Most people who’ve worked on contract know that contracting does not always lead to a callback, or landing full-time employ. At least, not right away; if you know your gig is coming to an end and you’d like to improve your chances of being asked to work with the company again, there are a few things you can do upon and after your contract ends to make your exit a memorable one.
Be gracious
Make it a point to thank everyone you worked with, your direct reports – even the receptionist. Ending a contract on a positive and polite note demonstrates that you’re a consummate professional. This shows that you’re respectful and a team player and you’ll be remembered as the lovely person who was also easy to work with. That way, if anything comes up, you’re bound to make the list of people they’d want to re-hire.
Connect
If you developed a rapport with a few of the people you worked with, there’s no harm in connecting with them via social media for friendship – and potential networking opportunities. If you made a good impression on a former co-worker, s/he might be more inclined to connect you to a friend in an organization that’s hiring – or remind your old boss to re-hire you if another opportunity to do more work comes up.
And then:
Stay in touch
Even if the employer can’t offer you a job (at the moment), it’s advisable to keep in touch – you need to keep them interested in you, even if they’re not hiring. Drop them a quick email, or give them a shout on social media. Ask to meet them for coffee so you can keep them abreast of what you’re up to, or request they can keep you updated about future job opportunities. Nicely, of course; the last thing you want to seem is desperate (even if you are).
Ending a contract on a positive and polite note demonstrates that you’re a consummate professional. This shows that you’re respectful and a team player – and you’ll be remembered.
Go to the source
Sometimes you can try to get your foot in the door by talking directly to the people in Human Resources. Just the simple act of handing letting someone know that you’ve already worked with such-and-such a person in Department X can help keep your name top of mind.
Finally:
Have a secret superpower
As a contractor, you probably have a mixed bag of skills. Try reaching out to supervisors in other departments to see if you could lend a hand. For example, you might be a graphic designer who’s also got a knack for writing copy; or you’re an editor who’s also got a way with numbers. It might very well be that your hidden skillset could satisfy a particular departmental need.
Bear in mind that being versatile might mean working in a position that wasn’t necessarily your first choice, but using your other talents to get you another shot at a company you enjoy working for is a good way to transition from exiting stage left, to making a comeback.
So what’s your take? What are some of your tips and tricks for being a contractor who gets callbacks? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.