As a contractor, although you might be lucky enough to find a long-term client, for the majority of the time you will need to be looking for work on a regular basis.
This means that you will have to be highly motivated with finding contracts, but it will also mean that you gain so much more experience and skills compared to a permanent worker.
Whether you are a contractor or permanent worker, a good CV is a vital starting point for finding new work.
Creating a good Contractor CV
As a contractor, you might find that you don’t need a CV for every job that you apply for, however, it is best to have one put together for those times when a client may request one.
It is so important that you look as professional as possible and avoid any unnecessary mistakes, such as spelling and grammatical errors; so make sure you read through more than once to spot any issues.
It is also best to keep your CV to no more than two A4 pages, as any more than this could result in a potential client either losing interest or time to look through a lengthy document.
Make sure you include a personal statement that will sell your skills and let the reader see who you are and what you have to offer to their company.
Keep it relevant to the position and company you are applying for and ensure your experience, skills and qualifications stand out.
Preparation is key
Once you have an interview arranged, make sure you fully prepare yourself – find out where you have to be and how long it will take you to get there; first impressions are everything and so turning up late will not come across well to a potential client.
Make sure that you dress the part, find out who will be interviewing you if you can and do your research!
Find out what you can about the company, as you don’t want to be caught short should they ask what you know about them. This might also help you to think of ideas when it comes to that dreaded part of an interview, when they ask if you have any questions for them.
A Contractor Interview
Unfortunately, an interview can be one of the most nerve wracking situations many people will face, so ensure that you give yourself enough time beforehand to find out where you’re going so that you can turn up a bit earlier and therefore try to relax and calm your nerves before the interview.
Other hints and tips:
Try to start the interview off looking confident, even if you’re not! Look your interviewer in the eye and don’t fidget or slouch. Of course, make sure you don’t go the complete opposite and come across as arrogant – try to find a good balance.
Sell yourself! Be sure to provide any examples that will support your achievements. Make sure you’re positive with all your answers and don’t focus on your weaknesses.
Ensure you listen carefully to everything the interviewer says, and look to ask questions not just at the end – but during too. Just make sure you don’t interrupt and try to keep a balance where it’s not just them or you talking the entire time.
Typical questions that you may be asked might be to describe a challenging situation you’ve experienced and how you coped and overcame it, why you applied for the position or your biggest accomplishment. This is worth thinking about beforehand so that you’re prepared for such questions.
At the end, be sure to thank your interviewer and try to find out when you should expect to hear whether you were successful or not.
To find out more about making the move to contracting, please call Jaime on 01442 795 100 or email jaime.thorpe@dolanaccountancy.com.
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