We’re conditioned to seek out stable, reliable work. While everyone’s definition of stability may be different, we find some comfort in knowing that we can pay utility bills, cover insurance premiums, or make car payments.
Contracting or consulting roles have traditionally been viewed as unstable. Candidates will write off contracting roles because of family or financial obligations in favor of clearly outlined, permanent roles. But the role of consultants is changing and there are more options and advantages than there once were.
1. Pay - Typically, contracting roles pay much higher hourly wages than someone would receive as a permanent employee. Employees on 1099 contracts must be organized in order to pay their own taxes, but they are also typically compensated at a much higher rate. Even consultants who are on W2 Contracts can typically earn significantly more on an hourly basis than their permanent counterpart.
2. Flexibility - Looking to take 3 months off to travel? Consulting jobs often allow people to take time off between roles. Likewise, many roles offer “work from anywhere” or “anytime” positions that can give you the flexibility to sit on a beach while engineering the latest software.
3. New Technology – Working with the newest, most advanced technology can be a driver for many technologists. The idea of getting stuck maintaining legacy code or working with outdated platforms can lead employees to be complacent and bored. Contract positions allow you to continually hone your skills and make a change when you feel that you aren’t being challenged or learning enough.
4. Avoiding Burnout – When employees feel like they are stuck doing the same thing, day in and day out, there can be significant burnout. The option to start over and take on new projects leads to more engaged work. Burnout from old technology, colleagues, or bosses can occur at any role, but in a contract position, it’s a temporary situation.
5. Try Before You Buy – Just as employers are able to test you out, you can also test out an employer before potentially accepting a permanent role. When you leave at the end of a contract, there are no hurt feelings or obligations to stay.
6. Ownership - Contractors are hired to fill a specific need. It means that no one is available within the organization to start or complete a project. By taking ownership, you continue to hone your technical skills and build a resume that truly represents your work and skills.
7. In Demand - Consulting is a candidate’s market. Companies have a specific need and you have the skills. They are willing to pay more for someone who can start immediately with the requisite skills. There are more jobs for qualified engineers than there are qualified engineers! Use this to your advantage and wait for the right role
8. When you Don’t Know - The age old question is: “what do you want to do when you grow up?”. Consultants have the option of weeding out any part of a role that they deem to be incompatible with their desires. You can try any number of industries or company types before finding out which is the right fit for you.
9. Wage Potential - Salary increases are higher in technology than in many other industries. Talener contractors have seen a steady increase in hourly wages over the past 5 years, up more than 38% overall from 2011-2015, and over 6% last year alone.
10. Debunking the Stability Myth - Many contract roles offer (especially if you use an agency like Talener) health benefits to their W2 contractors in order to fill the gap for employees who desire health insurance for themselves or their family. If you’re working with an agency, a good agency will contact you before the end of your contract to help you find a new role and continue your employment (which can allow you to stay on benefits). In this case, you get all of the benefits of working with a new company without all of the disruptions of searching for a new job on your own.
If you have questions about contracting roles, how they work, and works best for you, please feel free to reach out to our Chicago team!
Software & QA : Chris – cfanning@talener.com
DevOps & Infrastructure: Zack – zfowler@talener.com
Open Source & Front End : Gabe – gklein@talener.com
