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There are some contractors who jump from contract to contract and others who stay in one contract for a long, long time.The former are continually spending money that they have earned while they are on the bench waiting to get new contracts. The latter are working nearly 50 weeks of the year and are able to pile up that cash in their limited companies or umbrella companies till they get themselves into a position of security in not too many years.So, how do you join the latter group?It goes without saying, of course, that if you are good you are more likely to be asked to stay on again and again.However, there are some techniques to help both good contractors and average contractors. Firstly, it is important to really knock yourself out to do a good job in the first month.After that you can relax a bit.It is very difficult to shake an impression about someone once it is established.They’ll make up their mind in the first few weeks whether you are good or not and if they decide you are it will take some huge mistake to convince them otherwise later.It is the same if they decide you are no good or just average.It will be difficult to get them to shake that opinion afterwards. The next thing you should do is to make sure you have a good relationship with your boss or whoever is responsible for taking the decision as to whether you should stay on or not.Most contractors forget that they have got to ‘sell’ themselves and their businesses to their client.Most people, like an agency or umbrella company, who are selling something will take clients or potential clients out for a meal or just a drink. This is normal practice and it is to engender goodwill – but so few contractors do it.It must work as so many other people do it.If you go out socially with your boss that’s even better.They don’t like to get rid of people that they like and whose company they enjoy.Next, and this should go without saying, but it unfortunately needs to be said, and that is don’t upset the permanent employees. You would think that this was very obvious but too many contractors don’t follow this advice – and they are usually the ones who flit from short contract to short contract.Be helpful if you can and don’t say things like “Work it out for yourself”. Also, it is very important to get on with the business users.If your boss is getting good feedback from them then that reflects well on his or her department and they are far more likely to keep you on.In fact it has happened in the past that a business user has interceded on behalf of a contractor who was about to be let go.So, if you want to stay at one company for a long time as a contractor follow the above rules and that should give you a great chance. Gerry McLaughlin is the CEO of UK IT Contractor umbrella company website www.ITContractor.com.
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