At infinite Consulting we are proud of our business ethics and commitment to our contractors. Our method of dealing with you in good faith and transparency forms the type of relationship every contractor should be entitled. The difference is we deliver on that claim. Need some advice or tips on your resume or career path?

TIPS:
Resume Tips:
At Infinite, we believe targeting your resume for a specific role is important. This is so as to highlight your experience and accomplishments in a certain area. As a general guide for the length, content and format of your resume, the following may be of assistance.

Length
Keep it short and as relevant as possible.

Content
Keep it concise. You should split your CV into sections, such as Personal Information, Qualifications, Employment History and Interests.

Personal Information
Include:
* Name
* Full address
* Telephone numbers (home, work and mobile)
* Email address (work and personal)
* Preferred mode of contact

Qualifications
Include:
* Name, City and State of each school
* Years attended
* Degree/Qualification earned
* Major field of study

Employment History
List your roles starting from most recent. Concentrate on your last five years of employment and list ONLY summary information for your employment history greater than five years.
Include:
* Duration of employment
* Your responsibilities and deliverables
* Key achievements and accomplishments
* Accountabilities.

Are these options? No way!
* The word "resume". Let's face it; you probably wouldn't want to work for anyone who didn't recognise a resume as a resume. Don't waste the space.
* Salary Information. You will be asked for your salary history and expectations during an interview with our consultants. Do not send out the wrong signals by including this information.
* Referees. You will be asked for referees when the time is right. This information is confidential and as such should only be provided when referee checks are being performed.
* Testimonials. Yes we've seen resumes that contain quotes like, "Produced technical documentation that David Boss said was the best he'd ever seen." Or, "Sales Manager said that she would have worked with me forever if it hadn't been for that huge layoff". This will do absolutely no good for you. After all, how much credence can such comments have when every employer knows you wouldn't include negative comments on your resume?
* Personal Statistics. It is not advisable to put information about your looks, marital status or health on your resume. Such information as, "Married with two children, 185cm tall, 87 kg, in excellent health," should not stand you in better opportunities with an employer, unless the employer wants to face a discrimination suit.
* Personality Profiles. We can't wait until we get a resume that describes a candidate something like this: "Have difficulty facing anyone before third cup of coffee. Although fun most of the time can be moody." It would be ridiculous to own up to such character flaws on a resume. Therefore, phrases such as "excellent self starter," "highly motivated" and, an all time favourite, "enthusiastic" don't carry much weight.
* Photographs. Unless you are trying to get on the cover of Vogue it is not recommended to include a photo with you resume.

Check
Before submitting your resume to Infinite, make sure you check it thoroughly for spelling mistakes but also to make sure that it is a clear representation of you and that it will encourage the employer to contact you to find out more.

Make sure you are very aware of what you have in your resume.

Permanent Vs Contract
If the possibility of continually changing jobs or have a need to see the long term impact of your efforts in an organisation makes you feel uneasy, you would probably be better off seeking permanent work, either through a recruiter or on your own. But if you like new challenges and enjoy a change of scenery every year or so, contracting may be well suited to your lifestyle.

With the changing employment environment it's easy to get confused on the available career options. Many job seekers fear the "new workplace", thinking that the increase in contract and temporary employment and the apparent decline in "permanent" positions with big conglomerates are equal to less job security. In some ways they're right. No longer can companies afford lifetime appointments for employees, especially in the IT arena. Today's corporation has to be lean and mean, able to ramp up or ramp down quickly.

Some IT companies hire only contractors. Others may use them exclusively for project work, which may include programming or engineering services. Most will tell you that the flexibility and cost effectiveness that contracting provides is essential to the ever changing nature of technology business.

You can use these new developments to your advantage. One fact will not change: Employees will always be the most valuable assets in any organisation. You can make the new workplace work for you by finding the most reliable information available and having the right people in your corner.

The first thing you should do is research what you really want to do, assess your skills and get moving.

Benefits of Contracting:
* Pays an average of 20% more than permanent employment
* Helps you build your skill levels at various companies in a shorter amount of time
* Presents variety and flexibility along with new challenges
* Allows you to "try out" new positions, companies, bosses and corporate cultures before committing to a permanent job
* Allows you to get your foot in the door and make contacts
* Helps you to avoid the usual office politics

Drawbacks of Contracting
* A contractor's pay may be higher, but he or she may not be qualified for share options and other benefits common to 'permanent' staff
* A contractor also will not be an official employee of the company, but rather of the employing agency, so benefits will come from the agency. (Compare your experience with Infinite. You will be surprised)
* And, at least initially, you probably won't be a part of the long-range plans of the company but rather will be responsible for projects which utilise your specific skills. "Get in, get it done, and move on".

Like it or not, contract employment is here to stay and its use will continue to grow, especially for IT workers. Just like the companies you will be working for, you need to adapt to constant change. If you decide to explore contracting, you will probably find more jobs to choose from, with higher pay and more flexibility. We are happy to speak with you about contracting options, so why not contact us now?

Contractor Care? Not like the rest
* Infinite Consulting has many long-standing relationships with professional contractors. We realise that in a contractor's career, it is very easy to change agencies and hence we surpass the others at looking after our contractors.
* We offer career planning advice and recommend what areas of your professional experience should be developed to keep you growing.
* Finding you your next contract is something that comes second nature to us. We always aim at securing the next contract for you before the existing one expires.
* A referral reward system - if you refer an IT professional to us and we end up placing them, or they have their next contract sourced, there is something in it for you!
* Regular, reliable payment.
* On-going support from a dedicated Account Manager.
* Depth of experience in supporting contractors within their industry.
* Social functions.

For more information regarding how we can make your professional life easier as
a contractor, please email or call us today.