CONTROL YOUR DESTINY Pointers for independent contractors Susan

CONTROL YOUR DESTINY (Pointers for independent contractors) Susan M. Alexander Write Concept India

Myths about independent contracting § The world is at your feet § Easier than full-time employment § Anyone can be a contractor Write Concept September 6, 2003 2

Reality § Flexi-hours does not = lots of free time § Marketing § Uncertainty Write Concept September 6, 2003 3

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Independent Contractors need to. . § Understand their professional identity § Frame effective goals § Develop an approach to reach their goals Write Concept September 6, 2003 5

Employee § Works full-time for organization that hired them § Does work that is integral to the organization § Can be fired at any time Write Concept September 6, 2003 6

Employee. . . 2 § Receives following from employer: q q q instructions training employee benefits § Can resign from the job at will Write Concept September 6, 2003 7

Independent Contractor § Is in business for herself/himself § Decides: whom to work for q when to work q how to execute the contract awarded § Has written agreement with client organization q Write Concept September 6, 2003 8

Consultant § Can be an independent contractor or an employee of a consulting firm § Has special skills that an organization does not have in-house § Helps organizations solve specific problems Write Concept September 6, 2003 9

Do you know where you are going? Write Concept September 6, 2003 10

Typical Contractor Goals § Sound like this (static) q q q To earn enough to sustain myself To be able to choose my projects To arrange work around personal life Write Concept September 6, 2003 11

Effective Goals § Should propel you towards achievement (dynamic) To increase billing by 50% each year q To become an expert in the area of proposal writing q Write Concept September 6, 2003 12

To Achieve Goals… § Use a well-defined approach for each assignment: Before you open the door q Inside the door (on the assignment) q Before/after you close the door q Write Concept September 6, 2003 13

Before you open the door § Get to know your client § Learn their real expectations q tools, deadlines, scope of work § Capture discussion details in a Preliminary Info Form Write Concept September 6, 2003 14

Before you open the door. . . 2 § Quote for the project § Draw up a contract – get help Write Concept September 6, 2003 15

Inside the door – (on the assignment) § Determine the organization’s standards and norms (documentation/other) § Develop a plan that has client buyin § Publish plan to decision makers Write Concept September 6, 2003 16

While on the assignment … 2 § Publicize standards and templates to decision makers § Open your work for feedback early § Make your role as a contractor clear Write Concept September 6, 2003 17

Before you close the door… § Present deliverables + description of deliverables § Request references and permission to use sections of work as writing samples § Record what you learnt to refine your approach Write Concept September 6, 2003 18

So, have you thought of your goals? Write Concept September 6, 2003 19

References Fishman, Stephen. 2003. Preserving Your Status as an Independent Contractor [online] Available from www. nolo. com/lawcenter/ency/article. cfm/object. ID/DDC 2 CE 2 F -DF 93 -41 CC-94 AAD 02 E 595 BD 9 D 4/cat/ID/0 D 973 BC 0 -3287 -4 CA 1944 DC 75 DE 82 DC 59 F Hackos, Joann T. Managing Your Documentation Projects. New York: Wiley 1994 Land, Julia. “How Long Will This Take? ” IPCS Newsletter, May/June 2001 Le Vie Jr. , Donald S. “Contracting: Flat Fee or Hourly Rates. ” Intercom, September/October 2000 Write Concept September 6, 2003 20