New Directions

I began a contract for a large company today that seems to be a very good fit for me (and I seem to be a good fit for the company's skill needs).  I am very optimistic and look forward to a good run at the company.    I'm new to contracting, so I am still holding my breath, as I figure that contracting is one way companies might "try before they buy," and given the state of the economy as reported by the news media, my contract might be shorter than we originally agreed on.    

I have had 3-4 year engagements in full-time employment with several companies over the past 10-15 years, and in each case, it almost seemed like my length of employment was project driven, as I was usually released after completing a major project(s).  I have heard of people working a contract position for as long as 3-4 years.

Since there is no employment that can be guaranteed---not from unions, a job in government,working for big corporations, etc.---why do we think of contracting as "temporary employment?"  All employment is, in effect, temporary.  Not many people are planning to retire from a single company and receive the gold watch (may the reader please forgive me if they are indeed planning this---you are in a dwindling minority).

Perhaps in days gone by, companies would develop young, raw talent into the employees they needed.  My experience has been to the contrary.  Talent is acquired/bought on the open market for specific functions and to secure workers with very specific experience.   Not that this offends me; labor/talent is a product in every way, and companies should be free to secure the most cost-effective solution for the business needs.

It is a major paradigm shift for most people to think of their talent and experiences as "products" that can be bought and sold.  If you consider than no employment is permanent (usually stated somewhere on the paperwork HR has you sign when hired), then the shift to a string of jobs/positions for hire won't upset you so much and will free you to take on short contract work (3, 6, 9 12 months or longer).  After all, you're signing on to give them your talent for a specific rate of pay, and you probably don't give them any guarantee that you'll be waiting for that gold watch at retirement.  Your "gold watch" may come in the form of a very portable 401k, which, managed correctly, is a much sweeter deal that even the best gold Rolex.