Become a Career Contractor
Are you just dabbling in contract work, or are you in it to establish a new and thriving career? Apply a little time and these key habits to transition yourself to a successful contract career.
Career Contractors …
• Treat contract work like a business. Why? Because it is their own small business. Market yourself. A great contract worker understands (or learns) how to market herself and her skills. Network, network, network. Network to find other contractors who have related skills. For example, a graphic designer might take note of a few website development gurus to refer work to — and may find the favor returned.
• Hunger for success. The old adage couldn’t be more true: The early bird really does get the worm. Be a seeker. Always be on the lookout for new employers and keep applying to relevant jobs. A career contractor doesn’t wait for the next great job to find him — he goes out and finds it! Look ahead with confidence. He will also seek jobs that push him higher in pay, deeper into his field of expertise, and broaden his range of experience.
• Are true professionals. Don’t let working remotely or working from home hinder your professional performance. Have a routine. Career contractors keep regular work schedules and let employers know when they can expect to find them online. Organize. Stay on top of tasks, deadlines and conference calls. Set up your own system of organization and use it.
• Communicate well from the first contact to the last. Your ability to communicate — whether you are a blog post writer or a software programmer — will directly affect your contract career success. Practice clarity. Career contractors are professional and clear at all times. (Read: no texting lingo.) Stay in touch. Don’t take a job and then drop off the radar until the day your project is due. Stay in contact through emails or calls, updating on status, clarifying issues, etc. Career contractors keep the lines of communication open with other team members throughout the assignment.
• Build relationships. Whether you are networking or just working, keep relationships in mind. They are part of the bigger picture. Be social. Career contractors take a few minutes now and then to get personal with people and aren’t just work robots. Offer satisfaction. Career contractors think about pleasing the client, not just completing an assignment. Repair damage. When you screw up, be the first to own it. Honesty fosters trust, and trust builds your career.
• Go above and offer to go beyond. Career contractors don’t just wait around for opportunities to shine, they chase them. Add value. When you can improve the projects you are working on, take the initiative to share your ideas for improvement. Offer more. Offer to manage others — if you’re leading the project, you’re getting more visibility throughout, and more people are seeing your talent.
Are you a career contractor? Tell us how you made the transition from dabbling freelancer to careerist!
Tamara Rice is one of several freelance writers on the oDesk Blog team. She joined the oDesk marketplace in 2009, after more than six years on staff at an award-winning national magazine.
Thanks for this clear message of how people should interact and social manners that should be embraced by all, and not just contractors.
Nice post Tamara! I definitely agree with a lot of points here like:
“A career contractor doesn’t wait for the next great job to find him — he goes out and finds it!”
“Don’t take a job and then drop off the radar until the day your project is due. Stay in contact through emails or calls, updating on status, clarifying issues, etc.”
“Career contractors think about pleasing the client, not just completing an assignment.”
Thanks
it’s good article and it’s the best tiobic
Thanks, fellow contractors. So glad the sentiments ring true.
Great tips, very clear. This just reminded me about important point or two that I have overlooked; am motivated to get back on track!
Writing will courage to those who are at every level of career to make it more professional. Some great advice are given not only think about completing assignments but completing them in good manner.
Hello i am new in ODesk i dont know how to create my profile or how to pass odesk readness test plz help me in this,give me instructions or hint plz…1
Thanks for this insightful message. This will be a very good career contractor’s template for new ones on odesk.
I am very interested to work here to earn money.Such as data entry . How can i get this job and start just now. Pls assists me.
Hello everyone. I am new in ODesk, will you give me advice what to do and how to do it especially creating my profile and creating cover letters for job applications. I also wanted to pass the readiness test. Please explain about Team Application. Thanks.
well. it is of-course transparent message for every one.
i am looking it from many days and i learn always new points and guide line, her each guide point has several positive mining which brought me on a stage where i am feeling i know some thing no matter i got work or not.
thanks
Hi everyone,
I am new to oDesk. Guidance given by Tamara is an eye opener. I am glad I did not rush to make my profile. My two cents worth of advise to all new comers, do not rush to create your profile and apply for jobs, first read everything you can about the workings of ODesk. Good luck all.
Thank you very much,
I had been dabbling in my work because of my unawareness. I was so fed up. So I wanted to learn well about o desk before working. This was the first article I read in that attempt. I got a clear message. I have no enough words to thank you. Thanks again…..!
Thank you Tamara, it is well laid out and logical, if we only get to apply it just as well, things would be 100%.
Hello My name is Anberber Angagaw ,I am new in ODesk, will you give me advice what to create my profile and creating cover letters for job applications. I also wanted to pass the readiness test. Please give me a hint. I am interested on taking part in Graphics design.
Such is truly a wonderful message. It reminds me of my customer service concept of taking the HEAT to repair the damage.
Hello My name is Tom Ojole,I am new in ODesk, will you give me advice what to create my profile and creating cover letters for job applications. I also wanted to pass the readiness test. Please give me a hint. I am interested on taking part in customer service and data entry related jobs
I am in Kenya and this odesk is not much embraced here. I’m going to be the ambassador because certainly i am going to succeed in this career.
Hello My name is Ruel Quicoy,I am new in ODesk, will you give me advice what to create my profile and creating cover letters for job applications. I also wanted to pass the readiness test. Please give me a hint. I am interested on taking part in customer service and data entry related jobs
please help me..:)
Hi everyone! this is my first time to visit and join this organization…i’m very grateful for the oppotunity…
Thank you and I hope that you will guide me to be a successful contactor….It is a big challenge for myself and i’m ready to get started…
It is a great article. I know from my own experience, it is important to deliver better results as expected from the employer. Often employer are less knowledgeable of the topic they want contractors to do. That is why contractors sometimes should suggest new ideas or different methods of solving a problem.
I feel the concept is clear not only as a contractor but also as basic code of ethics. One ought to be pro active and not reactive. It really makes sense Tamara. We appreciate your contribution to us new starters
Am new on O desk trying to manoeuvre any assistance will be appreciated mostly on Admin Support. How should I prepare cover letter and profile. I have tried t make my profile but am not sure if it is correct. I would like to be a member.
Isaac Soita
Kenya
Hello My name is Kartick Chandra Ghosh,I am new in ODesk, will you give me advice what to create my profile and creating cover letters for job applications.
This is a very informative and well written article.I am new in oDesk. Thank you, Tamara, for the tips. Writing my profile is the next hurdle to take. I surely need help.