While contracting is one of the more rewarding methods to work in tech, it can also be lonely. Independent contractors have their own pipeline, rates, compliance and reputation, and typically do not have the support or visibility that permanent employees so easily assume. By creating a community of trust, referrals and shared opportunity, an IT contractor network changes that dynamic, and provides clients with the speed and reliability they’ve been looking for when it comes to finding the IT talent they need.
Who Belongs in an IT Contractor Network
As with any network, the quality of the members is the key and the best members are the ones who are selective. Typically these members represent Data, Cyber Security, AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Engineering, Software Development, Solution Architecture and Project Management experience. Many networks attract members based on peer referrals meaning that they receive referrals from other members they have seen firsthand. This ensures high standards and clients can be assured that the professional they have signed up to has been recommended by a professional, and not just visually appealing on a profile.
How the Network Operates Day to Day
A functioning Melbourne IT contractor network is multi-threaded, linking people to opportunities in multiple ways. There are certain jobs that are well-known and promoted and others that are not; in the latter case, a client connects to the network directly, and a suitable member is introduced within a few days. A dedicated account manager sits between the client and the contractor and learns what they are good at and what they are looking for, and gets to know what each client’s environment, culture and expectations are. This knowledge enables much more precise matching than keyword search ever could. The model also facilitates collaboration. If a role is a better fit elsewhere within the community, members refer each other; and exclusive industry events provide contractors with the opportunity to cultivate the connections that can often result in the next job.
Benefits for Contractors and Clients Alike
The prime advantage for contractors is the consistent supply of well done jobs. Less time hunting for job boards and recruiters between jobs, more time finding jobs that fit and more time devoted to the job itself. Outside of contracts, there’s a sense of belonging a community gives you that independent work doesn’t, and it gives honest recommendations on rates and clients, and it connects you with people you want to know. Over time, those connections can help you advance your job, leading to greater programs and more senior roles.
The advantages for clients are just as evident. Having a talent pool of vetted professionals also ensures that the need can be met right away as opposed to going through hundreds of unchecked applications. The risk is minimized, because only people with a reputation of their own to protect are recommended to members, and capacity can be increased for a critical phase and it can be decreased again later without incurring permanent hiring expenses.
From someone who is a contractor seeking to build a more solid professional home to a company needing reliable and qualified technical talent, an IT contractor network that creates authentic relationships has something that job boards and traditional job agencies can’t offer. With a community to whom people are accountable, quality follows.
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