How IT contractors go from public to private

Unlike their full-time counterparts, temporary and contract IT staff are naturally disposed to shelter from overhead pressures on their jobs quickly and without too much fuss.

Compared to an employee's, a contractor's notice period is shorter, as is the scope of contractual lock-ins, which seek to restrict how, when and where they can work next.

And with 600,000 jobs at risk from state spending cuts, droves of freelancers in public IT roles are now acting on this greater freedom to enter the private sector, or return to it.

"Last year, many highly skilled IT workers jumped from the private to the public sector", explained Alan Rommel, of Parity Resources, which specialises in state IT placements.

"Not only was this due to the recession biting the private sector first, but it was also because the state sector had some large tech projects, which offered [value] to contractors' CVs.

"Now, many of these workers want to return to the private sector as [public] funding is reduced and there is insecurity in roles, [probably lasting until] October's spending review."

IT contractors trying to move from public to private have been busying agents at Hays, who told CUK that candidate fears about state job losses have been stoked by the media.

But as early as July this year, demand for contractors from state clients who recruit for security-cleared roles took a visible nosedive, staffing firm Jenrick IT confirmed at the time.

Such niche contractors, and others at public bodies facing the pinch, who work under an obligation model, not one of profit or loss, tend to find 'going private' the hardest.

Yet IT recruiters at Outsource UK believe private firms are not reluctant to hire ex-government staff, although such employers do often prefer applicants with sector or industry experience.

"Each [public contractor] has their [own] merits," said the firm's managing director Paul Jameson. "In a candidate-rich market... [private] clients will always want good people."

In financial services however, which has proved fruitful for job-seekers until this third quarter, another IT agent hinted that applicants with public backgrounds were almost no-hopers.

"I haven't known a single banking client to hire a candidate for an IT job or contract who was off the public sector circuit", said Bernie Potton, founder of SQ Computer Personnel.

"Still, we have seen some Project Management Office contractors successfully crossover from public to private, and the very occasional Programme Manager post".

Partly for being able to learn new skills quickly, and on the side of interim role, most IT contractors leaving Whitehall tend to think they can jump to the private sector with ease.

They believe 'I have a skillset that is transferable' but, according to Potton, most don't. Letting them down, he said: "The rest (non-PMO and non-PM contractors) can't buck this trend."

Top 5 contractor tips for jumping from public to private

1/Get it in writing: Qualifications

With agents and clients looking closely at the skill claims of contractors leaving Whitehall, put your capabilities beyond doubt by taking advantage of an industry-recognised training and training providers.

Business organisations, such as the IoD, provide intensive courses that can help candidates from the public sector head off private sector individuals' fears that their commercial nous is wanting. Recommended for IT workers with a recent history in the public sector, and particularly for career civil servants with established IT careers.

2/Re-package yourself: CV skills

Focus your CV on what you've done, uniquely if possible, rather than where, Outsource UK recommends. Tailor your CV so it is more skills-based rather than organisation-focused. "You can still then list your attributes under headings such as IT Technical, People Management," said Jameson, "but highlighting the diversity of your actual skills" is the priority.

3/Show and tell: CV talking points

Bearing in mind what your prospective private sector client is looking for, or may even be concerned about from your non-profit background, quantify your CV, as palpable examples count. "Position yourself as someone who makes a difference," Jameson said. This involves highlighting where you improved business performance or saved revenue - achievements that may not have needed as much prominence on a CV submitted for public sector work.

4/Take in the culture: Your fit

IT contractors with highly in-demand skills will be able to make the transition easier, as clients will see their expertise as collateral to take more of a risk on cultural fit, said Parity. However for career civil servants from the IT department, Rommel cautioned they must adapt to a profit-oriented sector, with cultures they may have never experienced. For example, the public sector is seen as having a risk averse culture, whereas in the private sector there is more of a risk management culture.

Some of this Brave New World can be prepared for. Outsource said: "Research the private sector [firm's market] and the specific industry/organisation. Each possess their own endemic features to which you can align your CV and interview style to. "

5/Stepping stone approach: Method

Government IT contractors whose skills are without an immediate or equivalent fit in the private sector will need to use a 'stepping stone' approach. Using this method, said Potton, ex-government IT staff can eventually end up working for corporations.

Start: Public sector
Step 1: Charity/third sector client
Step 2: Small and medium-sized enterprise
Step 3: Large company

Alternatively,

Start: Public sector
Step 1: Services or IT outsourcer for state bodies, or an IT/management consultancy
Step 2: A business similar to the end-clients of the outsourcer/consultancy

"And if you do take this alternative route, try and be competitive on your pay rate," SQ advised. "At the moment, the consultancies and outsourcers will really like this."