How to Change Employment From Full Time to Contract
As a contract worker, you are hired by a company on a project-by-project basis to perform a specific set of tasks. The work is not long term, and, in most cases you are hired as a kind of specialist. Finding contract work is moderately easy. For many, a major benefit of contract work is not being tied to a single employer, which can be freeing. The possibility of earning a higher wage is also a plus.
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Instructions
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Find work as a contract employee. State resources are available to assist you in your search for contract employment. Contact your state's department of labor, employment development department or department of labor and workforce development. Recruiters, job placement websites and local career fairs also provide leads for contract employment.
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Research the details of the project. Get the project's timeline, ask about research materials that may be made available to you before the project's start date and request an outline of expected tasks and duties.
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Negotiate a fair contract. Include points such as salary and the number of hours per week you must be available to your employer, which is especially important if you work out of state. Negotiate the terms of the contract, including reasonable grounds for termination. Determine if you have an ability to subcontract labor. Negotiate variable benefits, such as housing costs, especially if you are required to relocate to a hotel.
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Supplement your insurance. Employers pay benefits for full-time employees but not for contingent workers. Supplement your health care needs with a private plan.
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Consult a tax attorney. As a contract worker, you may be entitled to claim office and transportation expenses if you perform most of your contracted duties from a home office. A tax attorney can check your eligibility for deductions, based on the type of contract work you perform.
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Tips & Warnings
You may find the move from full-time employment to contract employment challenging, especially as you deal with the rigors of contract negotiations, the continuous search for employment and the challenges of living without the benefits once afforded to you as a full-time worker.
Update your resume to reflect your interest in contract work.
Contract work can lead to instability in pay.
References
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