In today’s world of work, many employers in Hong Kong are prioritising flexibility in their recruitment, especially in the tech sector. As a result, these organisations are turning to contractors that they can work with on a project basis.

Why? As James Hallahan, Chief Strategy Officer for Hays, observed: “There’s an urgent need for specialist skills that can facilitate digital transformation and embrace emerging technologies, and tech contractors remain a key solution in a tight hiring market.”

Finding your first IT contract job in Hong Kong

Understand demand for your skills and expertise

A career in IT contracting begins when you’ve already developed skills that are in demand and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. While it’s vital that you continue to develop your skillset (either during or between projects), you’ll need to be ready before you find your first contract job.

A good place to start assessing the market right now is by searching existing opportunities through recruitment agencies such as Hays Hong Kong. We’ve also compiled our list of the top 10 tech roles that organisations are hiring for, so you can get a greater sense of the skills you’ll need.

Work out your rate

As my colleague Adam Shapley outlined in his blog on the advantages of becoming an IT contractor, you can expect to charge a daily or hourly rate that would be higher than that of a permanent employee.

So, how do you determine which rate reflects your skills and experiences, without pricing yourself out of the right opportunities? You can start by checking local Tech Contractor Day Rate Guides, which we release annually to inform skilled professionals of what they should expect to earn. For more information on typical rates in Hong Kong, get in touch with your local Hays office today.

Set up as a company

There are different ways to set up your business as a contractor, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Many of these are around income and expenditure.

For example, a Hong Kong-based contractor can position themselves as an employee of an umbrella company, which is easiest and generally reduces administration. On the other hand, founding a limited company can offer tax and expenses advantages. It’s worth bringing in an accountant to help you keep on top of this, particularly regarding tax.

Get your portfolio together

As I mentioned above, it’s best to step into contracting once you’re experienced in your field and can demonstrate to potential clients that you’ve got the skills they need to bring on board. Doing this right means standing out from the crowd.

However, if this is the start of your contractor career, you won’t have the experience that others do yet. You should have a strong CV by this stage in your career, as well as a LinkedIn profile that aligns with this as a further promotional tool. In each case, highlight your skills with the latest technology or processes that some contractors may not have been exposed to or trained on yet. On top of this, it’s often worth directing clients to a website (or even a GitHub project, depending on your area of expertise) to show them what you can bring to their organisation.

Find a contract

Now that you’ve done your research, understand how to form your company, and got your profile ready, it’s time to start your search. Besides remuneration, things to consider are:

• Will this help me to develop my skills?
• Do I want a shorter contract at the start of my career, or be settled in a longer one?
• Will this help me reach a network for future opportunities?
• What is the reputation of the organisation?

In Hong Kong, it’s easier for contractors to work with a recruitment agency that sources non-permanent staff for clients, so this is often a good place to start. In addition to finding opportunities on your behalf, Hays can offer you advice and help prepare you for applications and interviews. Whether you’re starting out in your contracting career or further along the road, explore your contracting job opportunities HERE today to see what we can do for you!