Contracting: Everything you need to know
Contracting is a form of working which many people are choosing to take over traditional work in the last few years. It is a type of employment which involves you being a freelancer in your chosen field and working for companies on a contract. If you are thinking of getting into contracting this year, here are some things you need to think about.
- Is it for you?
Before you up and leave your old job for a new way of working you need to ask yourself whether or not contracting is the right decision for you. One of the main issues with becoming a contractor is that you will need to be able to start up your business yourself, put yourself out there in the world and be confident. There is always risk involved in contracting because you won’t have a regular wage like in other jobs, however you have the potential to make doubles what you did. You will have to sort out your taxes yourself, think about getting accountants for contractors to help you with money and you’ll need to always be on the lookout for an opportunity.
- Do your research
The most important thing for you to do if you want to become a contractor is carry out some research in the market and the possibility of success. In your area you need to see how in demand your services are, and this will help you to assess whether or not this is the right area for you to go into, as well as let you work out how much money you will charge for your services. Start off by looking on the web and seeing what other contractors are charging for their jobs, and this will guide you to finding the right price for yourself.
- Finding contract work
The main challenge you will face when you get into contracting is finding a job to work at. It will take you a while at first to find a job, but there are plenty of different a avenues you can take to find what you need. For example you could take a look at job platforms, get into contact with agencies, and even look at freelancing sites. Websites like Upwork and Freelancer are ideal for any level of talent and will allow you to access different types of work throughout the year.
- The start of a new era
One of the most scary things you will find when you make the change to a freelancer is the change from working in a team for a set time every week, to working on your own and having your own flexible hours. The beauty of freelance work is that you can pretty much do it anywhere. If you want to stay at home you can, if you would rather sit in a cafe that’s fine too, or if you want to travel the world with your laptop this is fine! It is a new way of life, a new era and can be incredibly lucrative for you.
