IT contractor errors of 2011

Contractor UK asked IT contractor staffing captains to reveal any mistakes that IT contractors made last year (and therefore what to avoid doing this year) that ended up significantly costing them; or worse - lost them their contract outright.

Creative CV Edits

Dates of engagement, academic qualifications and undisclosed directorships are the most common discrepancies on IT contractor CVs seen by HireRight, which vets IT contractors for banks.

“To speed up the screening process, IT contractors really need to go over their CV with a fine-tooth comb and make sure they have the dates as accurate as possible,” the firm said.

“Directorships can stay active if the company has never been closed, so it’s worth working back through your paperwork to be certain of where you might be popping up.”

Generally with IT contractor CVs, the types of errors that the firm’s EMEA unit sees being made are much the same as they were in 2010. But in challenging business, economic or labour market conditions, there’s more of an onus on HR staff to double-check the contractor’s details, particularly “the basics”.

What cooling-off periods?

Whether it’s a security vetting, a programming test or a traditional interview, contractors should ensure they are contractually permitted to attend such a part of an application or tender.

Even the mere pursuit of other commercial opportunities, particularly if in an area that competes with an existing commitment, has landed contractors in trouble. Ignoring clauses and timeframes around termination can be equally damaging , as Andrew Gardener, senior divisional director of Reed Technology has seen.

“It’s really important that contractors check their notice period and ensure it’s accurate when making an application,” he explains.

Clients “like to be able to plan and will often be less than impressed to find that the person they thought could start work next week, can actually not begin until next month.

“Many [end-users]will not be able to wait around for this revised notice period as the nature of contract work often requires it to be done within tight deadlines.”

Rate unrealism = real reductions

As a contractor, you’ve ensured that your CV is accurate and in order – you also checked your contract’s notice period and other restrictive clauses. They’re all fine. So why have you still not applied? Alan Rommel, managing director of Parity Resources, offers a likely explanation.

“A number of contractors have refused to acknowledge the pressure on pay rates – particularly in the public sector. They may have received higher rates in the past, but many in 2011 still refused to consider lower rates for their next job,” he said.

“I’ve seen [temporary IT] people turn down £600 a day on a long-term project, only to still be out of work more than three months later and to be left contemplating £450 a day.”

You have 48 missed calls (and 1 frustrated agent/client)

Being unreachable or not responding for long periods to your inbox or mobile phone, particularly if you advertise your services online or through an agency, is an age-old ‘no-no’ for freelance IT consultants.

Not only can this place a strain on your relations with the agent or prospective client (before they actually get to talk to you), but it can also hand a rival contractor work that was meant for you.

The importance of responding promptly to potential opportunities partly owes to the short-term nature of contract working which, according to Computer People, appears set to increase.

“Companies increasingly need to move quickly during the recruitment process to secure the best talent”, said Computer People’s executive director Sid Barnes. “This will become more important as we approach the London 2012 Olympics.”

As well as events, contractors are advised to check the calendar for regulatory commencement dates, which also see hirers requiring last-minute IT nous at short-notice.

Photos fazed contractors

A request in 2011 for IT contractors to submit a picture ID of themselves brought in holiday snaps, party pictures and even wedding photos!

“Candidates sometimes get mixed up between their professional and social lives,” reflected HireRight’s European managing director Alexandra Kelly.

“Using business social networking sites has become an important way of finding new jobs. But what you post can provide real insight into your background [for better or worse, so]…be careful about what you upload.”

The Powerchex founder says a contractor’s online business profile should come across as an extension of their formal CV. The web page ideally matches and confirms what your CV says, while subtly “building the complete picture” of your services “that you want your new client to see.”

Respect ‘no dress code’

Thinking carefully about the image that you want to portray as an IT professional is applicable in a physical setting too.

“A talented contractor once nearly got turned down for a role he was shortlisted for – all because of the ‘comedy’ cartoon tie he chose to wear to interview,” Mr Gardener at Reed Technology recalled.

“Fortunately, he came across well enough that the client was able to overlook that, but others will not have been so lucky. [So] while you may think your skill-set is your key selling point, first impressions do really count and anything you do that impacts negatively on the way the interviewer perceives you can strongly count against you.

“I would always recommend researching the company to get a feel for their culture, then dress appropriately. Remember, if at all unsure it’s always better to be over, not underdressed, in an interview situation.”

Contractor comparing can mislead

Less glaring in the eyes of the specialist recruiter, yet more typical as a mistake is the off-the-cuff comparison of other contractors by contractors. “ We often see candidates comparing their pay rates to the people that they work with”, Mr Gardener said.

 “This can be problematic as the candidate doesn’t always have all the information when they are doing this. It could be, for example, that the colleague he is comparing himself to has several years more experience.”

That said, IT contractors who find themselves underpaid were recommended to raise the issue with their agent, who can then approach the client on the contractor’s behalf about a case for a higher rate. Other agents advise a checklist of three questions before broaching rate disparities.

Out of the frying pan into the fire

The return of ‘take it or leave’ pay cuts in 2011 resulted in some IT contractors choosing to quit, preferring the look of pay levels elsewhere, says SQ Computer Personnel. But the IT recruiter knows of “some who then went on to work for a company which hadn’t yet implemented a rate reduction, only to be hit with an equal or larger reduction a few weeks later.” 

Reed has seen a similar pattern. It cautioned: “Consider more than just the rate of pay of a contract. The length of a contract can often be more important when looking for an element of job security. For many [candidates], a longer contract on a slightly lower rate of pay will often be preferable.”

Off-Contract, not off your face

A group of five IT contractors working in Dublin were recently advised by the client to "tone down" their mid-week activities outside of the client site. Rumours were circulating of alcohol-led debauchery and slightly nefarious activities in the Guinness capital, notably when it wasn’t the weekend.     

“When you’re contracting away from home, facing long evenings sitting alone in a B&B twiddling one’s thumbs isn’t the only alternative,” mused SQ. “Contractors having high spirits out on the town during the evening is one thing; being high off spirits or other beverages is quite another.”