Busting Common Contract IT Myths

At some point in your technology career, expect an opportunity to work on a temporary contract basis. Depending on your professional hopes and dreams, these temp positions offer their own benefits compared to full-time work. Before making a decision, you need to understand everything good and bad about contract employment.

With an eye towards making the right choice for you, we take a look at a few of the top myths surrounding contract IT work. You might find the additional flexibility fits perfectly with your career path. Let’s take a closer look.

Permanent IT Jobs Pay More Than Contract

One popular myth about technical contract work states permanent positions pay more. According to the actual salary data, this myth is false. A recent survey notes the average technology contactor earns over $140,000 per year, assuming one two-week vacation. On the other hand, the average annual salary for an IT employee is slightly less than $94,000.

Contract Work Makes Your Tech Skills Obsolete

In fact, working a succession of IT contracts remains the best way to keep your technology skills up to date. For example, take a class in machine learning and earn a certification. This opens up a myriad of opportunities to you, considering the strong demand for tech pros with AI skills.

Temporary IT Workers Don’t Get Offered Permanent Positions

Actually, one of the main reasons companies use temporary contracts is for an opportunity to “test drive” a candidate before offering them a permanent gig. This is especially the case when trying to close a skills gap in the latest tech. So don’t believe this myth whenever you see it.

Contractors Aren’t Truly Part of the Team

Teamwork and collaboration remain vital in an IT world dominated by Agile and DevOps. Organizations that make their tech contractors feel like outsiders aren’t the norm. In fact, most companies strive to make their temps feel like a valued member of the team.

You Can’t Balance Your Professional and Personal Lives as a Contractor

One myth states that tech contracting simply takes up your entire life. As such, you have little time for recreational activities. Once again, this is abjectly false. In fact, the higher pay of contracting and its “be your own boss” nature provides the flexibility to take longer vacations when needed. Just get your work done on time!

If you need advice on your technology career, speak with the expert recruiters at Peyton Resource Group. One of the top IT staffing agencies in the Southwest, we know the companies looking for talented tech pros. Connect with us soon!

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