Should I Take a Contract Position?

You have been offered a contract position and now need to weigh the pros and cons of working as a contractor. You have come to the right place. Creative and Marketing contract positions have been around for decades the demand from corporate America steadily climbs. In this post, we uncover why Creative and Marketing professionals are widening their employment options to include contract jobs.

 

Are Contract Positions Worth It?

First, we must understand why companies hire contractors. In short, it allows corporations to scale production while controlling the overhead cost of their staff. The projects and skills that are executed within a contract position vs. direct hire position do not differ. 

Elevate Your Resume with Enterprise Experience

Accepting a contract position will widen your opportunity to be a team player inside leading brands and exposed to enterprise level projects, software, workflows, budgets, and training. To really excel in your career as a marketing or creative contractor, go after jobs that bring new challenges. Allow your resume to stack up the knowledge gained and boast leading brand names.

Explore Different Industries

If you’ve found your passion, congratulations! You are one of the few. If you are still seeking what makes you pop out of bed each day then a contract position will allow you to taste the buffet of industry work. Through this process, once you identify a company or industry that fills your cup then contract-to-hire is a viable option.

Job Security

Contract positions can run from three months to two years. Working with a credible recruiter who will be your partner in guiding you through industry options and have a new assignment lined up before the current one ends. With contract positions, job accessibility is bountiful. The number of contract jobs (even high paying contract jobs) outweighs the number of job seekers. Companies are beginning to loosen their grip on those rigid job requirements in the hopes of filling their open full-time contract position.

Grow Your Network

Don’t let your contract position alienate you from your peers! Just because you have a full time contract position with a company  does not mean you cannot connect with the other full-time employees to grow your network. Collaboration and networking are top ways  to advance your career. Working with others in the office will expand your knowledge and spark new ideas and potential future referrals. Taking the time to build connections with the full-time employees will ensure your work is in-line with the internal process and open you up to resources  for your next project.

Advance Your Career

High paying contract jobs do exist. There is a great chance your first contract positions is greater than your previous salary. Money aside, let’s cover the advancement of your role and responsibilities. Opening up the doors to contract work that exposes you to a wealth of knowledge and resources gives you leverage to level-up with each new position. Bypass the label of a “job hopper” and avoid the need to leave a company to receive a promotion. Contract positions invite the advancement of your career at your pace. 

 

Do You Get Benefits With Contract Work?

Scoring a contract position bodes well not only for your career ladder but for your compensation and benefits package. Dice reports a 4.7% increase in pay year over year for contract/consultants. This is greater than the standard 3% incremental increase that is the average cost of living increase offered by the majority of corporate America.

Think about it: contract jobs tend to pay a little more because the job will end. So, let’s say you’re making closer to $30/hour at one job (a salaried employee is often making less annually), you have the power to ask for a couple more dollars in negotiations, giving you more power to increase your take-home pay. Unsure exactly what to ask for or what your take-home pay is now? Use our handy dandy hourly wage calculator. The remaining benefits package comes from vetting the staffing agency you want to work with. At Profiles, we offer 401k matching, paid time off, health, dental, and vision insurance.

Pro Tip: Once you apply to a brand directly a staffing agency can no longer represent you. Don’t be a resume lost in a database. Vet your staffing agency options and utilize your Recruiter to make the introduction for you.

Will You Take a Contract Position?  

Long story short – say “yes!” to your next contract position opportunity. The pros far exceed the cons. With contract jobs on your resume, you build your experience with a variety of different people, companies, organizations and industries, making you highly placeable. You never know what new doors will open or who you will network with by taking on contract jobs. Who knows, your next contract position could land you your dream job.