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Working in the emerging professional HR space, I am privileged to support future HR leaders, helping them navigate their job search and the opportunities and decisions they face throughout the early stage of their careers. One thing I come across quite frequently, is that many people who are relatively new to HR, don’t fully understand the options that are available to them when they are preparing to find a new job. In fact, working as an HR contractor rarely comes to mind for the HR talent I meet. Yes, securing a permanent role is a great avenue to developing your foundation in HR, but there are numerous benefits gained through HR contracting.

Here’s why considering an HR contract role could be the perfect solution to help you continue building on your HR experience, effectively steering your career in the right direction.

Changing Mindsets Around Contracting

There are a few common reservations regarding HR contract roles that many of the candidates I’ve worked with share with me. For example, they worry about the perceived lack of security, availability of continued work and the gaps between contracts. The lack of annual/sick leave can also feel confronting for some. Another concern is the way working as an HR contractor looks on a resume. Will contracting be perceived as moving from role to role too often? Will employers just see limited tenure? Will employers see me as a strong candidate for permanent roles after a stint in HR contracting?

Although valid concerns, what counts is the experience you gain and what you contribute, then how you articulate this to a new employer. Further to this, I always like to take some time to discuss the benefits of contracting to candidates, especially if they are still finding their place in the industry and need to build on their existing experience. Although it’s natural to have misgivings when applying for roles and deciding what role will inevitably be the best fit, I think it’s important to understand that the paradigm has shifted towards contracting in many ways.

Employers are far more open to HR contractors, and the number of contract opportunities is increasing. Today’s organisations view contractors as assets, bridging talent voids with adaptable candidates that can slot into teams quickly and effectively. As the pace of change continues to increase and organisations all compete for the same skills, talent and capability, contracting has become one of the best ways for organisations to ensure they are able to borrow the right person for the right period of time. Mastering your early HR skills and responsibilities, in addition to your ability to adapt to new organisations and have impact quickly, are all valuable skills. The return for a candidate can be the ability to gain skills in an organisation they otherwise wouldn’t have permanent access to, or the opportunity to work on a specific projects or programs of work.

There are a wide variety of contract roles available, ranging from a few weeks up to 24 months. To give you an idea of the opportunities on the market, below are some of the exciting contract HR jobs I’ve recruited for recently:

• HR Advisor for a manufacturing organisation (6-month contract)
• Learning & Development Consultant for a financial services organisation (6-month contract)
• Talent Acquisition Advisor for an energy organisation (12-month contract)
• HR Advisor for a retail organisation (3-month contract)
• HR Contractor for a financial services organisation (24-month contract)
• Employee Experience Consultants for a global Insurance company (multiple 6 to 12-month contract opportunities for both graduates and candidates starting out in HR)

Key Advantages Of Contracting For HR Career Development

As I have explained above, contracting can be a springboard that launches you into the next phase of your HR journey. Benefits include:

Diverse experience

Working as a contractor offers great exposure to a variety of industry sectors, organisations and HR models/functions and this creates perspective. Perspective can help you identify which direction to take your career, but it will also help you understand what HR competencies you further need to master. Industry variety reduces the chances of being pigeonholed and develops your business acumen. In fact, contracting also opens opportunities to be considered for highly competitive opportunities.

Try before you buy

If you are looking for the ‘ideal role’ that ticks all the boxes, you could be potentially waiting a while. The short-term nature of contracts means are able to move into a role to see if it suits your goals, builds on your experience and could potentially be the role and culture fit you’ve been looking for. Even better, if the HR contract is everything you’ve been looking for, there is a chance it may lead to a permanent position; Managers are reluctant to let high performing contractors move on, but of course HR team structure and budget guide this somewhat.

Networking

Becoming a contractor can open doors to valuable industry contacts that will serve you well in the future. Meeting new people in the HR industry expands your professional network, often helping you to get a foot in the door regarding future opportunities.

Employability

It’s much easier to find a permanent HR job when you’re already in a role and working in the industry. Contracting offers you the opportunity to build your credibility and demonstrate your agility with your next potential employer through your newly gained responsibilities and achievements on contract. Take a risk on a contract role and you may find you have a head start on other candidates who can’t speak to their varied experience, agility and ability to quickly develop effective business relationships.

Summary

There are clear advantages of working as a contractor in the early stages of your HR career. The good news is that working with an HR recruitment consultant can really assist you in determining the best role for you. Keep an open mind about contracting for all the reasons above and remember your HR recruitment consultant will have no problem representing an HR contractor that delivers seamlessly from role to role. Working closely with your consultant and being organised ahead of time will nurture a continuum of opportunities in the majority of cases. A contracting role may just be the ticket to the HR career you’ve always wanted!

If you’d like to find out about the contracting opportunities I have available, or if you’re after some advice to kickstart your HR career, get in touch with me today.