So, you may be a bit confused about contract work - to help you out, I’m going to go into what this is, and how it differs from temp and perm positions.

What is it?

Contract work is often when candidates are hired upfront for a fixed amount of time (e.g. three months, six months, one year).  It can be used within a business for specialist projects, where experts will be hired to work on just that project, to cover planned absences such as pregnancy/maternity leave, or to cover unexpected absences.

Freelance work also counts as a contract position, but there are a few types of freelancing.  Some freelancers are self-employed, and will set their own hours, giving their services to whoever they want to.  On the other hand, some freelancers will also have contracts to companies, where they contribute on a regular basis, and are often paid for each individual project.

Are there any benefits?

These types of positions tend to benefit people who are more mature, and often deemed “over-qualified” as employers value this kind of experience when hiring for contract positions – wanting you to jump right into the job.

As well as this, contract work can lead to an offer for a full-time permanent position, and given that you can get a taste for several employers in a series of contract positions, you can get a feel for what position/industry/company you want to be in.

This type of position can even work as a short-term solution when you are unemployed.

Are there any drawbacks?

Contract work doesn’t suit everyone – if you favour stability and don’t want to re-sell yourself at the end of every fixed-term position, this type of work probably won’t suit you. 

Also, while the company will pay you, they will not deduct your taxes, meaning that you have to remit your taxes on your own.  Similarly contract workers are sometimes exempt from benefits such as holiday allowance, pension contributions, etc.

I hope that this has helped with your understanding of contract work, and you now have a better idea of whether or not this type of work would suit you.  

Make sure to check out the rest of my blog for some other handy tips and tricks: http://blog.crunchposter.co.uk/