Ready to be your own boss? Do you want to be responsible for the success or failure of your own business? Looking for a tax write-off for your home office? Then perhaps independent contractor status is for you.
Independent contractors have significant control over the type of work they do. Contractors can obtain the tools they need to do a job and don't need to justify it to anyone. They also have flexibility to set their own hours and work from home, when practical. Becoming an independent contractor can be an excellent career and lifestyle decision.
To work as an independent contractor for AESI, also known as corp.-to-corp., certain conditions need to be met:
- You must be incorporated. You must be an officer and owner in the corporation.
- You must obtain general liability and error and omission insurance.
- It is advised that you obtain worker's compensation insurance. In the event of an on-the-job injury, AESI will not be able to cover you.
Weigh the pros and cons. Determine if independent contractor status meets your needs. AESI will work with you, if this is your goal.
Consultant's Corner
Holiday and Flexible Time-off Pay
Many full-time benefited AESI consultants receive holiday and FTO (flexible time-off) pay as part of their contract with AESI. Please check your contract to verify your eligibility.
A consultant becomes eligible for holiday pay after 90 days of service with AESI. FTO is used for vacation, sick, bereavement, jury duty, military duty, or any other time off. After the first year of uninterrupted service, if a consultant is eligible, 40 hours of FTO are earned. At the end of the second year, 80 hours are earned.
The following are the fiction and facts concerning holiday and FTO pay:
- Fiction: The client pays the consultant's holiday and FTO pay.
- Fact: AESI does not get reimbursed by the clients for holiday and FTO pay. Because AESI values its consultants, we actually pay this benefit to our consultants.
- Fiction: To claim holiday pay, the employee adds the hours to the regular time card submitted to AESI.
- Fact: Because the client is not billed for the Holiday or FTO, a separate time card needs to be submitted. In the "Charge Number or Project" column, note "Holiday" or "FTO" followed by the number of hours on the appropriate day. If the consultant is asked, by the client, to work on the holiday; include the hours worked on the client time sheet and submit a separate time sheet to AESI for the holiday pay.
Remaining holidays for this calendar year are Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. To receive holiday pay, you must work at least 30 hours during the weeks before and following the holiday. AESI does not pay for any additional holidays or company shutdowns that may be observed by client companies.
If you have questions about your benefits package with AESI, please review your contract or contact your recruiter at 408-733-AESI (2374).
Avoiding Foot-in-Mouth Disease: Interviewing Tips
Now that you've written an impressive resume, you've won an interview with the employer of your dreams. Impressing them on paper is one thing, in person is quite another. For a successful interview, remember the Scout Rule: Be Prepared.
Preparation:
- Learn about the company and the group you would be working with. AESI can give you insight into the company, specifically the needs of the hiring manager.
- Determine how your talents meet the needs of the hiring manager. Your AESI recruiter can tell you the specific skills that attracted the hiring manager to your resume. Plan to sell these talents.
- Prepare thoughtful questions for the interview. Possible questions include: (a)What is challenging about this project, (b)What are the objectives I would be expected to meet?
- Prepare to answer personal questions such as: (a)Tell me about yourself, (b)What are your strengths and weaknesses, (c) How do you stay current with technology?
- Make a good impression by dressing appropriately. Know the exact time and location of the interview, the full name of the hiring manager and its pronunciation.
During the Interview:
- Be positive. This is vital to success.
- Answer questions with more than single word answers.
- Avoid negative comments about previous employers.
- Ask if the manager has any concerns about your qualifications. Address these concerns during the interview.
- Show interest in the job. Conclude the interview by stating you feel you are the candidate for the job.
If the manager leaves the interview knowing you have what it takes to do the job, consider the interview a success.
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Tech-Notes
EDITOR: MICHELLE OGBURN
Albin Engineering Services, Inc.
845 Stewart Drive, Suite B
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
VOICE: 408-733-AESI (2374)
FAX: 408-739-AESI (2374)
Email: resumes@aesi.com
MEMBER CAPC, CATSS, NAPS, NATSS and NACCB