How to become a contractor

Contracting in the UK is a great way to earn a living and the flexibility, freedom and financial gains on offer make this a winning formula for many people. Most contractors never look back once they enter the world of contracting so ask yourself, are you self-motivated and organised? If so, then perhaps contracting is what you have been looking for.

So what are the next steps to becoming a contractor?

Research the UK contractor market.

Find out if your skills are in demand and what the going rate is for someone with your skill set. Use sites such as itjobswatch.co.uk and Jobserve.com to find out what kind of rate you can expect to receive.

Take the plunge

If you are sure that you want to try becoming a UK contractor you will usually need to give notice to your current employer, if the right contract is offered to you, you must be able to react quickly so that you can start the contract work as soon as a suitable role comes up.  There are no guarantees that you will find a suitable role immediately, but you may miss out on an ideal opportunity if you have to work a notice period.

Advertise yourself

Compile your CV using the knowledge you obtained from your research on the job boards and tailor your CV to the roles you are applying for. Once you find suitable contract roles, submit your CV to the recruitment agencies advertising the posts.

Make the most of social network websites such as LinkedIn and other business networks, industry experts predict that, as more recruiters turn to these websites to source UK contractors, social network profiles may take over from the traditional CV over the next few years.

The majority of UK contractors find roles via people they already know, so it is worth spending some time keeping in touch and reconnecting with your old colleagues.  Also, joining specialist industry groups and organisations such as the PCG can provide you with the opportunity to compare your skills with other UK contractors and to also meet other contractors.

Having your own business website, business cards and ensuring your professional online image reinforces what is on your CV, will all help you in securing the contractor position you are looking for.

Finally

Be patient, if you are new to contracting it will take some time before you refine your understanding of how the UK contracting industry works, but as you build your contacts and develop a network of suppliers you will wonder why you didn’t become a contractor sooner.