It’s not all roses…. How to work with the current climate

We all know that due to economic climates and the downturn that IT has slowed, so what can you do to improve your chances of staying employed or getting your next contract?

Firstly we all need to concede that it is currently an employers market and anyone who disputes that is a fool.

Once we have come to terms with the fact that we need employers more than they need us, we can move on and work on what is important – getting a contract and staying employed!

So here are a few (potentially unpopular) bits of advice:

• Work on your resume.
  It is now more important then ever to have a solid Resume. You need to stand out and sell yourself – at the end of the day you may be competing with well over 100 candidates for the same role.
  The single most important piece of advice I can give you is be focused in your Resume. Make it simple and easy to understand.
  Be clear in exactly what you do – what is you role in the work place. Don’t be a ‘Jack of all trades’.
  Generalists like ‘IT Specialists’, ‘Consultant’ and ‘IT experts’ do not usually do well in a downturn market.
  
• Be flexible on the role.
  Your last role may have been a Development Lead, but if the market is asking you to be a hands on developer again – don’t fight it!
  The most successful contractors are the ones that understand and go with the market. Contracting is not about building a career and promotions – it’s about providing a service for a price.
  
• Be flexible on rate.
  Here we go – this is where I get the abuse.
  Facts remain that in a downturn you must be flexible on rates.
  Firstly, if you take the advice of the above point you cannot expect to command the same rate if you take a role with less responsibility. Be realistic and make sure that the rates you ask for actually reflect the role you are applying for – which may not necessarily reflect your experience. If someone is asking for a Developer with 3-5 years experience they are not likely to pay you more just because you have 15 years experience.
  Secondly – be careful when negotiating periodic increases at renewal. In an employers market you need to be careful when calling your employer’s bluff. Chances are, if you take a stand of “I want $xxxx or I will leave”, your employer will hold the door open for you exit the building.
  There are plenty of people out there who are just as good as you who will gladly take your contract at a lower rate than you’re on!
  
• Head down
  This next one is pretty obvious, but still worth pointing out. Give the employer what they are paying for. Head down, bum up and work harder than you did before. Make them realise what value you are adding.Don’t create waves. Don’t get involved in office or company politics. Just be productive and prove your value.

A downturn if hard to deal with, but good contractors will always ride it out and come out stronger at the other end. Contractors who are focused on the short-term of simply in it for the $$$ will suffer.

Essentially contracting is like the stock market - and in order to be a good contractor you must be prepared to take the good with the bad and adjust your strategies accordingly.

If you cannot take the bad with the good you should get out of the market.


Andrzej Zyms
Targeted Resourcing Solutions - Specialists in IT Recruitment