Contract work can be key to ‘back door’

I hear from a lot of job seekers that government agencies, large companies and schools, among others, have no “back door” for hiring people. Having completed my share of government applications for clients, I can see where that idea comes from. The hiring process is so detailed and finely calibrated, you expect to be measured for height and weight before you can forward a résumé.

The frustration of the situation should make this piece of news all the more heartening: There’s always a back door. Always.

In fact, I have found that the tighter the hiring process seems, the more widely that back door swings open. That’s because managers are forced to work harder to navigate the system and hire the workers they need.

Think about it: Even agencies under a hiring freeze have to get their work done. If they can’t hire, what can they do? One solution common to government units is to use discretionary funds to create a temporary project or contract. Instead of creating a position, the manager can resolve the most critical issue and obtain the exact set of skills he or she needs.

AMY LINDGREN

WORKING STRATEGIES

The manager can bring on board a person he or she has chosen, instead of waiting on the HR process. Later, if a job opens up, this worker will need to go through the regular application process, but with a significant difference: This time he or she will be an inside candidate and will receive extra points for being in the job already.

This sounds good, but it’s no easier than the traditional hiring process. It will take perseverance, networking and, most of all, well-developed skills in the key area you’re going for.

Still interested? Try these steps:

» Identify companies or agencies you want to work for.

» Identify specific skills to offer. Saying you’re a good communicator or well-organized isn’t enough. Can you create and maintain databases? Can you research and write quickly, to help eliminate a backlog? Have you earned a certificate in urban planning or project management? These are the specifics you want to market for contract, temporary or project work.

» Find the names of the department managers where you want to work. This is where networking comes in. You absolutely need these names, because you will be sending a very customized letter and following up with a phone call to ask for a meeting. So do everything in your power to learn where that letter should go.

» Send the letter, but maybe no résumé yet. The goal is to get their attention, not drown them in details.

» Send letters to several places and always call within a couple of days. This will be a numbers game, like any job search. Follow-up is essential.

» Prepare for success. Don’t be caught off guard by obvious questions, such as how much you would charge. Instead, prepare to counter with questions about their budget and timeline. With some conversation, a figure will emerge. By the way, don’t forget that you probably won’t get any benefits or paid time off. Your rates will need to reflect this gap.

» Remember why you’re doing this: To make money, of course, but also to be first in line when a job is posted. If you get the contract, make yourself as indispensable as possible and you may just find that you’ve sneaked in the back door without realizing it.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecaree rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.