Etiquette for Contractors Dealing with Solution Centers and Vice Versa

Just thought I post some etiquette for Solution Centers (NSC) and contractors when dealing with each other.

For Contractors:
1. There’s no such thing as job security when you’re a contractor. If you want security, find a full time position at a NSC.
2. Do not set your rates based on how much the NSC charges their customers. Figure out a market rate for your skillset and make it fixed.
3. Contractors are used only for the short term. If you want long term, find a full time position at a NSC.
4. Learning time is not billable. Companies hire your skillset to produce, not to learn. If you want to be paid for learning, find a full time position at a NSC.
5. You have the right to say no to a project. But say no before a single minute is charged.
6. Make a conscience effort to not steal your client’s customers. The end users will decide on their own, but do not push it.
7. Do not make a promise to deliver you cannot keep. Sometimes, a lot of people are waiting on you to finish before they can continue.
8. Make doing business easy with you. NSCs do not need you if you give them more headaches than they already have.
9. The NSC has the right to shop around for whatever reason, you’re a vendor and this is a business transaction. Don’t take it personal.
For NSCs:
1. Pay your contractors on time. You hired them to produce, if they’ve done so, pay them. Don’t play games.
2. Sometimes, trial and error is needed to get to a solution. If the contractor bills you for it, pay; because you will need to do the same if you were doing the project yourself.
3. Murky project scope will get murky results. If you cannot properly define the project, no contractor in the world will be able to clarify it for you. And pay the large bill your contractor will surely bill you because you didn’t do your job.
4. If you rely on the contractor to take care of your customer, you WILL lose the customer. Guarenteed.
5. Contractors you hire have their own priorities, so plan accordingly. If you want the contractor’s dedication, offer them a full time position.
6. Contractors are used to address specific needs. They’re not there to organize an implementation for you.

Did I miss anything? Any additions to both sides are welcome.

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