When thinking about your career as an independent contractor, how do you project your career path? For some contractors, the present is the most improtant. We refer to this as the "Get a Job Contractor." Others choose to make their moves with a longterm goal set in place. We refer to this as the "Build a Practice Contractor." In today SlideShare, Managing Partner David Kushan explains the logic behind both types of contractors.

1. What Kind of
Contractor
Are You?

2. Over the years, I’ve found that there are two types of
contractors.

3. Get a Job Contractor
(GAJC)

4. Build a Practice Contractor
(BAPC)

5. “Get a Job” Contractor
When this type of contractor is looking for their next contract, dollar
amount and travel convenience are their top priorities.

6. The more money being paid and the less travel required, the better. This
person gives little thought to the type of work or project. They fail to
consider how this project will either increase or decrease their
marketability for the next project.

7. This contractor accepts projects based solely on money and convenience,
rather than the prospect of gaining experience and furthering their career.

8. “Build a Practice” Contractor
Like the “Get a Job” contractor, everyone is looking for convenience.
The difference is that the “Build a Practice” contractor, even though he
or she is very much a contractor, is focused on career management.

9. “Build a Practice” contractors realize that in six months to a year, they’re
going to be competing for their next contract. They realize that each
contract they take is building a portfolio of work that shapes how the
next potential client will evaluate them.
So whereas the GAJC may start with dollar amount and travel
requirements, the BAPC starts with evaluating the type of work and how
this next project, once completed, will make them stand out as an
industry specialist.
They put themselves in the position of interviewing for projects that will
enhance their portfolio of work so that they become known in the
marketplace as a specialist in their niche.

10. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with a GAJC. When getting into
contracting, some people are looking to increase their income and
nothing more. To them, the travel is a trade-off for the additional income.
So, if they can increase their income while keeping the travel to an
absolute minimum, that’s what they’re going to do every time.
The only downside is this: In a market like ours today — more jobs than
people — you can get away with this type of mentality a lot easier than
when the market cools off. Today, companies are settling for people for
whom they will not have to settle when the market shifts.

11. When the market cools off, people who perceive themselves as a
business practice and have built a portfolio of successful projects in a
niche space will be the ones with long-term consulting careers in the
Healthcare IT marketplace.

12. Learn More At HealthcareIS.com
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