More on Contractors

 My classmate Andres also wanted more detail on contractors. He specifically wondered if we weren't being fair to contractors as full-time workers get more benefits.

The question he poses at the end of his post is intriguing. What we've found, or what I've seen, is that there are many in the contractor world who like being contractors. 

They enjoy jumping from job to job and increasing their wage rate with each jump, leaving behind colleagues or managers they may not have liked, and coaxing their friends and those they do like to jump with them. This creates a cycle within the contracting community where some organizations are stronger than others for a time, then they may have a downturn, while another has an upturn. 

It also helps smaller organizations stay competitive. Many contractors will go to larger organizations with lots of training capabilities then jump down to a smaller organization to lead teams using the knowledge they gleaned from the larger organization. This helps these contractors level up in their careers faster and makes the larger organizations try to find ways to keep their talent before it walks out the door.

Additionally, there are many contractors who love the way of life of traveling around to different projects across the US during the fall and the spring, and having the summer and winter off to hunt, or fish, or play with family, etc. They have a roaming lifestyle and make a ton of money by working lots of overtime, saving their per diem, and having their hotel room paid for during the time that they are working. 

There are many contractors who make more per year living this lifestyle than many of our executives make sitting behind a desk. What I like about it is that there is something for everyone. If you're the type of worker who wants to only work 6 months and don't mind travel, long hours, overtime, etc, then there's a job for you. If you're the type of worker who wants a regular, steady, 9 to 5, there's that option too.

It's dynamic and can be adapted by just about anyone. Then there is the aspect that different types of work and work styles might appeal to different workers at different times in their lives. As a younger worker, they may want the travel and money. As an older more experienced worker they may want more stability. The benefits are that the community can support any type of worker at any part of their adult development.