Ever
wonder if you're cut out to be a contractor?
By
Catherine Robinson
Have you ever wondered what being a contractor is like and if you are up to the task? Or have you wanted to gain some independence through contracting? If so, you're not alone. In my quest to find out what it takes to be a contractor, I have come across some experienced people who have passed on some helpful information.
I will share with you some of the questions you need to ask yourselves to find out if you are up to the task of contracting and figure out the pros and cons of the business. Karen Field Carroll also has a separate article with helpful tips you should follow before you accept a temporary-to-permanent assignment.
Questions to ask yourself
The Lone Writers STC SIG has some great information on its site (http://www.stcsig.org/lw/contracting_resource_list.htm). The questions I list here are aimed at helping you to determine whether you are cut out to be a contractor.
- Can I work without knowing how long that work will last?
- Can I survive (financially and emotionally) for three to six months without work?
- Am I prepared to accept that I'll often never know what I'll be doing in a few months/weeks' time?
- Am I good at marketing and promoting myself? (It really helps if you are an extrovert.)
- Do I have an established network of people with whom I have maintained contact?
- Am I prepared to relocate if the opportunity arises?
- Am I prepared and able to run my own business? (Remember, this takes a number of hours per week on top of any paid work you are doing)
- Am I able to become part of a team for a short time, then leave? (If you really enjoy regular social contact with the same work colleagues, then independent contracting may not be for you. On the other hand, if you are an extrovert who makes friends wherever you go, it is a great way to extend your social and business network.)
- Do I love learning new things?
If your answers are mostly "yes," then consider independent contracting as the next stage in your life.
Pros and cons
The Lone Writers group also discusses the pros and cons of contracting at http://www.stcsig.org/lw/contractingFAQ.htm. Some of the pros and cons that could be considered both a pro and a con, depending on your perspective, include the following:
- freedom
- control over what you are doing
- more responsibility
Business and personal aspects
Pamela J. Cole talks on her Web site (http://www.pamcole.com/DOCS/contract.html) about the practical business and personal aspects of accepting contract work. She covers issues such as personal insurance, taxes, and social aspects of contracting with the following questions.
Insurance
- Will I be covered under my spouse's company health insurance?
- Have my dependents or I had any major illnesses in the last two years?
- Have I spent more than $5,000 on health care in the last year?
- Do I have a history of or ever been treated for alcoholism, chemical dependency, or a mental illness/disorder?
- Do I currently have a major illness?
These are just some of the questions the insurance agent will ask you. If you answer any of them unsatisfactorily, you may be denied insurance coverage.
Taxes
- How will I handle my taxes? Through a broker or 1099?
- Do I have enough deductibles?
- Do I own a home?
- Am I going to deduct part of my home mortgage?
- Do I have a tax accountant that I trust, or will I file my own taxes?
Be sure to get the right IRS publications to learn about being a 1099 contract employee and how the IRS distinguishes an independent contractor from an employee.
Financial responsibility
- What is my financial responsibility?
- Am I heavily in debt?
- Do I have child support or alimony payments that stretch my resources?
- Can I take some down time in employment?
- Do I have a nest egg that could support me for up to three months if I can't get work?
- Do I have other sources of income (such as spouse, inheritance, savings, or stocks)?
Security
- Can I handle job and economic insecurity?
- Can I accept that I may not work at one place for very long?
Self-motivation
- Am I self-motivated?
- Do I need supervision and guidance?
- Do I surf the net or play Solitaire when left to my own devices?
All technical writers are expected to be self-starters on some level, but this is an especially important attribute for the contractor. You're expected to do your job quickly, efficiently, and quietly. That's why you're valuable.
Flexibility
- Am I flexible?
- Do I adapt quickly to change?
- Can I take frequent job changes in stride and even enjoy them?
- Can I accept changes in my
- commute
- co-workers (and sometimes friends)
- work schedule
- tools (software and hardware)
- work environment
- software or hardware subject
- style and editing requirements (sometimes the hardest change)
- dress code
- lunch hour
- corporate involvement
- home (if I relocate)
Marketability
- How marketable am I?
- Do I have good examples to prove my work?
- Am I knowledgeable in current word processing systems?
- Do I have good references I can rely on?
- How much work experience do I have?
- Do I have any special talents (such as photography) or a master's degree?
Adaptability
- Do I learn quickly?
- Do new software and procedures cause anxiety?
- Do I make friends easily?
- Am I pleasant to work with?
- Does fear and shyness overwhelm me and inhibit my work?
Conclusion
After you answer the suggested list of questions from the STC Lone Writers SIG (http://www.stcsig.org/lw/contracting_resource_list.htm) and carefully consider the thoughts presented by Pamela J. Cole (http://www.pamcole.com/DOCS/contract.html), you can, without a doubt, decide if you are fit to become a contractor.
