You've Been Offered A New Contractor Assignment - What Next?
Wondering what your next steps should be after receiving a job offer? Discover how to evaluate, accept, and successfully proceed with a new role.
Receiving an offer for your next contracting assignment is always an exciting moment, but before you rush into accepting a new role, you should think carefully about your next steps.
There are plenty of things to consider before you respond to an offer, and if you want to make the right moves in your contracting career, it’s key to make well-informed decisions.
In this guide, we’ll outline some of the important boxes you’ll need to tick when receiving and assessing job offers.
Evaluate your new offer
First things first, take a close look at the offer you’ve received.
Before you make any decisions about a new role or contracting placement, you need to know exactly what you’re signing up for. Evaluate the finer details of the offer, including the proposed/estimated hours, responsibilities, rates, milestones, and deliverables.
If everything aligns with your expectations, then great! You can respond to your client/recruiter, finalise the contract, and confirm next steps.
However, if you have questions or concerns about anything included in the offer, it’s vital to contact the client (or the recruiter you’re working with) as quickly as possible to resolve them.
You don’t want to accept anything that isn’t feasible for you, but you also don’t want to risk missing out on a contract. The world of contracting moves fast, so act quickly to iron out any potential issues.
Get your insurances and certifications in order
As a contractor, you’ll be responsible for setting up any professional insurance that’s required for a new job. The type of policy you need will vary depending on your role, client, and work circumstances.
Many contractors, for instance, will need some form of general liability insurance - but if you’re a mechanical engineer, you may also want a policy covering specific pieces of equipment.
At Matchtech, we require all contractors to secure no less than £1,000,000 in professional indemnity insurance, £2,000,000 in public liability insurance, and £5,000,000 in employer’s liability insurance, alongside any other industry-specific policies.
Although insurance guidelines will vary across agencies and clients, we maintain these requirements to protect all parties involved.
Looking for insurance coverage for your next contract? We recommend speaking to Kingsbridge Insurance.
Confirm your start dates
If you’re currently working in a contract role when you receive a new offer, you’ll need to make sure that there’s no overlap between any completion and start dates.
Any confusion around project timelines can be disruptive for clients, as well as damaging to your reputation as a contractor.
Avoid stress by confirming crystal-clear start dates and double-checking your calendar.
Source your accommodation
If a new offer requires you to work away from home, you’ll need to find accommodation as quickly as possible.
During larger projects, local accommodation spots can fill up rapidly, and you don’t want to be left dealing with an inconvenient commute to your site.
If you need recommendations, you can always reach out to your new employer. They may be able to advise you on where other contractors have booked, or help you to get a better understanding of the location.
As a contractor, receiving a job offer is always a cause for celebration.
But to ensure that you’re accepting the right roles and delivering your best work, you need to take care of the fundamentals. Once you’re happy with the offer and covered in terms of insurance, start dates, and logistics, it’s all systems go!
For more advice and useful resources on navigating the recruitment process click here.
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