Traditionally businesses hired employees, paid them at a set rate, provided benefits, vacations, sick leaves and had rules in place for termination and sometimes tolerated less skilled or irregular workers because they were "hired" and termination might be difficult. During periods when business was slow, those employees were still on the payroll. As the economy became less stable, more and more companies were required to tighten their belts and try and eliminate unnecessary expenses wherever possible. One of those belt tightening measures was increased use of independent consultants, or contract professionals. These persons are not usually considered employees and do not receive company benefits. They were there for a specific job or project that required their expertise and the company had no legal obligation to keep them beyond the project completion date. This resulted in savings for the employer and a flexible job for those willing to take contract management jobs.
There are more contract project management jobs available than ever before though there have always been professionals who preferred the contract management jobs as opposed to traditional employment and companies pay well for these skilled professionals. A contract project manager needs the same level of skill and education as any other project manager, in fact possibly more, since repeat customers are desirable for the independent worker and the better the job and more efficient the project manager is the more likely he will be invited back when another project arises. Of course, contract employment is not just limited to project manager jobs. Manager jobs of all types are available on a contract basis.
Is this trend toward filling manager jobs with contract employees a good one for the employee, or one where the employee is at a disadvantage? That is up to the individual professional to decide. Contract management jobs offer reasonable compensation to the educated and qualified employee. The employee must pay their own taxes and they are not eligible for company benefits normally. Their continued employment depends upon results, not on tenure.
It would seem the question might be in the balance with negatives equally matching positives, but contract management jobs do appeal to the professional who is motivated, skilled, and desires flexibility in their employment. The ability to select or decline a certain project has been cited as a deciding positive factor by some contract management professionals. Flexible work is another big positive for contract management jobs, because the contracted manager is not under obligation to take any particular job and can take off work when they desire.
Love them or hate them, Contract Project management jobs are available and growing in numbers, and they provide an excellent opportunity for the professional with the right skill sets who can look beyond the traditional 9 to 5 then retirement in 35 years job.
