What should I pay attention to with my interim contract?

A first interim assignment is a different matter than a salaried job. As an employee, you usually have fixed days, hours, colleagues and especially a fixed income. The expectations are also fixed in principle. You will not just take the step to freelancing, there is quite a lot involved. To help you on your way, we have listed a number of tips that will make your start as an interim professional easier.

Preferably do not start with your last boss

An easy and therefore tempting step for a starting interim professional is an interim contract with your last employer. However, try to resist this temptation if possible. For an interim, it is important to build up a rich and varied portfolio, which can be done in many ways. However, an interim assignment with your old boss does not add much in that respect. In addition, it can be difficult to take on the role of an external interim in such a case. After all, people still see you as that colleague. Therefore, try to earn your first interim contract with another employer.

Do not start without a contract

Of course, you can also carry out interim assignments without a contract. There are some advantages, but especially many disadvantages. The biggest one is that it shows little professionalism to work without an agreement. This also does not contribute to your portfolio.

Think in assignments, not in contracts

It makes sense to think in contracts, but it is better to think in assignments. After all, an assignment almost always has to be completed, regardless of how long it takes. Even if your contract is short, if you do it well, you will stay until the assignment is completed. The assignment therefore says more than the duration of a contract.

Always try to enforce an extension of your contract

It is smart to always strive for an extension of your contract. That gives you options, and is easier than looking for a new assignment. Therefore, always look for projects where you can really add value, so that the extension is also included. This means more certainty for you, a better relationship with the client and a good reference. It also increases the chance of a next assignment. When people see that your contract has been extended, this shows that they were satisfied with you.

Ensure a clear assignment

It is possible that a client is very enthusiastic and would like to work with you. However, you yourself do not yet know exactly what is expected of you. You may turn a blind eye to that, because you have an assignment. However, that is not wise. This is even one of the biggest pitfalls for an interim professional. Always ensure that your assignment is clear. Otherwise it will only cause frustration on both sides. This lack of clarity about what is expected of you often leads to stress and all kinds of uncertainty. Before you start, it is very important to arrange both your assignment and the actual contract properly. Also have the assignment clearly put down on paper, so that you can always come back to it.

Don't say yes to everything

This ties in a bit with the previous point. Of course, you want to get started quickly as an interim, and you also need to put bread on the table. But always be aware of the long term, and the influence of accepting a certain assignment on it. A major pitfall for both starting and experienced interim professionals is getting stuck with the same type of assignments. This of course offers stability for you and the client, but also has disadvantages. You quickly end up in a box. Therefore, always think carefully before accepting an assignment.

Never stop before the end of your contract

As an interim, you can probably get out of your contract quite easily. The notice period is often only a few weeks. Many people do that too, for whatever reason. However, that is not wise. Even if you have a better assignment ready or when the market is good, we advise against doing this. This is annoying for a client, but also not good for your reputation. Your reputation is of great importance, so you better keep it good. In addition, there may also come a time when the market is less good for you, and then this can break you.

Stick to the agreed rate during your contract

Another trait of some interims is wanting to adjust the rate while a contract is still running. However, remember that your hourly rate is no longer too high others is once you have accepted the assignment, unless your role also changes. If you then ask for this, you will quickly come across as unreliable and fickle. This is not good for your image. So stick to the contract, without asking for adjustments.