What is a contract job ?

[TurtleMan]

I just got an offer for an contract job as IT help desk support , but
I don't really know how does the contract work, is it if i sign the contract
does that mean I have to stick with the company for the length stated
in the contract ? would I be able to break away from it, and if so
is there is any consequences ?

thanks !

 

[spaceman]

Originally posted by: TurtleMan
I just got an offer for an contract job as IT help desk support , but
I don't really know how does the contract work, is it if i sign the contract
does that mean I have to stick with the company for the length stated
in the contract ? would I be able to break away from it, and if so
is there is any consequences ?

thanks !

its probably for a defined length of time.

 

[hjo3]

Get the contract and read it.

 

[TurtleMan]

haha havent see the contract yet, but just wondering everyoen's experience with it

 

[Kalbi]

1099

 

[SeaMonki]

for contract jobs, make sure you have everything down in writing, paid per hour, overtime should be a time and half, health benefits, vacation/sick days.

 

[BrokenVisage]

42

 

[HardcoreRobot]

salary = indefinite
contract = ends after X amount of time

not sure about the getting out early part of it

since you arent salaried you should get overtime at pay and half, usually you get shafted on benefits and vacation

 

[FoBoT]

i did a 6 month contract from april - sept 1998

it was pretty straight forward, i didn't need a lawyer to read it to me

it said "we will pay you $1000 per week for you to do this work <bunch of paragraphs describing the work> and pay for expenses at these limitations/conditions"

each week i would turn in expense reciepts and get a check for $1000 + expenses from the previous week

it was very good. i paid quarterly taxes to the IRS to make sure i wouldn't owe a crap load of $ at tax time and had no health insurance.

pretty staight forward. if you need a job, you need a job

it worked out well for me, they kept me on for a few weeks after it ended doing some busy work while i found another job, they were very cool

 

[Nutdotnet]

Doing contract (consultant) work for reputible companies should be a pretty straight-forward affair.

The contract should state:
Commencement Date
Termination Date (or wording consisting of the amount of time the contract is good for)
Rate of Pay and how you will be paid (whether they will take taxes out or you will be responsible for your own taxes)
Terminology referring to the fact that this is not a regular full-time or part-time position, you are not eligible for the organization's fringe benefits (medical ins., annual leave, sick leave, etc.)
And it may have some sort of non-compete or non-disclosure clause stating that you may not disclose any information retained/learned about the contracting organization to competitors.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The job will usually be for a set time frame (possibly extensible).
You can get dropped by the end client and/or you can leave (ruining your rep) earlier than contract end date.

Depending on the contracting company, you may get W2 or 1099.
If they pay as W2, they will take out taxes.
Some Contracting agencies may have insurance benifits available; most are not decently subsidized.
Some will provide holiday pay after (x hours on the job) and time-off(vacation pay after y*2 hours on the jobs). OT pay may be a premium - up to the contracting agency and their contract with the company.

If you are running pure independent, that becomes up to you and the negotiion with the client.

 

[TurtleMan]

Hmm okay I got you, ya this contract job has no benefits at all , just hourly, not sure about overtime pay, I will look into that .

No sick leave or vacation ? that kinda sucks