[Discuss] suggestions for contracting work?

[bill at horne.net (Bill Horne)]

On 11/18/2013 11:23 AM, Eric Chadbourne wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Any suggestions for finding more contracting jobs?  About 5 months ago
> I left my full time job and started contracting.  So far so good.  I
> mostly pick up work from friends and looking up stuff on craigslist,
> linkedin, and dice.  Any suggestions on other places to prospect for
> clients?
>
>

 1. Work the Rolodex.  Your first and most important job is *ALWAYS*
    going to be lining up your next gig.
 2. Headhunters are useful, but not gods. Try several, but *never* pay
    up-front fees: if they get you work that you like, then they're
    worth their money. If not, cross them off the list. Don't make the
    mistake I did, and try to gut it out in a situation where the
    headhunter oversold my experience and credentials. If you arrive at
    the job, and the company has a dramatically different view of what
    you're capable of doing than what you told the headhunter, walk away
    right then and there: that way, the slavetrader gets the blame and
    the bad reputation, not you.
 3. Sign up for HARO (http://www.helpareporter.com/). It's a mailing
    list filled with inquiries from reporters who are looking for quotes
    on every sort of topic, and I was able to get good publicity for my
    business by answering questions there. Although I didn't get a lot
    of inquiries directly from those stories, I was able to include them
    in my references, and I think *that* made the difference on several
    major jobs.
 4. Keep in touch with places you've worked at, and make it clear that
    you're available: snail mail is best for this, since it's so
    uncommon that it has a certain "old school" cachet which helps to
    get you remembered.
 5. Establish relationships with companies that you trust: if you get an
    offer that is contingent on being incorporated, presenting an
    insurance certificate, etc., you might be better off asking them to
    take on the job, and letting them handle your pay stubs: they can
    also help you to avoid wasting time on jobs and situations which are
    "doomed from the start".  Jack Boyle at Cleverminds
    (http://www.cleverminds.net/) is a good guy.

HTH.

Bill

-- 
Bill Horne
339-364-8487