5 reasons to love being an IT contractor

Being a permanent employee means a stable income, a sturdy career path and job security. Right? Well not always. The uncertain economic environment means companies are less keen on hiring permanent IT staff. Instead, they favour the flexibility that hiring temporary or contract staff can offer.

The ‘tech’ sector is booming and now is a great time to become an IT contractor. If you’re thinking of moving away from permanent employment, here are our five reasons to love being an IT contractor:

1. Broaden your experience

As a permanent employee, you are given the opportunity to hone your skills in a particular area. As your career progresses you may find that you continue to develop your skills within a particular industry.

As a contractor, it is easier to transfer your valuable skills to different industries. Each project has its own unique challenges and rewards. No one project is the same, and the likelihood of you getting bored, or feeling pigeon-holed is greatly reduced.

2. It’s no longer all about London

One of the growing areas of IT is IoT (Internet of Things). It is so huge that experts predict that by 2020, nearly half of all new businesses will be run on IoT.

Whilst London is still regarded as the UK’s ‘tech-hub’, there are growing  opportunities happening in cities around the UK. Research conducted for the Tech Innovation Index has shown that following London the five areas with the best opportunities for tech jobs are: Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Brighton and Cambridge.

3. Money, money, money

It’s well known that contractors get paid more than their employment colleagues. Whereas employees are entitled to holiday, sick, maternity and paternity pay and employer pension contributions, contractors aren’t entitled to any this. They have to fund these things themselves.

The good news is that in the sectors where the demand for skilled IT contractors is high, this has also pushed up the day rates that contractors can ask for.

Our article, ‘The 10 best paying jobs for contractors’  shows that a Senior IT Manager can demand an average day rate of £570 and a contractor working in Enterprise Architecture can ask for £505 per day.

4. Choose how you want to live your life

The average leave entitlement for a permanent employee is 25 days. This is not much when you consider you have to try and squeeze in a summer holiday, Christmas, birthdays and days off to complete personal tasks.

What if you wanted to take off two or three months to travel or to undertake a personal project? As a contractor, you don’t have to worry about an employer refusing your request for leave. You are the boss, and you decide when you work.

5. Do the work you want

Working as an IT contractor does involve a certain level of adjustment. It is your responsibility to secure new contracts, which can involve building a personal brand and putting yourself out there to get your name known. It may not be something that comes naturally to you, but the benefits are worth it as it gives you the option to work on projects that interest you.

As a contractor, interviews become a two-way process. You are assessing the company as much as they are assessing you. They are looking for evidence that you have the skills to do the work, and you may be looking for signs that they are an organisation who is open to new ideas and processes.

Need a hand?

If you are an IT contractor who is looking for a proactive accountant with a personal
touch, get in touch with us on 01962 867550, or send us a message through our website.