There are many excellent job sites for contractors in various sectors, and we’ve not simply duplicated them here.
Contractor job resources
- Recruitment agencies and ‘head-hunters’
- Online – job sites. Search for jobs and post your CV
- Online – professional newsgroups and forums
- Journals – local and national newspapers plus trade journals
- Company websites
- ‘Cold-calling’ – phoning or sending your CV/profile to potential employers
- Job and career fairs
- Networking and recommendation
Know where you’re at
To increase your job search chances, and ensure you land more of those plum contracts, you should look for freelance work through all the avenues mentioned above under ‘Where to look’. Have a tracking method to know whom you’ve contacted and when, plus any additional useful information.
This may seem tiresome, but many contract jobs are won simply on the basis of a professional approach. A follow-up call or letter to an employer or agency after you’ve sent your CV has proven time and again to yield results.
Your contractor profile
As a contractor your CV should be a little different to traditional ones for permanent staff. It should be more of a profile of your skills and less of a job-by-job countdown and personal record. So:
- On the first page list your key skills and experience; eg ‘Database development’ – 7 years
- Let employers know when you’ll be available
- List each of your previous contracts, and its length. Be sure to include the names of the organisations you′ve worked for, not the agencies. Give brief details of what the work involved, what your role was and what new skills you might have developed. Where appropriate, mention how your work has helped that organisation′s success.
- Personal details such as marital status and hobbies are not required
- Do not list your rates. Leave this until after you’ve been selected for the contract.
Recruitment agencies
Specialist recruitment agencies are often a great source of contract work. Keeping in touch with them can also give you valuable insights into your market sector. Remember, they speak to recruiters all day, every day.
Just click on your sector below for a list of specialist recruitment agencies.
To discuss job-hunting ideas, just call one of our freelancing advisors on 0800 434 6402.
To speak to one of our tax experts call 0800 434 6402.
