Although there is increased optimism within the contracting sector, many contractors are still struggling to find work with new or existing clients. Keeping in touch with contractors and clients you have previously worked with could help you find your next role.

Over half of PCG members surveyed believe Linked In is a vital tool for contractors and freelancers. It is a great way to keep in contact with previous colleagues, contractors and clients but it is also great for listing your skills, the role you are looking for and your current availability. A simple networking tool, you can also join relevant groups’ specific to your skill set or sector you would like to contract in.

By spending time now reconnecting via the internet, you may find yourself landing your next contract role.

Do you win most of your contracts through recommendations by others or keeping in contact with existing clients? We’d love to know how important you think networking is when securing a new contract.

Linked In certainly appears to be one of the best social networking sites that has helped contractors not only source new roles but also build and develop their network. Some contractors have been approached by recruiters for roles via their Linked In page and some have even been contacted by the client directly.

Of 173 that voted on the PCG website, over half believe Linked In is a vital tool for the modern freelancer. You can cast your vote here.

Twitter also bears some relevance for contractors. It can help a contractor showcase their skills, show off their personality and also help them source available contracts as well as discuss the marketplace with other contractors.

Many recruitment companies and some clients will post their vacancies via their Twitter account. By simply searching a keyword such as ‘short term contract’, a contractor could see a list of Tweets with that keyword in it and see if they have any relevance to them.

A company may also use Twitter to ask a specific question which you may be able to answer and by interacting with companies, you may find yourself securing your next contract.

We would love to know your views and comments on social networking so please share your experiences using the comment box.

Whilst a number of recruiter agencies have looked favourably on social networking sites and how they can help match a contractor with a client, some are apprehensive and have reported this trend in a fairly down beat manner. Some recruitment agencies are also concerned that this trend may threaten recruitment industry profits.

Stephanie Lee, Sourcing Specialist for European Staffing for Intel Corp UK recently spoke at the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) conference and explained how her company had become an avid user of social networks to help source new candidates. Intel had a reputation for only employing ‘geeks’ and in order to rectify this image, they had developed a ‘social media vision’.

Although large companies may be focusing on using social media rather than using a recruitment agency, recruitment agencies are to using social media to source the right candidate for their client.

At the UK’s second Social Media In Recruitment conference to be held on 22nd April 2010 in London, both Google and LinkedIn have been confirmed as speakers. Mike Taylor from Web Based Recruitment, organisers of the conference is looking forward to another successful conference to help corporate recruiters, recruitment agencies, recruitment advertising agencies, job boards and recruitment industry suppliers get the most from using Social Media in Recruitment.

This latest update on the recruiting trend only confirms what ICS already thought about recruiters increasingly using social networking sites to source contractors, consultants and freelancers to match their clients brief.

Here at Independent Contractor Services (ICS), we firmly believe all contractors, freelancers and consultants should have a professional presence on social networking sites such as Twitter and LinkedIn thus making it easier for a company or a recruitment agency to find you and match your skills with a potential new contract.

Around 43% of clients said what they had seen on social networking sites had caused them not to hire the candidate or contractor. It is important on your profile reflects the truth and so does your CV. The survey reveals the top reason why a contractor has not been hired was because by viewing their profile, they uncovered lies that were on their CV.  Bad-mouthing your previous employer, colleagues or clients is also not advised as 9% of those surveyed stated this as a reason why they chose not to hire a candidate.

Do not be afraid of having a profile on a social networking site though. 50% of clients said they had found content on contractors or clients profile that persuaded them to hire the contractor. It is important to remember that people can view your profile and it therefore important to give off a professional image, clearly demonstrating good communication skills. You should always list any awards or accolades you have. If you use Linked In, connect with past clients or employees and ask them to recommend your work.

It is important to use social networking to your advantage and let it be the reason a client hires you, don’t let your profile lose you your next contract.

TipTopJob, an online job board wants users including contractors to have the ability to search for work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mike Dauncey, CEO of TipTopJob said: “We are tremendously excited by the new addition to our service. Through developing and implementing this cutting edge facility we are enabling jobseekers to be on the hunt for employment 24/7. We want our site to be accessible to those who may not be in front of a computer, whether they are travelling somewhere or unable to access traditional forms of internet.”

Past articles written by ICS have discussed how to find your next contract through job sites such as TipTopJob, but also social networking sites such as Linked In and Twitter. This move by TipTopJob however, clearly shows that those within the recruitment industry are continuing to utilise new technologies to make the search for permanent and temporary roles more accessible for the seekers.

Contractors using the new app will have full access to more than 80,000 job vacancies spanning 35 specific industry sectors, and will also be able to email or save their favourite listings. In addition to the listing facility the application also includes a helpful advice section featuring 50 detailed guides on all things recruitment.

It may be useful to read some articles by ICS which aim to help you find your next contract through a variety of methods;

A New Era Of Networking

A Helpful Guide To Sourcing New Contracts

Contractors Should Embrace The Internet

ICS Embraces Social Networking

Tweet To Find Your Next Contract

We would like to say a special thank you to all the contractors and agencies that we have worked with in 2009 and look forward to working with you in 2010.

In what has been a tough year for contractors trying to source a new contract, those within the marketplace are confident that in 2010 the market will begin to pick up. More contract reviews, limited company incorporations, signings to contractor umbrellas and contractor accountancy services all mean there are an increasing number of contractors winning an increasing amount of contracts.

Client-side, Dave Chaplin of Contractor Calculator has met with some of the top IT contractor clients recently, most of who are very bullish about the New Year and themselves talking about ramping up their IT contracting needs. He went on to say that, those who did not have positions to fill because recruitment had been frozen still had budgets to take on IT contractors. Others had new budgets starting in January 2010, allowing them to plan for growth and to bring in IT contractors to meet short-term demand.

2009 has also been a year in which ICS have embraced the internet and social media. We now have a newly designed website with the news page which is updated with relevant content regularly. We also have visibility on Linked In and Twitter (www.twitter.com/icscontractor), all in an aim to communicate with the contractor marketplace. In 2010, we aim to interact with even more contractors over the internet, enhancing our services from your feedback.

ICS will be operating normal working hours between the 29^th and 31^st December, closing on Christmas Eve at Midday and re-opening on 29th December.

Once again, may we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

She suggested that self-employed people should get a professional email address, as those who use heavily personalised alternatives may find that “most clients aren’t likely to take you seriously”. When emailing recruiters or clients, contractors should also ensure their emails to clients are carefully proofread – with no spelling mistakes, abbreviations or unprofessional language. It may also be careless for contractors to express negative opinions about clients on social media websites such as Facebook or Twitter.

Dawn also thought it was important for contractors to have their own website to enhance their online presence. By having a simple, professional website it can lend creditability to your services. If your website is well optimised, recruiters or potential clients may be able to find you in the search engines and perhaps approach you with a specific project or task.

Ensuring you have an online version of your CV and a Linked In profile will also enhance your online credibility. So what are you waiting for?

John Lyon, Managing Director of Independent Contractor Services was unfamiliar to the social networking phenomenon a few months ago but now has his own Linked In profile as well as his own newly created Twitter page. He finds social networking a great way to communicate with contractors, colleagues and also potential clients.

The readership figures for our blog have continued to increase and we have been pleased to see people engaging in our blog by commenting on our articles. Our Twitter page is updated regularly and we have engaged in relevant groups on Linked In.

The internet is a tool which everyone uses daily, hence to have an online presence and communicate with contractors via this is vital.

To find out more about ICS, visit our website, www.ics.me.uk.

To ensure you use Linked In to its full advantage, revise your profile regularly by updating information on a new role, an assignment or maybe an area of interest. To help develop your own profile, look at other peoples profiles, the layout, tone etc. As you would when you write a CV, keep it brief but informative. Engage in discussion with your current connections using LinkedIn. Search for people you know, a former colleague or classmate etc and ‘Request an Introduction’. These people may help you find your new contract. Always ask past employers, previous colleagues for a reference. Any potential clients that view your profile are more likely to approach you if you have references on your profile.

To expand your network, join groups on Linked In that relate to you, your interests and your skill-set. By joining groups that for example are dedicated the contractors, you may find there are potential clients also in that group. By engaging in group discussions, you can raise your profile and reach potential clients. You may be able to share advice with other contractors, find new ways of sourcing contracts or keep up to date with the contractor marketplace. Ensure you set up email alerts which will inform you of current discussions, and get involved.

Let other people know you are using Linked In. Add it to your email signature and business cards so people have the opportunity to view your profile but please do not disclose your contact details on your public Linked In profile page. You can view my Linked In profile by clicking here.

It’s now time to enter into the new era of networking.