Newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of STC
January/February 2003

Contracting: Is It for You?

by Gwaltney Mountford
STC Associate Fellow

Many writers ask me, “Should I become a contractor?” My answer? “That depends.” Before you think about being a contractor, you need to consider many things—the first of which is: What is the difference between contracting and being on staff?

Contracting vs. Staff Positions

It used to be that staff positions meant longevity in a company, sometimes at the expense of variety and new learning, whereas contracting meant variety and learning new things, but for short periods. Now, differences are not so clear. Long-time employees are being laid off alongside contractors. In recent years, those still on staff enjoyed more variety and opportunities to learn new things. And many contracts lasted for two or three years.

So, is there still a difference? Well, sort of. Contractors often can control when they work, whereas staffers are tied to a specific schedule. Staffers get paid time off, but are expected to work overtime; contractors get paid for all (and only) the time they work. But in this market, even these differences are disappearing. One contractor I know is being pressured to work more than 8 hours a day for 8 hours’ pay. Another contractor is adhering to a fixed schedule in fear of losing a contract.

So today, the short answer to whether to be a contractor or staffer is, “Take what you can get.”

But, ever hopeful that things will change for the better, I’ll give you the long answer. “It depends.” On how long you have been in the business—if you are just starting out, it’s best to get a staff job in a multi-writer department. On whether you are comfortable with uncertainty—your contract can end at any time, regardless of the stated end date. On whether you have a contractor’s mindset—I’ve seen “contractors” reading newspapers at the client site for hours because it was a “slow” period. If you want to be paid even when you aren’t working, get a staff job.

Before You Begin

So what do you need before you start?

Strong communication skills

This includes core skills, not just tools. If you are missing some, take courses and follow up with practice through volunteer work.

Monetary cushion

You should have enough money in the bank to live on for a year. It might be that long before you get your next contract.

Strong network

Especially in these times, where every job posting results in hundreds of resumes, your best bet is through contacts. Cast your net wide. Write personal notes (after the holidays) to everyone you know, announcing your new status. Give your “elevator speech” (a 3- or 4-sentence introduction of yourself and your talents, for the purpose of wowing your listener in a very brief amount of time) to everyone you meet. (I still get referrals from an instructor I met at an orientation three years ago.) Cultivate the developers, not just the writers, in your company. (When one programmer went on to another company that needed a writer, I was the person she remembered.) Nurture your network. Keep in touch with past clients or colleagues (I still have lunch with that programmer). Send them cards. Reciprocate. This just happened this fall—I heard of a job that I couldn’t do and suggested Sue; a month later, she heard of a job and told me about it. Now we’re both working.

Strong, polished job-seeking tools

This includes a polished resume and portfolio, a strong “elevator speech,” and professional presence in the interview. If you are uncomfortable about interviews, get a friend to role-play with you. Have peers review your resume. Make your portfolio look as professional as you are, organize it to suit the potential job, and practice with it.

Not for Everyone

Contracting is not for everyone. It is demanding and rife with uncertainty. But it is also stimulating and rewarding. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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