Program: The ‘Generative AI Leader’ program is a first-of-its-kind credential.The program is designed to empower professionals to harness the potential of generative AI. 
  • Codeacademy – Intro to Generative AI: If you’re completely new to AI, this free course may be a good starting point. Beginners can dive into the different forms of generative AI and learn how to use AI technology. 
  • Amazon – Introduction to Generative AI – Art of the Possible: A free course from Amazon which provides an introduction to generative AI, its risks and benefits. 

Gain some helpful hands-on experience 

Across the globe, Hays surveys thousands of workers a year. We found that 25% aren’t using AI because they don’t see the benefit. A hands-on exercise may help to demonstrate the many uses of AI to even the biggest sceptics. Examples of hands-on learning include: 

  • Codeacademy – Learn How To Build Your Own GPT:  This is a one-hour course at an intermediate level. During the course, learners can build a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) from scratch. You can also earn a certificate of completion to showcase your accomplishment on LinkedIn. 
  • Amazon – PartyRock: Learners are able to create and customize AI apps that have real-world capabilities to boost productivity. 

Keep up with current AI industry trends 

Being aware of AI trends can help you build an awareness of new developments in AI technology. You can then tailor your learning to meet the demands of predicted trends of the future and stay ahead of the curve. Stay up to date by: 

What happens when AI technology moves on? 

In AI-related fields, any new skills can become out of date in just two years. However, by developing your human skills, you’ll be able to prove your long-term value to a potential employer. Your personal attributes can be just as valuable, if not more, than the hard skills that you’ve learned.  

Are human skills that important to employers? 

The importance of human skills cannot be underestimated. Ninety-two per cent of talent acquisition professionals describe human skills as equally or more important than hard skills. Modern employers are valuing traits such as the ability to effectively communicate. human skills can often complement the technical benefits of AI.  

Which human skills are employers looking for? 

In 2025 the key human skills employers are looking for include:  

  • Emotional intelligence: Recognising your emotions and impact on others can help you foster strong relationships with colleagues. 
  • Resilience and adaptability: Proactively problem-solving, exploring new opportunities and staying positive can help you produce innovative ideas.  
  • Communication skills: Adapting your communication style to suit video meetings, messaging apps and email in remote and hybrid settings.  
  • Collaborative and interpersonal skills: Understanding the dynamics and working styles of team members can boost productivity and reduce conflict.  
  • Influence and leadership skills: Guiding and inspiring team members to achieve shared goals can help motivate everyone to succeed.  

How do you improve your human skills? 

Once you’ve chosen the human skills you’d like to work on, you can make a plan. There are many resources available for improving your human skills including watching seminars, listening to podcasts or reading. A step-by-step approach can also help you manage your progress, such as: 

  1. Work with a mentor or friend you trust: Meet regularly to talk through your challenges, successes and failures. 
  2. Practice your human skills: Implement your developing skills in the workplace. Challenge yourself and take on tasks outside your comfort zone.  
  3. Refine your human skills: Ask your boss or a colleague for honest feedback to ensure you’re making progress.  

Once you feel confident in your human skills, update your CV and cover letter to reflect your new strengths. Be ready to discuss in a job interview how you have developed your skills and to provide examples of the positive results. 

Combine your AI and human skill sets for success  

By developing your AI skills as well as your human skills you can demonstrate to employers that you are worth investing in. Aim to showcase that you can navigate advancements in technology and also become an integral part of the organisation. Then, you will be able to thrive in your career no matter how quickly AI technology may evolve.  

Searching for more tips on improving your skill sets? Explore these related blogs: 

Are you interested in having greater freedom in your career? Maybe you’d like to deploy and develop your skills in a variety of organisations and industries? The Contractor Toolkit from Hays is out now!

Designed for both experienced professionals and newcomers alike, it covers everything you need to know for contracting success. 

Our guide contains input from Hays experts and experienced contractors on each step of the contractor journey. Learn about setting up a business and deciding on rates, before tackling your first project. Then, gain advice on what to do when you’re up and running, including branding, training and networking. 

Download your copy here. 

What are the benefits of being a contractor? 

There are lots of reasons for skilled professional to move away from permanent roles and take up contracting instead. For example, you’ll be afforded greater flexibility in choosing how, where and when you work. This suits people who have commitments outside of work, or who might be based away from offices. There’s also the potential for higher income, particularly if you charge an hourly rate – organisations are willing to pay for specialist skills!  

However, there’s also a lot to consider before starting out. Will you be proactive in finding work, or when between contracts? Can you run your own business, including promoting and networking? 

The Contractor Toolkit offers guidance on these topics and more, ensuring you’re prepared for continued success. 

What’s included in the Contractor Toolkit? 

Whether you’ve already begun your career as a contractor, or you’re still in a permanent position, the Contractor Toolkit contains useful insights to empower you to success. 

The guide is divided into three sections to help you at every step of your journey: 

  • Before you begin: Learn more reasons to become a contractor, as well as questions to ask yourself to help you determine whether it’s right for you. 
  • Starting out: Get advice on setting up your business correctly, budgeting and taking on your first project 
  • Lifelong success: From building your brand to staying productive between roles, discover ways to stay employable as a contractor. 

Get your copy here 

With our free toolkit by your side, you’ll be ready to navigate the world of contracting with confidence.  

Download your copy and unlock your potential today. 

Learning how to give a presentation at work is key to getting ahead in your career. These presentation tips for work will help you feel more confident—even if standing up in front of a crowd isn’t something you usually enjoy.

In fact, according to the National Social Anxiety Centre, public speaking is the most common phobia of all. More people fear presentations than heights, death and spiders. 

However, as we know, work presentations are not a life-or-death situation. You might still feel the familiar symptoms of your fight-or-flight response to public speaking – think nervousness, fast speech and fidgeting – but preparation can help you minimise this. 

In this blog, we’ll give you actionable advice on giving a polished, confident and effective presentation at work. We’ll also explore some quick tips on controlling those nerves. Let’s get started. 

10 presentation tips for work 

Work presentations come down to three key periods: 

  1. The preparation phase 
  2. On the day, before your presentation 
  3. During your presentation. 

Designing your work presentation 

1. Decide on the narrative of your presentation 

Consider your presentation as a story you’re telling the audience. If you’re pitching a new campaign or product, think about the taking people on a journey from the challenge to how this solves it. Focus on the key areas that your audience needs to know and be prepared to discuss details in response to any follow up questions. There’s room for creativity here, as long as it’s appropriate and professional. 

If you’re presenting data or results, what do these tell us? Is there a narrative that explains the numbers and charts? Give context around this information. Above all, your story should make it easier for people to understand what you’re showing them. 

Lastly, consider ending your presentation with a clear call to action, so that everyone leaves with a sense of purpose. 

2. Identify your audience 

Think carefully about who your presentation is for. What do they want to know? What do you need to tell them? This will make it easier to include relevant information and prepare for follow-up questions. Are they already well-informed on the subject, or will you need to simplify things so they only need to consume the key points? 

3. Make clear and concise slides 

In her appearance on our Careers Advice Podcast, presentation coach Jay Surti warns against “death by Powerpoint”. She explains: “There’s a temptation to rely a lot on slides and put a lot of text into the slide. And, quite often, those are the key things to avoid.” 

If you’re using a slide deck, avoid cramming all of your information into it. It’s crucial to keep things clean and concise so that the attention stays on you, with the slides there for key takeaways. If you’re presenting data, it’s a good idea to have simple charts as an overview, with more detailed ones ready if you need to go deeper into the numbers. 

4. Prepare notes (but not a script) 

Like your slides, you should start preparing notes as soon as possible. These will act as a memory aid during the presentation – you shouldn’t read from a script, since you won’t be as engaging to your audience. The most important thing at first is getting your ideas down in a smooth order, rather than making it word perfect. There will be plenty of time to tweak and edit later.  

5. Practice your presentation beforehand 

Once you know what you’re saying and have slides ready, start rehearsing. You can have friends, family or colleagues watch and give feedback. You might also feel most comfortable in front of a mirror. 

If you’re using Microsoft Office PowerPoint for your slides, AI tools can help. The Speaker Coach extension can help you to spot chances to improve your public speaking and keep your audience’s attention. This support includes hints on presentation styles, pacing, pitch and emphasising essential points. 

Getting ready on the day of your presentation at work 

6. Know your audience members 

As you get ready to present, it’s important to trust in your preparation. In general, you shouldn’t be making big changes that can disrupt what you’ve planned for. 

However, making some tweaks to suit the audience in the room can enhance your presentation. Adapt your delivery style to suit a bigger or smaller group. Think of a specific point you can address to a stakeholder you didn’t know would be there. All of this will help you to grab your listeners’ attention. 

7. Distribute handouts covering the main points 

If useful, prepare handouts four your audience to highlight specific points or statistics. Remember, you don’t want this to be too detailed – keep it to key points or charts only. You can reference these during your presentation. 

Presenting itself: what do you during your presentation 

8. Avoid reading 

This point is so important it’s worth covering again. There’s nothing less engaging than somebody reading from a script or the slides. It’s completely fine to check your notes if you lose track, but focus on speaking, rather than reading. 

9. Make eye contact 

Make brief but confident eye contact with audience members. This is a big body language win in many areas of business, including presentations. When you’re making a point, scan the room and maintain eye contact with a guest. 

Then, pick someone else and move on to the next point. Combined with a strong posture and supporting hand gestures, you’ll come across as knowledgeable and confident. 

10. Speak clearly 

Speak loudly, clearly and confidently. Even though it’s tempting to speak quickly, especially if you’re nervous, it’s better to slow down. Pay attention to your audience’s responses – you may need to slow down if they’re not engaged. 

Tips for dealing with nerves during your work presentation 

Following the above steps will vastly increase your chances of delivering an effective presentation, but there are times when you still might find yourself dealing with anxiety. Here are some tips for overcoming these nerves: 

  • Take deep breaths before you begin to help relax. 
  • Stop for a sip of water. This will give you time to collect your thoughts and slow things down if you’ve been rushing. 
  • Pause at the end of a point or slide and slow down. If you’re nervous, you may have started to speak quickly. 
  • Ensure you’re holding eye contact for at least a few seconds with each member of the audience. Don’t gaze away from them for too long or keep continuously shifting your attention. 
  • If you’re uncomfortable with maintaining eye contact, or you lose your place, take a moment to look at your slides. Don’t just read what’s on the screen, though – turn back to the audience as you make each point and pick somebody to deliver the point to. 

How to give a virtual presentation 

Most of the 10 presentation tips for work above will still apply if you’re giving a presentation online. You can still send out a handout before the call, although you don’t want people to focus on this during the presentation. 

  • In advance, set up your slide deck to share in your preferred mode. Do you want notes to appear on another screen, or would you prefer to see how your audience are reacting. 
  • Without you being physically present, the audience’s focus will be on the screen and therefore your slide deck. In this instance, it’s ok to add more information without overwhelming them. 
  • Obviously, it won’t be possible to make eye contact with others, but consider choosing relevant people on the call to reference so that they feel involved and engaged. 

Looking for more insights on giving a great presentation? Read more:

Are you searching job vacancies for the next step in your career? Perhaps you’re already writing your CV or even being invited to job interviews. Whichever point you’re at in your job search, boost your chances of landing that dream role with The Hays Jobseeker Toolkit!  

Our guide contains expert advice on every stage in your journey to find a job, from deciding your next move to getting ready for your first day. It doesn’t matter how many applications you’ve sent or interviews you’ve got coming up – The Hays Jobseeker Toolkit can help you make the next step. 

Download your copy here. 

Five reasons to download The Hays Jobseeker Toolkit 

  1. Optimising your CV and LinkedIn profile: Our guide offers practical tips on updating your CV and optimising your LinkedIn profile to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. 
  1. Finessing your job applications: As well as a CV template, our experts share strategies for tailoring your CV and cover letter to specific job adverts, increasing your chances of getting an interview. 
  1. Preparing for interviews: We cover how to set yourself up for success in job interviews, including examples of using the STAR technique for situational questions and tips for making a great impression. 
  1. Making the right decision: Not sure which role is right for you? We help you assess job offers and make informed decisions, considering factors such as company culture and career goals. 
  1. Starting a new role: If you’re worried about the transition into your new job, our guide contains advice on how to resign professionally and prepare for your new role, ensuring you maintaining good relationships with your current employer. 

Build a winning CV  

The Hays Jobseeker Toolkit looks at how to write a CV in a way that stands out to the reader. Plot out a structure that tells hiring managers who you are, what you’re capable of and what you’ll bring to your next employer. We also offer advice on choosing the right language for your CV, helping you refine the wording to reflect your strengths. 

Beyond that, our experts share the four steps to ensuring your CV and cover letter are tailored to each role you’re applying for. 

You’ll also get direct access to our detailed CV Guide, which contains extra advice for crafting each aspect of your application, as well as our CV and cover letter templates. 

Impress in your job interview 

Been accepted to interview? Don’t turn up without having read up on: 

  • Your pre-interview to-do list to help you prepare for each part of the interview 
  • What to do on the day as you approach and start your interview 
  • How to react after your interview as you reflect and look ahead 

If you’re looking for more insights into impressing in a job interview, downloading The Hays Jobseeker Toolkit will also give you access to our in-depth Interview Guide. You’ll learn more about common interview questions and the best questions to ask in an interview. 

Get your copy of The Hays Jobseeker Toolkit here.

Working as a contractor, as opposed to in a role on a permanent basis, means greater emphasis on selling yourself as the right candidate more frequently. To do this effectively, it’s important to have a strong contractor personal brand. 

Building a brand that reflects what you bring to the table requires you to consistently and regularly position yourself in a certain way. You’ll want to relay your expertise, reliability and experience so that clients and peers alike can trust you and depend on you. 

Let’s look at the key reasons for a contractor brand and how to achieve this effectively. 

Three reasons to build a strong contractor personal brand 

Have the right publicity 

Even if you have the right skills, you’ll struggle to find clients without the right image and reputation. Branding isn’t just about the logo or the website – it’s to make sure you come across as professional, established and trustworthy. In short, people need to know exactly what they’re getting when they involve you in their projects. 

Protect your contractor status 

At Hays, we work with contractors across a number of industries every day. Our advice to them is to set up their services under a company. 

Why? In many countries, this brings financial benefits that aren’t afforded to an individual in employment. As such, it’s best to have a logo, website and associated materials that indicate that you’re managing a business, rather than your own work. 

Prepare for future evolution 

Think about how many large businesses started as just one person as a contractor before expanding. 

Your business could become something big, so why not start with a structure that can scale? Defining a brand will help to incorporate further services, or even employees, later down the line. Even if it’s not something that interests you now, there’s no reason to make it harder for yourself later. 

Three ways to build your contractor personal brand

Perfect your online presence 

LinkedIn 

You shouldn’t need telling but having a complete and up-to-date LinkedIn profile is non-negotiable. This includes: 

  • Having a photo, which leads to 21x the number of views on your profile and 9x the number of requests to connect. It doesn’t need to be a studio shot, but make sure it’s professional and reasonably recent. 
  • At the start and end of your projects, update your work experience with an overview of your responsibilities and achievements. 
  • Add any certifications you’ve earned, not just those you’ve done through LinkedIn. 
  • Ask past colleagues, managers and project managers for recommendations that you can showcase. 

Get more in-depth tips here. 

Website 

Beyond LinkedIn, make a dedicated website for interested parties to discover more about your services beyond your profile and applications. It doesn’t need to be anything special, but should involve: 

  • An ‘About You’ section, containing keywords that tell the reader who you are and what you do 
  • A portfolio of past work, including extra-curricular projects 
  • An updated list of your certifications 
  • Testimonials from clients 
  • Links to your profiles on other channels 
  • A blog (more on that later) 

This might sound daunting, but with the right tools it can be very straightforward. If you don’t have any technical knowledge or experience in building a site, I recommend a user-friendly platform like Wix or GoDaddy that allow you to use templates and existing components. 

Network proactively 

Keeping your online profile current is important, but you need to get it out there so people find it. Although networking doesn’t come naturally to many of us, it’s something you’ll need to get used to as a contractor. 

I recommend starting out virtually. Leave comments on other people’s LinkedIn posts that relate to your area of expertise. Approach this with the attitude of being helpful or sharing an insight you’ve found useful, rather than dominating the discourse. Apply this to relevant forums, where you can contribute to conversations or start your own. Start slow and get a feel for what you have to offer before increasing the frequency. It can be time-consuming to juggle this with your workload during a project, but it’s worth continuing to keep your name in people’s minds. In time, your peers will recognise you as someone to contact for advice or experience. 

If you’re finishing up in a permanent role or your current contract is coming to an end, note the details of anybody who might be a useful contact in future. Make sure you leave them with a good impression of yourself so that they remember you positively. 

Once you’re more confident in connecting with people online and having conversations with stakeholders in person, it’s a good idea to explore in-person events where possible. Think about what you have to offer and start conversations with that in mind. You won’t be helpful to everybody you speak to with, nor will they be a useful contact to you. However, coming away with one or two names you can continue the conversation with is a great result. 

Create content that showcases your expertise 

Producing content will help you stand out among your peers as a thought leader with valuable insights. There are two primary audiences for this: 

  • Potential clients: By sharing insights that not only demonstrate your knowledge but also touch on relevant business challenges, you’ll position yourself as an expert. 
  • Other contractors: Becoming a trustworthy voice among your peers will help you to expand your network and strengthen existing relationships. It’s also more likely for a contact to recommend you for a project if they’re unable to take it. 

Topics for your content 

  • Commentary on trending news that impacts your field 
  • In-depth exploration on relevant challenges and solutions 
  • Advice for professionals and businesses 
  • Updates on your projects and learning 

Formats for your content 

Choosing the right format for your content will depend on what you want to say, as well as your strengths and resources. 

For quick tips and advice, a social media post or a short speech to camera works best. LinkedIn is your best bet for reaching a professional network and prospective clients, so discuss trends there through posts, articles (which you can publish from your account) or longer videos. 

To access a wider audience, you might also consider working with somebody else to record an interview or conversation. Start out with pre-recorded videos that can be uploaded to YouTube or LinkedIn, with shorter clips on other platforms. After that, you might experiment with live streams or webinars where you can interact with the viewers. 

Don’t feel obliged to pick one of these and continue with it – find which ones works best for you as a creator, and which ones your target audiences engage with most. Invite people to comment or submit questions, and publish polls which they can respond to easily. Once you settle on your preferred topics and formats, you can be consistent, which in turn reinforces your brand. 

Building your contractor brand 

You shouldn’t underestimate the power of a consistent contractor personal brand that tells clients and peers what you do. This starts with an online profile that’s not only easy to find, but also lets people know about your skills, experience and reputation. After this, building a network of fellow contract workers, clients and former colleagues will allow you to get the word out about your business even further. Even if you’re not yet comfortable with writing or recording content, these steps will help you enjoy continued success in your contractor career. 

Interested in more contractor content?