6 Common Mistakes when Searching for Cloud Contract Roles

Struggling to find your next great Cloud & IT Infrastructure contract role?

You could have the best personal profile on the market, but if you’re not looking in the right places the best opportunities could be passing you by!

Our Contract Team Lead Lee Barham talks to us about common mistakes contractors make when searching for their next cloud contract role:

“When looking for Cloud contract jobs contractors need to be

Driven
Self-starters
Punctual
Presentable
Able to work in a team
Able to work autonomously

I’m asked by many contractors in my network what they’re doing wrong to fall short at the final interview stages of the hiring process.

The truth is there are many, many reasons why you may be missing out on top cloud contract opportunities.

1. Not applying for enough positions

Firstly, I think too many put all their eggs in one basket.

Apply for several roles. Increase your chances of a successful placement.

Your contract job search is a numbers game at the end of the day. The more roles you apply for, the better your chances of success.

However don’t apply for every contract position available. By applying for unsuitable roles you will be causing yourself more stress and hassle further down the line.

2. Poor interview preparation

Secondly, you may be falling short in your cloud contract job search due to a lack of adequate interview preparation.

This includes not doing enough research on the business or the hiring manager.

Good recruiters should be helping you to prepare by emphasising the importance of proper company research prior to interview.

3. Poorly prepared CVs

Thirdly, is your CV properly prepared or targeted to the position?

Many contractors have a single CV they use for every application and a reluctant to make changes.

It’s imperative that cloud contractors make relevant changes to their CV to better suit specific roles.

By doing this you are increasing your chances of succeeding in your search, saving you time and stress in the long run.

4. Quoting unrealistic rates

Fourthly, avoid quoting unrealistic day-rates and being inflexible on that number.

More so than ever, contractors need to show flexibility when it comes to the commercials. This is especially pertinent after the introduction of IR35 legislation back on the 6^th April 2021.

If choosing between two candidates comes down to cost, it’s clear which way an employer will go.

By showing some flexibility in your rate expectations you will open up more cloud contract opportunities.

5. Not taking enough action

Fifthly, make sure you’re putting in the work!

Of course a specialist recruiter will be working hard on your behalf to find your next cloud contract role, however we will be representing other contractors at the same time.

If you’re not trying hard on your end, it will be harder for recruiters to place you into the top 1% of opportunities on the market.

6. Not writing a covering letter

Sixthly, do you apply for cloud contract opportunities with a small covering letter?

If not, get writing!

By making your application more personal, it will really increase your chances of success in your job search.

Alot of hiring managers really like the personal touch on applications as it shows that the contractor has taken time and effort to:

Research the role
Understand a little more about the company
Give their application some personality

There are of course many more reasons why you may miss out on opportunities, but by doing the simple things right you will put yourself ahead of the competition and stand a much better chance of finding your next top cloud contract job role.”