Publisher's Synopsis
This book is a guide to your career path on how you 'Qualify as a Contractor' from my corporate experience as a IT contractor I have detailed the steps to take you there.
I will take you through all the correct steps from my contracting career perspective.
- Understanding your current career identity-
- Your Assessment: confidence, soft skills, tech stack, achievements- What makes you different?' positioning.
- What projects have you delivered, and what's your USP?
- How do you show up in a room? (Consultant mindset assessment)
Chapter 2: Why Contracting Could Change Everything
- Contract market vs permanent market.
- Day rates, inside/outside IR35-Pay, pensions, annual leave trade-offs
Chapter 3: Confidence is Currency
- Confidence to consult, influence, deliver outcomes-Project confidence vs personal confidence
- Imposter syndrome-The contractor's reputation economy
- The 'Can you walk into a room and own it?' test
Chapter 4: The CV and Brand Rewrite
- Why a contractor CV isn't a PERM CV
- How to sell outcomes, not responsibilities
- Positioning yourself at your target rate-Online brand basics (LinkedIn, personal website if needed)
Chapter 5: Test Drive the Contracting Life
- Build your first contractor CV & LinkedIn positioning
- CV Run a pilot: temp roles, short-term projects, freelance gigs. Start pitching as a consultant
- Mini assignments, volunteering, side hustles as warm-ups
- Breaking the 'PERM is secure' myth
- How to create job security in contracting (networks, visibility, reputation)
- Managing downtime between contracts
- Financial planning basics (for day rates, tax, savings)
Chapter 7: The Blueprint Action Plan
- 30-day, 60-day, 90-day contracting prep plan
- Key contacts to make-Resources list (websites, recruiters, umbrella companies, IR35 tools)
- Final confidence test: Are you ready?
- Your Contracting Manifesto page they fill in
- Bonus Chapter
