Do you still think consultants are applicants who can’t get a “real” job? If you’re working in the tech sector, it’s time for a reality check. IT expertise is in such high demand that employers are increasingly turning to independent contractors to tackle vital projects to keep their companies growing. Meanwhile, skilled technical professionals are coming to appreciate the independent consulting work option.
You, too, could become a sought-after tech contractor. It’s well worth considering if you open your eyes to the bigger picture: the gig economy is no longer only for those who want to pick up some extra cash. A wide range of professionals have discovered the broader joys of controlling what work they do and for whom.
Pivoting in a new direction
Yes, it can feel disconcerting or even a bit scary to go from seemingly-assured full-time employment into what feels like a free fall if you’re laid off. Contracting can be the parachute that lands you in an unexpected but rewarding new space.
Consulting has gone mainstream – so much so that LinkedIn called 2022 the Year of the Contractor. Their Economic Graph team notes that “companies over the past two years have greatly ramped up their reliance on non-employee, independent specialists.” As a result, the share of open positions specifically for tech contractors soared from 5.7% in January 2021 to 19.9% as of October 2022. Corporate interest in hiring contingent IT workers runs the gamut of tech roles.
Write your own ticket
If you’re good, you can pick and choose. Every company out there depends on technology to function day to day, and growth-oriented companies depend on technology to create better products, services, and customer experiences. You can take on key technology roles that make the most of your skills and often get exposure to new tools.
Do something that means something
You don’t have to work in technology exclusively. Seasoned IT experts are re-directing themselves to industries from health care and banking to retail and manufacturing. Contractors segue from one project to the next, which opens even more doors to interesting, fulfilling work.
As a project-based contractor, you can:
- Use your considerable skills to make a real difference in people’s lives
- Be the person (or part of a team) that helps multiple organizations achieve their goals faster and more effectively
- Be the team member that, through hands-on demonstration and mentoring, helps a company’s permanent IT staff develop new skills and problem-solving approaches.
Proactive control
Consulting mitigates the disheartening risk of taking a new position that turns out to be a poor choice, leaving you to start the job search process all over again. As a contractor, poor fit is not a career disaster. You always know when each project will end, so you can keep your eye open for the next opportunity while you still have plenty of time left on your current project.
This makes transitioning to consulting painless, even if you’re currently employed. You can wait to make your move until you have your first contract position lined up.
Re-join your old team as a consultant
Companies across all industries are migrating from legacy IT systems to the cloud. But that requires resources with first-hand experience with those older tools and protocols, and Baby Boomers are retiring in record numbers. Companies are bringing them back to handle critical work – as consultants rather than regular employees. (Many companies have rules that preclude hiring retired employees receiving a company pension.)
Whatever the project, you can keep working after you retire, making your specialized skills available as a tech consultant and perhaps earn even more than you would as a regular employee.
Segue smoothly to each next job
When one project is finished, you can move on to something new, maybe even to another project within the same company. You don’t even have to scramble to find new work if you align yourself with a contracting-savvy recruitment firm. This is vital for two reasons:
- You can concentrate on the work you’re doing rather than looking for your next gig
- You can get a leg up on future full-time employment if that still interests you
You don’t even have to deal with paperwork. Here at Power-4, the contractors we place are on our payroll, so we handle all the related admin work for you. It’s simple and reliable, and your client interactions can focus on work. We also offer a robust set of benefits, and most importantly, you are covered under all our insurances for your protection.
Make sure the firm you partner with includes a right-to-hire clause in all their contracts with employers because many do not. It matters because companies sometimes use this option to hire highly qualified individuals, they really want to bring on board while waiting for formal FTE budget approval.
Contractors are exposed to more opportunities with each new project. So, in the event you really want to go full-time at one company again in the future, your consulting work effectively serves as an onsite, hands-on interview. Since you’re on-scene, you can be the first to learn of newly-opening positions. And if you meet the new employer and job of your dreams, you will be in a position for a smoother, faster path to joining them long-term.
Expand your network
Good work begets more work and consulting expands your network with every new company and project. You can make great contacts with peers and leaders who may then refer you to new contracting opportunities they hear about. Or, they may bring you in as a consultant when they move to a new company.
There’s no such thing as a “permanent” job anyway
Working full-time for a company doesn’t mean you’ll be there indefinitely. In fact, pre-pandemic, the average job tenure in tech was less than three years. And as everyone now knows, big tech is just as fluid as any other industry. Whether you voluntarily move on after a few years or they choose to cut your position, change will happen. Across the board, software engineers, developers, and the myriad of other lead and support roles within IT are now highly mobile.
As a consultant, you can ride the leading edge on the wave of the future.