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Many institutions increasingly prefer to outsource the contractor recruitment for their IT needs to IT contract agencies and this in itself acts as a natural barrier to anyone who tries to approach them directly however qualified they might actually be. Businesses go for contract agencies in IT since the agency will serve as an intermediary between the contractor and the employer meaning there will be no interaction at all for candidates that are ultimately unsuccessful which can be vital for future relations.
If you are the IT contractor, contract agencies in IT will discuss the terms of the actual contract with the business on your behalf. This would cover such vital aspects including the duration of the contract, number of hours required per week and the pay rate including costs of overtime. This is good for the contractor as the IT contract agencies, being experienced in contract negotiation, can present your skills in a way that resonates with the employer. The agency can also serve as a more muscled protector in the event of a dispute such as delayed payment or a drastic change in the contract terms much than an individual contractor has.
Negotiating directly with an employer might look like a great way of circumventing the fees and commissions you end up paying the IT contract agencies. However, contract agencies can usually negotiate better payment terms for you as long as they are convinced of your skills since they not only have a business but a personal relationship with the employer thanks to their frequent interaction. Their argument for higher pay is bound to bear much more weight than if you were to try to do it on your own.
Making use of IT contract agencies also removes the need and the cost you would incur through cold calling or any approach to looking for jobs. Remember that with the contract agencies in IT, the vacancies usually come to them, as opposed to you going to look for them. And many of the contract positions might not be advertised once they are sent to the contract agencies especially of they already have an abundance of the technical skill that the hiring organization needs. In other words, using an agency makes your search for a job targeted, precise and economical in the short and long term.
Also, since the IT contract agency will hold your profile as well as the details of the contract you are currently working on, it is very easy for you to finish one contract and in no time be deployed onto another client contract as opposed to hanging in limbo while looking for a position.
So how do you apply? Work on your resume. Try to limit yourself to a maximum of 2 pages and keep it relevant. Remember, potential clients are looking to hire you as a contractor for your technical abilities not necessarily your social expertise. Therefore, do not include irrelevant information about memberships of sporting and social clubs unless the contract agency asks you for it.
You should have certain core elements to your resume: past employers and responsibilities at each, list of your technical skills, academic and professional qualifications. Remember, competition for contracts will often be fierce so make sure your resume can stand out in the crowd.
Once you are happy with the details contained in your resume and you have sought permission from at least 2 previous employers to act as references, submit it to the IT contract agencies. Many contract agencies provide email addresses websites meaning you do not have to walk your resume to them. Also a number have websites that allow you to upload your profile directly as well as complete a standard template with pertinent information.
Take the cost of IT contract agencies as an investment: in the long term you stand to benefit.
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