If you’re interested in working as an engineer, then you should consider starting your career with contract engineering. If you’re fresh out of college, rejoining the workforce, or trying to find work when the economy is weak, taking on a contract engineering position could be a great way to strengthen your resume.
More and more companies are seeking to fill contract engineering positions because it’s beneficial to their bottom lines. Hiring a contract engineer also tends to be more cost- and time-efficient than hiring a full-time employee. A hiring agent also might not have the time to wait around for a full budget approval, but they may be able to approve a temporary contract engineer as a line-item addition.
But what exactly is a contract engineer? And what do they do? Continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
What Is a Contract Engineer?
To put it simply, a contract engineer is someone who acts as a contract-to-hire placement of technical talent. The title is an umbrella term that can describe:
- Technicians – assembly, maintenance, test, field service, lab, quality, CADD, and others
- Analysts – specialized talent to do FEA, thermal, CFD, and other studies
- Engineers – electrical, software, mechanical, structural, civil, and others
- Designers/Drafters – electrical, structural, mechanical, civil
It should be pointed out that just because a position is temporary does not mean it is a contract gig. With a freelance model, an engineer creates a business entity and might contract with multiple clients at the same time. They’ll also be handling the accounting, legal, and marketing alongside their actual engineering work.
Another kind of contract engineer job can be gained through a third-party staffing company. This agency lists positions for businesses and finds engineers to fill those positions. The agency is also in charge of payments and hiring paperwork.
Using hiring agencies is one of the best ways for employers to fill contract engineering positions.
In standard contract engineering hiring, the job description will state that the position will last for a fixed amount of time, usually for six months or a year.
Why Pursue a Contract Job?
Working under contract can provide engineers with a lot of potential benefits. First off, you’ll get hired as well as paid as quickly as possible. This will allow you to quickly add to your resume while earning top dollar as a contractor. And you may even be able to deduct some of your work-related expenses.
Another major benefit of working on contract jobs is that you’ll get the chance to move around to different areas and try out different industries and employers. You can do this until you find the one that’s best for you.
Flexibility is one of the major reasons why people decide to work as contract engineers. Whether you’re new to the workforce or trying to phase yourself out of it, getting to choose when you do and don’t work can be extremely helpful for you.
And there’s also always the possibility that you can turn that contract position into a permanent job.
Engineers are especially good at solving problems. And with contracting jobs, you get to come onto a new job and solve a specific problem and then move onto the next thing.
Employers Tend to Prefer Contract Engineers
Businesses are constantly looking to contract engineers to swiftly fill staffing demands for niche and specialized talent. Many of these employers want to hire contract engineers that are experienced in specific technology and software systems too.
This kind of employment can give experienced engineers an edge because employers will know that the engineer can easily jump into the work and get the job done. And they won’t need a lot of training. And this helps explain why nearly one million workers were hired through contract firms in 2017.
Employers also like contract positions because it allows them to make use of trial runs so that they can evaluate people for possible full-time jobs.
Contract Engineers Are Able to Gain Relevant Work Experience
In order to reach your dream job, you’re probably going to need to acquire a variety of technical skills and experience. A quick and effective way to work towards that job is by taking on a bunch of temporary projects.
When you have a permanent full-time job, you’ll be stuck with a single employer’s projects. This is going to limit how exposed you are to different or new technologies. But when you take on a variety of contract jobs, you’ll be able to gain work experience that is relevant and can strengthen your resume.
Some companies will prefer to see that you have contract work on your resume because it probably means that you have a variety of skills. And while you might not be able to get a permanent position at one of the Fortune 500 companies, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to secure a few contract engineering gigs with them.
And there are even some contract engineering jobs that will train you in certain areas. This is a more cost-efficient and effective way to get training than if you were to take a class or workshop.
The Importance of Knowing About Contract Engineering
Working as a contract engineer can benefit both you and the company that hires you. You’ll be able to gain new skills and have a flexible schedule while the employer will be able to protect their bottom line and finish projects in a timely manner. By understanding what a contract engineer is and how they work, you’ll be able to expand your career horizons and determine if contract engineering is right for you.
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