First steps can be both daunting and exciting. Before you can run, you need to be able to walk – and Contracting PLUS is here to lend a helping hand.

Starting out – Where to start

Contracting and remote working are here to stay – but it looks different depending on the industry. It is lucrative and flexible for both contractors and organisations. Contractors can earn more money and decide what contracts they accept and hours they work. Organisations can benefit from experienced professionals on a project basis and flex up and down depending on their needs and budget requirements.

More and more women are joining the ranks of contracting and this is really prevalent in the pharma and IT sectors. In fact, according to a recent article in the Financial Times,

18 per cent of tech leaders in Ireland are women, up from 12.5 per cent last year and ahead of 14 per cent globally.

As a female contractor, here are the top ways you can put yourself in the best position to win.

• Selling is a requirement: Get used to promoting yourself and selling your skills and expertise. This is the best way to land the contracts you want in the organisations you admire. Whether this is through your CV, networking events, online posts (e.g. LinkedIn updates), it’s up to you to sell your skills. If you really want to avoid this aspect of contracting, a good contract recruiter is worth their weight in gold. Great recruiters will identify roles that are due to start six to nine months ahead and once you build a relationship with them, they can ensure you put your best foot forward.
• Long term learning and success: Developing your skills and honing your craft is now imperative to your success. Whether that’s interpersonal skills, new technologies or simply industry insights – you need to take control of your learning and development. It increases your earning potential and the variety of roles available. It’s worth remembering that there is tax relief associated with career development, so be sure to check with your account manager to ensure you are maximising all the available options.
• Find a financial partner: Tax can be complicated and time consuming. It can also be costly, so it pays to ensure you are partnering with a financial specialist who understands the nature of your business. The team in Contracting PLUS can help you make sense of what you need to consider and how you might start contracting – under an umbrella company or limited liability partnership. You want someone who can maximise your earning potential, leaving you free to do what you do best – whatever skill that might be.

Here to support your future success

If you are interested in joining the hundreds of female contractors, but you’re not sure where to start, talk to us. We have been supporting contractors for over 20 years, ensuring you maximise the money you make, letting you focus on what you do best! Schedule a call with our team at a time and date that suits you.

We hope you’ll join our community of female contractors Women in Contracting LinkedIn Group here*. We hope you will find it helpful.

*This is a community for women or people who identify as female. Please note, where we reference women or females, we include people who identify as female.