How To Thrive As A Contractor In The ‘Gig Economy’
By Jade Bennett The rise of the gig economy has been well documented, with over 7.4% of Victorian contractors using over 100 digital platforms to find work. This includes contractor jobs ranging from content creation, UX design and software engineering. With an increasing number of jobseekers opting for greater flexibility, variety of work and career pivots, we offer our tips on how to leverage your opportunities as a contractor in tech. Partner with a recruitment agency that specialises in contract or contingent recruitment Most agencies are heavily geared towards either permanent or contract recruitment across specific sectors. Make sure your recruitment partner knows the tech space well and, more specifically, your domain e.g. Software Engineering, Product Management, DevOps etc. Always keep an eye on the market You may have landed an awesome 6-month contract job, but things can change quickly in contracting land; projects get cancelled, budgets run out, or time simply flies by and before you know it your contract is over. It makes sense to keep close to your chosen recruitment partner so you don’t find yourself with large chunks of time in-between roles. Keep up to date with the latest technology and developments in your chosen field More often than not, companies bring contractors in to fill a tech gap in their existing team. This is usually
Making The Leap: The Journey From Startup To Success
By Jade Bennett With Middleton Executive’s third birthday just over the horizon, I’ve been reflecting on the last few years as a startup business, both professionally and personally. I’ve been asking myself what have I achieved? What have I learned? Would I do anything differently if I could? Pondering these questions has made me realise that we need to change the language and the image around what it looks like to start your own business. Yes, it is a lot of hard work. And yes, the hours at times are long and the pain is real, but more than that it’s an absolute blast and quite possibly one of the most rewarding endeavours I’ve ever undertaken. I can’t talk about other people’s experiences, but I can share my own experience in launching a boutique tech recruitment startup, and what I’ve learned. In short, I’ve loved every minute of setting up my own business, but it hasn’t been without it’s challenges… The startup mindset We’re all familiar with the rhetoric of business ownership and the sacrifices required, but if we change our language and mindset to be more positive and supportive, perhaps more people will do it, especially females. I’m not saying that it’s an easy thing to do, but for me it has been enlightening and has changed my life
Leading The Product At Mates Rates
Hey product folk, get your Leading The Product event tickets at mates rates! At Middleton Executive we are always looking for ways to offer value to our community of Product folk. So we’re happy to announce a new partnership with product management & marketing experts, Brainmates! To celebrate, we’re excited to offer you ‘mates rates’ for Australia’s leading one-day Product Management conference, Leading The Product. Held in Melbourne on October 17, and in Sydney on October 22, we are offering you $50 off your ticket purchase! To redeem this offer, simply click on the applicable link below and be sure to enter the Mates Rates promotional code ‘MEFRIENDS’ at the checkout. Buy tickets at mates rates for MELBOURNE – October 17 Buy tickets at mates rates for SYDNEY – October 22 Don’t leave it too late, as tickets sell out quickly for this event. Our team will be there and we look forward to seeing you there too! If you’d like to become part of the Middleton Executive Product tribe and be notified of career opportunities and special product-related offers, register with us here. Jade and the team at Middleton Executive
How To Make Remote Working Work
By Tegan Paterson Remote working is increasingly becoming an option for office-based workers these days. The focus is becoming less about where and when the work takes place, and more about the outcomes. Workplace flexibility is in fact the number one thing tech professionals share with our Recruiters as being on top of their ‘dream job’ attribute list when seeking to change roles. After spending over a decade being office-bound, joining a remote-first working environment at Middleton Executive has been very rewarding and empowering, but not without its challenges. A self-managed approach to work requires discipline, self-motivation and exceptional time management. For the past year I have fine-tuned my approach and after some trial and error, I think I’ve nailed it and am reaping the rewards. I offer my top 4 tips to make remote working work… Planning, planning, planning! Did I say planning? At the end of every day, I put together a list of my top priorities for the following day. I like to start my day knowing exactly what I’m doing while it’s fresh in mind, and put absolutely everything in my calendar – even times I go for a walk or do yoga. I schedule thinking/reflecting time at the start and end of each day, and I also put aside dedicated times to respond to emails and administration tasks. This
