| Why do you think you need a direct hire
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| | it, then once the assignment is over, you
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| in order to make a living? It seems that
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| | can eliminate 'design' from your
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| 99% of 'direct hire' job seekers are
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| | checklist and move on to the next
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| looking for security above everything
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| | discipline.The Joys of Contract WorkThere
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| else. But the truth of the matter is that
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| | are so many perks to working contract
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| over the past 2-3 years the bulk of
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| | it's almost hard to address them all!
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| companies in America experienced a
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| | Here is a small sample:
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| slowdown and were forced to layoff both
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| | -New companies/industries year after
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| contract employees as well as direct
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| | year
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| employees; but when things started coming
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| | -You set your pay raises (but you still
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| back around in 2004, guess who those same
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| | have to be realistic!)
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| companies hired back first....the
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| | -Seeing different parts of the world (if
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| contractors!Contract hire work is often
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| | you choose to be a National Contractor)
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| times a different line item on a
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| | -Building a network of dozens of hiring
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| company's budget than a direct hire
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| | managers and recruiters
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| employee. Companies can hire contractors
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| | -Reference letters! Everyone loves
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| without having to pay their benefits,
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| | people saying nice things about them, why
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| unemployment insurance, holiday &
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| | not have a big collection of them!
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| vacation pay, (usually the recruiting
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| | -If you travel to get to a company's
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| firm pays for these items) or match their
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| | location: Per Diem! Ask virtually any
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| 401k plan. This makes hiring contractors
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| | direct employee what kind of living
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| a relatively easy and painless task for a
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| | expense he/she gets for working at the
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| company going through a slowdown. The
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| | same company!
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| projects/work might not be as plentiful,
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| | -Meeting new people and working in new
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| but they still need employees in order to
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| | teams!
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| do it!Have you ever been with a company
| |
| | -Try before you buy! If your ideal
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| as a direct hire and fantasize about NOT
| |
| | situation is to become a direct hire at
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| working for that company? The road ahead
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| | the company, now you can date the company
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| looks grim and job hunting is tough to do
| |
| | before marrying it!
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| while you are trapped in a cube 8 hours a
| |
| | -Overtime! Most contractors are hired on
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| day. But you have security there, right?
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| | an hourly basis. You work 45 hours in a
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| You get a raise once a year, as long as
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| | week; you get paid for 40 hours regular
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| the economy is strong. As a contractor
| |
| | and 5 overtime. Ask most direct hires
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| you only have to stay for your project
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| | what they get paid when they work 45
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| assignment and then you are free to go
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| | hours a week!How Do I start?Some folks
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| (or if another project comes up
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| | think that you have to be a big risk
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| internally, they might ask you to stay),
| |
| | taker in order to be a contractor. What I
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| then on to the next gig for a more
| |
| | actually see is people who aren't
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| attractive price!Or, on the other hand, I
| |
| | necessarily risk takers at all, rather
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| can think of countless times where a
| |
| | people who stay on top of a small
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| company has hired on a contractor through
| |
| | database of recruiters and consistently
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| me, and they were such a good match, at
| |
| | contact them with updates. I have worked
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| the end of the contract they hired the
| |
| | with plenty of contractors who aren't
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| contractor on direct with a raise and
| |
| | even looking for a new gig, but stay in
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| all! You can't win if you don't play. In
| |
| | touch with me on a weekly or biweekly
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| fact, there are some companies that ONLY
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| | basis. They update me on the status of
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| hire certain disciplines on a contract
| |
| | their current project, whether the
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| basis before making any sort of long-term
| |
| | company they are with is hiring or
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| commitment. Am I talking about a
| |
| | laying-off and any new updates they want
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| 'contract to direct' or 'temp to
| |
| | to add to their resume (or my database).
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| permanent' placement? No, they are
| |
| | The whole call lasts 3 minutes, but one
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| open-ended contract positions with no
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| | thing about contracting it is a contact
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| long-term commitment."I don't want my
| |
| | sport-the more people you contact, the
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| resume to look like I am a job hopper!"
| |
| | better you do.I would recommend working
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| That's exactly what it will look like if
| |
| | with 3-5 different recruiters; provide
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| you try to play 'Contractor' with direct
| |
| | them with your resume, cover letter, and
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| hire positions. A contractor's resume may
| |
| | 2-3 professional references. Call or
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| or may not even have dates on it.
| |
| | email them on a weekly or biweekly basis
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| Companies usually don't care how long a
| |
| | and let them know that you are in fact
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| contractor was at his/her last position.
| |
| | excited about short or long-term
|
| But if you show a Hiring Manager your
| |
| | assignments.SummaryI couldn't even tell
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| Direct Hire resume and it has 10
| |
| | you the number of Contractors I know that
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| different companies on it in a 3 year
| |
| | wouldn't trade their career for anything.
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| period, what would make the Manager think
| |
| | Some of these people have traveled
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| you were going to stay put at their
| |
| | literally all across the globe on
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| company?ExperiencePersonally, I would
| |
| | different assignments, while others
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| rather take a 1-year contract position
| |
| | choose to stay local. Contract work is a
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| with a certain Minneapolis-based medical
| |
| | great way to expand your comfort zone,
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| giant than a direct hire position with
| |
| | work in a variety of industries, and meet
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| Bob's Medical Device Company. This
| |
| | lots of new people. Not to mention it's a
|
| particular medical giant is a highly
| |
| | great way to control your own career, set
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| acclaimed company recognized throughout
| |
| | your own pay rates, and plan your own
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| the world and the experience I would gain
| |
| | vacations! Who wouldn't want this?Dale
|
| there is more than likely hand-over-fist
| |
| | Robert is a MicroBusiness Coach, Career
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| more valuable than any direct position
| |
| | Coach, and Speaker/Seminar Leader. Dale
|
| elsewhere.Contracting is especially good
| |
| | has worked in the Staffing Industry,
|
| for Junior level candidates who don't
| |
| | primarily in the medical device field in
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| really know what their niche is yet. If
| |
| | Minneapolis, for 6 years. He is also a
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| you are a Jr. level Mechanical Engineer
| |
| | Competent Toastmaster, and the Vice
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| but you don't know if you want to do
| |
| | President of a Toastmasters club in the
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| design work, project management,
| |
| | Minneapolis, MN area. He is currently
|
| engineering sales, or whatever else,
| |
| | rolling out a 'Consultant Business
|
| contracting is a great way to figure out
| |
| | Start-up Coaching Package', which helps
|
| your calling. If you start out on
| |
| | Would-Be Consultants get started in
|
| contract doing design work and you hate
| |
| | business!
|
