Ask HN: Can I hire an agent or how to get short-term contracts?

  • 10X Management does this (they represent me). I know they aren’t the only agency representing software professionals, but I don’t have experience with any others. Some recruiters and placement agencies work this way.

    Finding customers and getting contracts can take a lot of (unpaid) time for freelancers. I look for long-term relationships rather than churning short-term projects. You can still take time off if you don’t leave your customers hanging.

  • From someone who's sort-of worked like this for a while - sure, the time off between contracts is nice, but the contracts themselves are much more intense than regular full-time work - partly because you're pretty much always on-boarding and catching up, and partly because client's management does not care about contractors and will treat you worse than full time employees. Just something to keep in mind.

  • That is the job of a recruiter. Find one that specialises in your technology/sector and contract work.