Contract Assignments Can Help You Get Hired Quicker and Achieve Your Career Goals

You’re missing an avenue that could easily and quickly lead you to that permanent job if you’ve avoided using contract employment in your job search strategy because you’re only interested in full-time permanent employment!

Using this strategy not only opens up more immediate employment possibilities – with very attractive benefits – but it also opens up opportunities to talk directly to hiring managers. As you know, hiring managers hold the key to current and anticipated job openings; not typically the Human Resource and/or Recruiting Department.

Many US employers are in a cost cutting mode or at best holding status quo in their hiring.  Hiring freezes and budget constraints have resulted in around a 10% unemployment rate as we enter 2010.

Things are beginning to change in the job market and you can take advantage of this positive change by carefully considering the following 5 step strategy.

1. Be open minded. Be open to at least explore contract assignments. That doesn’t mean you have to accept a contractor offer, but you’ll never know what you might be missing unless you are open to explore them.
2. Get proactive. Proactively ask your network contacts, company recruiters and hiring managers if they have a project that needs a contractor with your skills.
3. Get help negotiating top rates. When you find an employer with a need for a contractor requiring your skills, call us and we’ll help you negotiate the best rate for your services and set you up with our Employer of Record (see step 5) and provide you with weekly paychecks and benefits (see list below).
4. Avoid independent contractor 1099 issues. Avoid more the more costly 1099 route and the delayed payments you’ll likely experience, not to mention your costs for personal and business insurance and possible IRS audits.  Many 1099 contractors wait 60 to 90 days or longer to get paid.  With us you start getting paid immediately.
5. Use an Employer of Record Service. Tell the employer you have a contracting company you work through – Bradford Consulting – whose partner is an established Employer of Record with a world-class back office service – with benefits.  Our partner has been in business since 1992 and does work in 49 US states. (see more info below) and we’ve been in business since 1983.

The federal government has all but declared that the “Great Recession” is over.  But when will companies start hiring again? The answer to this question is twofold.

When they start hiring on a full-time basis is anybody’s guess.

But historical data and current trends show that companies are already hiring contractors during the last quarter of 2009 and this trend is forecast to continue in 2010!

Eventually the direct-hire, full-time, permanent hiring comes back, but contracting always comes back a little quicker.  That’s because there’s less of a commitment of time and money on the part of the employer.  It’s easier for them to make a decision to hire a contractor when they have a project that needs to be completed and they don’t have to make a long-term commitment to you.

But there’s a positive twist to this historical phenomenon that you can take advantage of…and you are eligible whether we find your contracting job or you find it!

When companies do begin hiring for direct, full-time permanent positions they always look at their contractors first!  Companies use contracting as a way to hire employees for a specific period of time, until things stabilize…and often they like the contract employees so much they bring them on in a permanent employment status.  An added advantage is that both parties get to experience the working relationship in a “try it before you buy it” scenario.

In other words, you move to the front of the line and get first consideration for permanent employment before anyone else.

Advantages of Contract Assignments

Flexibility in Lifestyle

• Control your career path
• Bridge unemployed periods
• Balance work and personal obligations

Potential for Higher Earnings

• Paid for every hour worked
• Receive a weekly paycheck
• Choose direct deposit
• Itemized payroll statements
• W-2 tax withholding and filings
• Eligible for worker’s compensation coverage
• Eligible for unemployment benefits

Increase Technical and Professional Knowledge

• Opportunity to learn new skills
• Enhance your resume and marketability
• Exposure to varied work environments and projects

Evaluate Potential Direct Jobs (Contract-To-Direct)

• Determine if corporate culture is desirable before accepting an employment offer
• Evaluate work scope and job responsibilities before accepting an employment offer
• Network with key personnel for future opportunities

Quarterly Newsletter for Active Contractors

• Stay current on industry trends
• Receive updates on policies and procedures
• Review newsworthy articles

Benefits Overview

Health Insurance

• National PPO Plan with prescription coverage
• Cost based on family dependent structure
• Employer contributes 50% of the single “Base Plan” rate
• Coverage begins the first of the month after 30 days of employment

Dental Insurance

• Voluntary plan where employee selects dentist
• Family coverage options

Vision Insurance

• Savings on vision exams, frames, lenses, and contact lenses
• Laser vision correction benefit

Group Term Life Insurance

• Opportunity to buy life insurance in multiples of $10,000 up to $500,000
• May be purchased for spouse and/or children
• Policies are portable

401(k) Savings Plan

• Eligible at the end of six months of continuous employment
• Roll over option from a previous employer’s 401(k) funds

The Next Step – Contact Us Today

Don’t hesitate to add contract assignments to your career goals.  Call Carl Bradford at 817-741-0854 or Send an email today for details.

During your contract assignment, our back office contracting partner will be your W-2 employer (Employer of Record).  They were established in 1992 and currently work with contractors in 49 states (except Hawaii).  They will handle all legal, financial, administrative, and benefit functions for you.  This includes:

• Time sheet processing
• Weekly payroll processing
• Federal and state taxes
• Unemployment insurance
• Worker’s comp insurance
• Client invoicing and collections
• Employment paperwork
• Employee benefits administration