Survival Tips for Consultants and Contractors - Part Two

This is part two of an article regarding what consultants can do when experiencing downtime. Part One offered tips for remaining motivated and keeping a positive mindset, using your free time productively and marketing and networking effectively. Now, we will cover how to develop successful ongoing working relationships with contract recruiters and employers to increase the possibility of additional or repeat assignments.

By Annabelle Reitman, Career Management Consultant

One key to being a successful contract consultant is building and retaining good working relationships with your recruiting service and your employers. A solid and respected association with your recruiter and a good rapport with the person who hires you will translate into new and repeated contracts.

Get to know the people you are dealing with, even if the relationship is short-term.

Tips for A Good Working Relationship with Your Recruiting Service

Think of your relationship with your recruiter as a partnership. The recruiting service needs you to make it look good to its client company and you need your contracts to keep you working. A reliable and capable consultant is a highly marketable commodity.

To prevent misunderstandings or miscommunications, if you are just beginning to seek contract work be prepared to answer such questions as:

• Do you understand how contract employment works?
• Why are you seeking contract work?
• What type of contract work are you looking for? Be as specific as possible.

Also, for the same reason, if you are just beginning to seek contract work be prepared to ask such questions as:

• Who are some of your major clients?
• What is the length of a typical contract?
• Can you provide me with work on a regular basis?
• The first couple of contracts are your trial period. Be cooperative, professional, flexible, and responsible to earn the recruiter's respect and confidence.
• Keep up-to-date on what is needed in your field/industry and market those skills that match the needs.
• Have a positive and confident attitude towards consulting and contract work.

Tips for a Good Working Relationship with Your Employer

If you like your assignment and the people you are working with, start to build a viable and solid affiliation with your employer so that you are requested for additional assignments. You want organizations to feel you are making a valuable contribution in getting the work done.

• When appropriate, make suggestions that demonstrate creativity and innovation in meeting an employer's need.
• Give the assignment your 100% professional effort.
• If working on-site, be on time, pleasant and friendly to everyone, and a team player.
• Emphasize the skills and expertise that the permanent employees do not possess but can help meet the organization's bottom line.
• Handle uncomfortable or unpleasant on-site issues that you may encounter with tact, sensitivity and diplomacy e.g., a difficult and dissatisfying assignment, a problem boss, or uncooperative colleagues.

Establishing rewarding working relationships means building strong and open communications based on professional needs. Get to know the people you are dealing with, even if the relationship is short-term. You never know when in the future someone will think of you and your qualifications for an assignment. Most importantly, remember that people like to be acknowledged for their support and help. Don't forget to express your appreciation to your recruiter, temporary boss and colleagues. Good ongoing working relationships is one of the best avenues to minimal downtime.

RESOURCES

• The Temp Track by Peggy O'Connell Justice, Peterson's, Princeton, NJ. Although this is a guide for temp workers, much of the information also applies to contract workers.

Looking to make a career move?  Create a free Thingamajob account and gain access to a wide spectrum of job opportunities from Allegis Group's diverse family of staffing companies including TEKsystems and Aerotek.