Here at Beyond Recruitment, we know that contracting can be highly rewarding, offering plenty of flexibility and providing exciting opportunities to experience a range of projects and teams. In this series of interviews, we dig a bit deeper into this way of working by talking to some of our top contractors to find out what life is like for them in 2022. Today we talk to a Senior Business Analyst about their experience with contract work.
Tell us why you choose to contract?
The ability to focus on projects rather than BAU tasks is a big drawcard, as is the money and flexibility of course. The higher pay rates allow for the opportunity to take breaks between roles while still maintaining financial security.
What do see as the advantages of contracting?
WFH has become a norm both in contracting (and employment) with regular lockdowns forcing businesses to embrace this style of work. Questions about how many days in the office are commonplace when discussing new contracts, and when factored into the location of the role can play a big part in deciding to take a role or not.
What changes have you seen in contracting over the last 18 months?
Where I’m working, all contractors now work from home if there’s any COVID-19 in the community. This has allowed me to set up quite a nice home office environment that I wouldn’t have been able to afford as a permanent employee but I’m able to claim it all on my business.
In the past three months, there was a definite increase in role availability, with daily calls from contracting recruiters over a period of time implying an imbalance between number of roles and number of candidates.
How important is your relationship/partnership with your contracting recruiter?
Out of the dozens of contracting specialists that contacted me once I made myself available for work, Emma was one of the few that took a genuine interest in how I was going personally and professionally and was the only one that had a video interview before putting me forward for work. This showed me that Beyond Recruitment really cared about placing the right person in the right role, and I definitely feel that in my current role.
What would you say to anyone thinking about contracting?
Contracting is an exciting way of working, once you are able to move into the “contractor mindset”, where you understand that there are many roles for you, it might take time to find the right one.
Employment is not always as secure as it once was, and contracting allows you to move between roles with more control and purpose. You need to be confident in your abilities and trust in yourself, and be comfortable (mentally and financially) with gaps between roles.
As you need to manage your taxes/finances more, it is worth discussing this with an accountant first to structure your finances appropriately and understand what expenses can be claimed against your business.
Can you tell us why you decided to move from a permanent role to a contract?
My wife had contracted for 10 years previously and my experience as a Senior BA enabled me to join her company, and subsequently offer my services to other companies. The increased hourly rate and increased control in our roles and finances were big drawcards, as the flexibility to dictate availability rather than request leave are another factor. I can’t see myself going back to being an employee after making the switch.
What did you like about your onboarding process with Beyond Recruitment's Technology, Transformation & Digital contracting specialists?
Emma was very friendly and had positive feedback after my video interview (the first one in lockdown for me) which helped me lead up to my interview with the client. The team were switched on and set everything up ahead of my contract starting, even during lockdown.
Summary
If you’d like to learn more about opportunities for contractors in Transformation, Technology and Digital, get in touch with the Beyond Recruitment team today. Our specialist team of Technology, Transformation & Digital contracting specialists can talk you through the roles currently available and help you plan out your next move.
