Please help the Jobless workers

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by agzg

I did contract work while looking for a FT position. Sometimes the money is better but often with the 1099 crowd there are no benefits AND you have to pay all employment taxes out of pocket. If you're making enough it's fine it's just something to be on guard about.

Also, you can do contract work through an agency (or temp work - 2 very different things though) where you fill out a W-4 with the agency, are their employee, and therefore are eligible for any benfits they offer and unemployment if your client company unexpectedly cuts your position. The money isn't as good, though.

I worked through an agency, many contract workers at my current job were just laid off, and were 1099ers, so they're having some trouble figuring out what their next move is, if they were working with us only. For the most part, though, they're not as worried as a full-timer would be.

ETA: Drole, contract work often times depends on who you know, but companies will also put job listings out that say "contract" in them. Agencies are also helpful in getting you into the contract world.

You may not be able to find something in the mental health world, but there are contract firms out there for a lot of different sectors. For example, live-in worked with an IT contracting firm, my contract firm was Financial Staffing in particular but they also focused on office services and did place temps from time to time (although they don't like that).

Yeah that makes sense. I have a feeling they'd mostly be looking for someone with more experience than I have anyway. Thanks.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yeah that makes sense. I have a feeling they'd mostly be looking for someone with more experience than I have anyway. Thanks.

You never know. Contract positions are a good way to get experience, particularly if you're working through an agency. And, if you find something better, there's not really hard feelings if you leave, just the nature of having contract employees.

When I signed on I had next to no experience, and none in the industry where I was placed. I was placed as "office support" - not an administrative assistant or receptionist, but not a full-blown "insert title here" and they really got to know my strengths and weaknesses. Because one of my particular strengths is actually a spot they were needing to fill, I ended up being hired away from my agency as an FTE for the client. I can give you more details later about how it worked if you're interested.

My position now isn't in "my" industry, but it uses the same skillset. I never would have thought to even apply with my current company had it not been for my placement through my agency.

It worked for me, but I also work in a city where contract workforce is very popular and successful, so YMMV. Many people I know have either been contrators full-time or do contract work on the side where there's no conflict between their FT job and the contract work.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by agzg

You never know. Contract positions are a good way to get experience, particularly if you're working through an agency. And, if you find something better, there's not really hard feelings if you leave, just the nature of having contract employees.

When I signed on I had next to no experience, and none in the industry where I was placed. I was placed as "office support" - not an administrative assistant or receptionist, but not a full-blown "insert title here" and they really got to know my strengths and weaknesses. Because one of my particular strengths is actually a spot they were needing to fill, I ended up being hired away from my agency as an FTE for the client. I can give you more details later about how it worked if you're interested.

My position now isn't in "my" industry, but it uses the same skillset. I never would have thought to even apply with my current company had it not been for my placement through my agency.

It worked for me, but I also work in a city where contract workforce is very popular and successful, so YMMV. Many people I know have either been contrators full-time or do contract work on the side where there's no conflict between their FT job and the contract work.

Most of the work here is state work, or agencies that are contracted to the state, but with regular employees. If I saw contract work advertised I'd totally apply, it just doesn't seem to be as common here.

Blah. I'm in a rather negative phase of the job hunting anyway. It'll come back around but I'm pretty well disheartened for now.

[DrPhil]

Not every contracting job is advertised. It is often a result of extensive networking and marketing yourself to the right people/companies. This often comes from being seen (i.e. professional organizations, training sessions, talking about yourself more than some people feel comfortable doing including at seemingly random places, etc.) and not just composing and mailing off a lot of resumes. It goes back to, when it comes to getting in the door, "it isn't what you, it is who you know" and how you go about putting yourself out there.

There are mental health (and other fields of expertise) contractors in many cities who do unadvertised jobs for various mental health private and state-funded companies. They make a lot of money and lasting networks doing it.