Deciding Between Permanent or Contract Work
Contract work has grown enormously as an alternative to traditional permanent
work. Those facing a job search are often tempted to explore the possibility
of controlling their own destiny and flying on their own.
It's important to consider the highs and lows of both contract and permanent work
in order to conduct the most focused job search. Prospective contractors should
review not only the pros and cons, but also evaluate their own personality to determine
if it's the best fit.
Benefits of Contract work
- A major attraction for contractors is that they typically earn better pay than permanent
work employees for doing similar work. Contractors earn more because they are temporary
and the company isn't obliged to take on the burden of benefits, health/unemployment
insurance, or paid vacations for them.
- Another big draw of contract work is the flexibility contractors have over
their schedules. Contractors can take on work when they wish and arrange breaks,
vacation or travel as they please.
- Hiring contractors is often seen as a more attractive option for employers, especially
if they are not in a position to add to the head count of permanent staff.
- Good contractors are always in job search mode, actively engaged in networking and
armed with an updated
iProfile CV. Contractors can stay a step ahead of permanent work employees
caught unawares by layoffs and facing the stress of having to quickly rework an
antiquated
CV template and rush into an unexpected job search.
- Office politics and intrigues are less likely to affect contractors
- Contractors are exposed to varied settings and work personalities, honing their
ability to adjust to diverse groups and cope with projects at different stages.
Permanent Work Benefits
- A key shortcoming in contract work is the lack of job security compared to permanent
work employees. In cases of company restructuring, permanent employees may have
more job security although there are cases where contractors outlast the regular
staff.
- Permanent workers receive company benefits and/or incentives unlike contractors.
If contractors miss work, they're not paid and their absence is less likely to be
excused. If they turn down a job, contractors risk being passed over the next time
- Permanent work staff enjoy periodic pay rises, evaluations and promotions; this
is far less common with contract work . Because they are temporary, contractors
find it difficult to move into management roles. Companies are more likely to invest
in training and retaining their permanent employees.
- Permanent workers have a fixed place of employment while contact work may involve
contractors needing to commute on demand .
- Another negative aspect of contract work is that contractors are not usually given
much ownership of a project. Unlike permanent staff, their opinions may not count
as much and they may not even be around to see the end result.
- Contractors are less likely to be trusted with confidential projects and could lose
out on more interesting work to permanent employees who get first pick.
What's Right For You?
As you update or create your
iProfile CV and embark on your job search, take a long, honest look at your
personality.
Those who prefer the security of an established job, benefits, and promotions may
be more likely to thrive within a permanent work position.
On the other hand, if you have the self-motivation and drive to handle a variety
of projects and settings, the commitment to update your skills, and the fiscal discipline
to manage a business, then you may enjoy contract work.
Other variables such as age, experience, family and financial commitments will help
you decide how to focus your current job search.
Note that there are exceptions to the above list of pros and cons. There are contractors
who outlast permanent work staff, permanent employees trapped under the yoke of
autocratic management, and layoffs that might axe a senior employee while retaining
one or more contractors.
The Key to Your Job Search: Your iProfile Online CV
Even if you're not currently in job search mode, you should always maintain a current
CV. While numerous
CV templates are available, they all use a different format and recruiters
often struggle to decode them in order to assess a candidate. By creating a free
iProfile, both contractors and traditional workers can leverage a format preferred
by most leading UK recruiters.
Free CV templates may be tempting, but they are often cumbersome. And compared to
the ease-of-use and widespread acceptance of the iProfile, CV templates are not
worth the trouble.
No matter whether you are interested in contract work or finding the perfect long-term
job, we invite you to create a free iProfile so you'll always have
an up-to-date CV on hand. It will help you maintain a sharp edge and conduct a job
search on your own terms.