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Careers & workplace advice from Hays

So it’s close to the end date of your first IT contract and you’re asking yourself the question “what next?” In this ITC Made Simple series we’ve looked at researching the market, setting up as a contractor, finding your first project and ensuring you make an impact . The final stage of your IT contracting journey is a continuous one – with an aim to bring in a steady stream of quality contracting work.

To do this you will need to work on your sales and networking skills and maybe even enlist the professional services of a recruitment company. This will be critical to securing your future prosperity and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

 

 

 

Here are my three key recommendations for developing a continuous pipeline of work to safeguard your contracting future:

1. Become a salesperson

Companies using contractors are ultimately ‘clients’ who are buying services from a relevant ‘provider’ to address their business needs. As the provider in this context, you need to be able to sell your offering to potential clients and convince them they need to buy from you rather than from one of the competitors on the market.

The more specialised your skills are, the more challenging this becomes. For example, if your expertise is in a new technology or if your skillset is only needed in very specific stages of IT projects, finding a company hiring at the right time in the right location can be tricky.

Therefore, you should block out at least a couple of hours a week to do sales related activity. Look through your existing contacts, search LinkedIn and company websites. Get on the phone to recruitment agencies, hiring managers and decision makers to work out when they could potentially need you. Building a relationship with them will keep you front of mind when an opportunity comes up.

You should also keep on top of industry news to look out for any potential opportunities. For example, if you’re a Transition Manager for data centres you should set up Google alerts for company mergers, acquisitions, outsourcing etc.

Ultimately, you want to work towards building a small number of core clients who will give you regular work, then use your sales activity to plug any work gaps.

2. Build your network

To be a successful contractor you will need to build up your network, after all, this is where you will get the majority of your business.

Attending industry events and becoming a member of your local professional association is a good way to keep on top of market developments. More importantly, you will develop contacts with other contractors and people working in the IT industry, including recruiters and hiring managers.

Keep in touch with fellow IT contractors you’ve worked with in the past – they can be a very useful source of leads. Hiring managers will often go to them to ask for recommendations when they are looking for extra people to join a project. This also highlights how important it is to make a positive impact on those around you in every project you take.

As well as building your offline network, you should also work on your online one. LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with people professionally and also market yourself. Make sure you optimise your profile and highlight when you’ll be available for you next project so people know when they could potentially get hold of you.

3. Partner with a recruitment company

From what I’ve described above, you can see that the sales/networking aspect of contracting is probably going to be the toughest part of your job. After all, you’re in your line of work because you’re an IT expert, not because of your cold calling skills.

That’s why many contractors choose to outsource this element to experienced recruitment companies. As their entire business model is based on matching the right candidate to available roles, they have a huge head start on what one individual can accomplish on their own.

In a large international recruiter like Hays, we have thousands of people around the world committed to selling you, the candidate, to potential companies. The scale and volumes involved in our operation also mean it is much easier for us to find someone hiring for your skillset in your location at any one time, or indeed any location around the world you are willing to work.

At Hays we pride ourselves on offering our contractors secure payment, flexible options and top projects – but of course you should carefully research the options available to you and pick recruiters that are familiar with your experience and work in a way that matches your expectations.

If nothing else you will be able to avoid the stress of trying to find your next contract in your ‘downtime’, while putting 100 per cent into finishing up the current project that you’re working on. Work-life balance is key after all.

Get in touch with one of our local recruitment experts to find out more.

So that is the end of my ITC Made Simple series. I hope you have taken something from the five articles; whether you’re still considering making the move from perm, have just started your contracting journey or are starting to rack up rewarding projects with exciting clients. Look out for more IT contracting related content from me in the future and good luck with all your endeavours.

Hopefully you found this blog useful. If you did, then here are some other IT contracting blogs you will enjoy:

Watch this video to find out how Hays can help you find your next IT contract:

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Most of us will experience a point when our existing role simply isn’t offering the development and challenge that we need, and we’ll realise that it’s time to move on and find an opportunity elsewhere. However, once you’ve made your mind up and started to formulate your new job search, it’s vital that you do so discreetly.

Most job hunters fear that their exit plans will be discovered by their current employer, and this can easily happen without care. More than one red-faced employee has experienced how an indiscreet conversation with a co-worker can all too easily be replayed back to your own boss.

The reality is that the vast majority of workers will search for their next opportunity while still employed, so the trick lies in being careful and carrying out your search in the right way. Remember, there’s very much a ‘right’ way to exit a job, and to ensure that no bridges are burned in the process.

Here are nine tips to help you keep your job search quiet:

1. Confidentiality

Your job-seeking plans are yours and yours only, so keep them confidential. Even if you trust your colleagues, it simply isn’t worth the risk. Remember, people generally aren’t intentionally malicious, but water cooler gossip is rife in organisations and something could very easily slip out in the course of conversation. Don’t make your plans known until you’ve signed your contract, got your start date, given in your notice and followed due process. Certainly, don’t allow your boss to find out you’re leaving after the rest of your team has.

Similarly, when writing your cover letter and speaking to your recruiter, be very clear that your job search is being carried out in confidence, so that they are clear and can respect your wishes.

2. Check contact details

Double check the contact details that you have provided on your CV. Use a professionally named personal account rather than your work email address.

3. Job hunt in your own time

Discreetly and quickly scanning a job advert, email round-up or recruiter message in your lunch break is one thing, but don’t search for new jobs while at work. It’s unprofessional and will certainly make it clear that you are looking elsewhere. Ditto, don’t use your work equipment to update your CV, register with recruitment consultancies or receive job alerts.

4. Keep interviews separate from your work schedule

It’s good practice to organise work interviews in your own time – schedule them for after work hours or use up annual leave. This is polite to your employer and also removes stress for you as the interviewee. If you’re deceitful about your movements and use your working hours to attend an interview, you’ll be nervous and worried about being found out – and it may negatively affect your interview performance.

5. Be mindful of social media

When using social media, keep your activity personal and don’t share any updates or stories that relate to your job search. It sounds obvious, but this is one key area where people slip up and accidentally share something with a contact they’d forgotten was part of their network – or with a colleague of a friend, if privacy settings aren’t sufficiently locked down.

6. Keep performing at work

A drop in work performance is an obvious red flag that your mind is elsewhere and you are looking to leave. Work hard to maintain your work outputs and delivery, and you’ll be able to maintain your discretion until you are ready to announce your plans.

7. Update your LinkedIn settings

If you use LinkedIn, check your settings to ensure your network isn’t automatically updated when you add something new to your profile. A flurry of updates and profile additions will naturally arouse the suspicions of your employer, as most people start honing their profile when they are planning a job search. Never say that you are open to fresh opportunities when updating your profile – use your common sense at all times.

8. Keep reference details hidden

Keep your reference details back until you’ve received an offer and are ready to progress with a chosen job. This prevents your employer from being contacted too early in the process, before you’ve had a chance to speak with them.

9. Watch your dress

If you are attending an interview after work, bring in a change of clothes. Don’t suddenly start coming into work dressed up to the nines if you don’t usually – this is a complete giveaway.

Follow these tips and not only will you be able to progress your job search at your own speed, but you’ll also be able to do so without the added pressure of your employer and co-workers anticipating your plans.

About to start your job search? Reading our job searching tips will help ensure it’s a success

When you sit down to write or update your CV, do you start by jotting down a few points about your duties and responsibilities in your current role – points that could easily have come from your previous job descriptions?

While this is a good way to get ideas down on paper, it shouldn’t form the basis of your final application. For recruiters and hiring managers, it’s your achievements that really count – we want proof that you did your previous jobs well.
Continue reading One simple trick to help your CV stand out →

Nothing beats that feeling when you first set out on a search for a new job. You’re excited for the future, eager to embark on new challenges and highly motivated to wow potential employers. However, those who find their job search is taking longer than expected, these feelings of optimism can soon wane, and job hunting starts to feel like a chore. With each rejection comes niggling doubts about your skillset, and it’s easy to question whether you’re even doing the right thing or if it would be easier to simply stay in the same job you’re already in.

Continue reading How to stay motivated during your job search →

During your first week in a new job, your new manager should welcome you into the business with a carefully crafted induction process, introducing you to the company ethos and procedures. You should also be re-educated on the specific role you are to fill and its importance within the context of the wider team and organisation.

However, you must remember that it’s not only up to your new employer to provide you with a positive, powerful and effective starting point. Here are some key actions which you should undertake during that very first week.
Continue reading Seven important steps you must take during your first week in a new job →

Do you see people management as the next rung on your career ladder, but not sure if you’re ready for the additional responsibility? If so, you may be wondering whether you have the right skill set for managing people as part of a new role. After all, the idea of managing employees can seem a bit daunting, and if you plan to stay within your existing company you may need to readjust your working relationships with your colleagues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, how can you tell if you are really ready to take a step up and start managing a team? Here are ten signs that suggest you’re already on your way.

1. You are starting to delegate

To some people, the idea of delegating work may seem like laziness or a sign of being unable to cope with work levels. In fact, successful delegation is a very important skill to have in a workplace because it enables smooth workflow. It is not an easy option – working late to finish a project or meet a deadline is actually simpler than explaining the work to someone else and ensuring that they are familiar and confident enough to complete it. Careful, planned delegation not only enables you to get on with other tasks that are in need of your attention, it also fosters a trusting relationship between you and your colleagues and empowers others.

If you already view delegation as an investment of your time, then you are already in the management mind-set.

2. You set a good example for the rest of the team

If you are good at your job and go the extra mile to ensure that your work is done properly, your colleagues may already look up to you. They therefore will be more likely to adjust to your new found seniority if they know how hard you worked to get there and respect you for that.

3. You find yourself coaching and training others in your team, and enjoy doing so

Enjoyment is the key word here. If you feel burdened or annoyed by the need to help colleagues improve their work or to gain vital skills, then you won’t necessarily feel any better about doing so as a manager, you will just be better paid for it.

On the other hand, if you find yourself feeling a real sense of accomplishment when a colleague grasps a new concept or makes real progress on a piece of work because of your input, then management is a natural step for you.

4. You find yourself becoming more and more focused on the bigger picture

If you find that you are no longer simply going to work to pay your bills, but actually care about how the business performs and want to play a part in shaping its future, then you are ready to take on a more senior position.

5. You actively take pride in your team successes

Do you feel proud about the outcome of a collective effort? If so, are you simply pleased with your own work, or are you pleased about the fact that you were part of a successful team? If you think it is the latter, imagine how much stronger this feeling will be if you were to be in charge of that team.

6. People from all areas of the business come to you for advice

Have you made yourself an expert in a particular field, through hard work and perseverance? Are you naturally approachable and have strong communication skills? Do colleagues and managers often seek your advice? Being able to teach and inform others is an extremely useful management skill, especially when training junior staff.

7. You are confident in your ability to build relationships with stakeholders

Being able to communicate effectively with your peers is one thing – being able to do so with senior figures in your organisation is quite another. Many new managers find the prospect quite intimidating, particularly if giving advice or information to your superiors.  If you have good relationships with stakeholders, or at least have confidence in your abilities to develop these, then you may be ready to rise through the ranks.

8. You find yourself observing other managers to see what they are doing right and wrong, and take mental notes

How often have you listened and observed a manager and thought “I wouldn’t have done that” or “Surely, we would have a better outcome if it was done this way…”? If you are already thinking like a manager and imagining how you would act in that position, then you may be ready for that promotion.

9. You stay calm and are able to make decisions quickly

If you are already known to be reliable and trustworthy, you are probably less closely supervised than others on your team. Having a track record of making sound decisions under pressure, and being trusted to do so by superiors, suggests that you are already seen to be management material.

10. You go above and beyond for the good of the team and the business

Being a manager will mean making difficult decisions and facing new challenges. If you have found yourself stepping out of your comfort zone; taking on new challenges with a diligent, team spirited attitude, then you are likely to thrive in a more senior role.

Next steps

If these signs sound familiar, then it’s time for you to take on the task of people management. Ask yourself, could your existing company offer you the experience and development that you deserve? If so, then be prepared to adapt your working style and relationships with your colleagues. If not, then don’t be afraid to take your strong skill set and apply it elsewhere.

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It doesn’t matter what industry you work in: the ability to be creative and innovative is something that every business should have if they’re to maintain their competitive edge. Often, innovation occurs within teams, not with individuals, as it is the combination of different expertise, personalities, ages, and cultures which brings together a variety of thoughts and ideas.

As a leader, your job is to embrace this process and to act in a timely way on the creative thoughts of your team. To make sure you’re getting the very best from your team, consider implementing these 11 ways to encourage innovative thinking.
Continue reading 11 ways to foster innovative thinking in your team →