Contract Positions FAQ

Q: Is there any cost to me?
Q: How will I know if I have been selected for the job?
Q: Can I send now the information I have available, and the rest at a later date? Can I send a partial or incomplete reply?
Q: What is the length of the Contract?
Q: How long will I stay on the job (if selected)?
Q: Will I be paid as an employee or as a contractor?
Q: What is your (V&A) mark-up?
Q: When do you pay?
Q: Am I paid relocation expenses?
Q: Does V & A provide health insurance for contractors?
Q: Will I be contacted by you?
Q: Can you give me more information about this project, a 'rate-range', etc.?
Q: Will I be able to 'negotiate' my rate?
Q: If I don't have the skills and experience described in the SOW, can I still apply?
Q: Do you deal with intermediaries, other agencies, corp-to-corp arrangements?
Q: I replied previously to Vitaver & Associates, Inc. for this position; should I reply again?
Q: Can I telecommute; work from home full or part-time?
Q: Is there overtime pay?
Q: I have replied before to Vitaver & Associates, Inc. for a different position, should I reply again?
Q: Why would you only then answer my questions?
Q: What if I am just looking around, 'testing the waters', but not certain that I will take the job if offered?
Q: Do you welcome feedback on the format, contents and/or style of this invitation?
Q: Do you consider H1B visa holders?
Q: Would you require me to complete an IRS form W9?
Q: Do you work on W2 for contract positions?
Q: Can I quote a rate-range, a rate plus relocating expenses, a rate plus benefits, a rate to start negotiating and agree upon later, etc.?
Q: I have been contacted by other agency. Why should I work with Vitaver & Associates?
Q: If I have more questions?

Is there any cost to me?
A: No. Your costs will include travel to and from the Client, parking (if free parking is not provided) and the normal business expenses of your business.

How will I know if I have been selected for the job?
A: The Client will screen the resumes for those that meet their requirements in terms of skills and experience. The selected resumes are placed in ascending order starting with the one with the lowest requested rate. Candidates are interviewed in that order. The first candidate that meets the requirements successfully and completes the technical phone interview is hired. We are given one day's notice to schedule the interview with the candidate. If they want to interview you, we will call you immediately (please include all the phone numbers where we may reach you).

Can I send now the information I have available, and the rest at a later date? Can I send a partial or incomplete reply?
A: We can only process your application if it is complete, precise and unequivocal. All others are discarded. We are unable to contact you, to request you complete your application. You may consider that your ability to understand our questions and your disposition to respond fully will provide us with an initial impression on your fit for this project and Client.

What is the length of the Contract?
A: You are being retained for the duration of the initial project. If there are extensions to same or new projects come along where you and the Client agree to have you help complete, the new termination day will be the completion of those extensions or new projects, as agreed upon by you and Client. You are expected to, and you agree, not to abandon a project midway. You are not expected to work exclusively for our Client, but you will not be able to take on other projects with other clients of yours if they interfere with the dedication, time and effort required for your completion of the project/s you accept to perform for our Client.

How long will I stay on the job (if selected)?
A: The minimum term to which you are committed is the number of weeks indicated in the SOW. After that, if there is an extension (this is normally the case, but no promises are made in this regard), you can choose whether or not to stay on longer. At the conclusion of the project you will not be eligible to apply for unemployment compensation, since you are not an Employee of either us or the Client.

Will I be paid as an employee or as a contractor?
A: If chosen by our Client, you will provide your professional services to our Client as neither an Independent Contractor, nor an Employee of V&A or the Client. This means that you will be paid on 1099 (not W2) and that you will need to provide for your own benefits and to pay your taxes. Both, we and our Client will pay strictly for hours worked. If the Client makes you formal, written offer to become a fulltime Employee and you are interested in working for them instead of remaining an Independent Contractor, that will be up to you and we will not stand on your way.

What is your (V&A) mark-up?
A: 20% is our standard mark-up but this may vary. This is paid by the Client, not you.

When do you pay?
A: Payments are made every other Friday, and covers your invoices for work performed during the previous 2 weeks, matching the time sheets that you will provide us showing the days, number of hours worked, your signature and that of the Client. We will direct-deposit into your bank account with Electronic Fund Transfer.

Am I paid relocation expenses?
A: No. You are paid strictly by the hour, at the agreed upon rate. No additional payments will be made to you for any concept including 'per diem', etc.

Does V & A provide health insurance for contractors?
Yes, you can purchase health insurance from us at a lower price. We have several health insurance plans available. Please ask one of our recruiters to email these plans for your review.

Will I be contacted by you?
A: If your credentials and experience substantially meet all the requirements, you provide the information requested, fully and clearly, and your professional fee is in line with the budget for the project, we will call you within minutes of receiving your resume and answers to the questions in the application form. After we screen you, we will submit your resume to the Client who will then make a short list of preselected contractors. Otherwise you will not be contacted.

Can you give me more information about this project, a 'rate-range', etc.?
A: At this point you know as much as we do regarding this opportunity. We believe and practice full disclosure; nothing is kept confidential from either you or the Client. There are no 'rate-ranges', only what you consider you can 'live-with', what your experience tells you is reasonable for the market conditions and what you believe is competitive enough to land you this project. As an Independent Contractor you know what your professional fees are.

Will I be able to 'negotiate' my rate?
A: No. We consider your rate request as final; we will not try to "negotiate you down" as we respect you as a professional and would not want you to take on a project for less than what you feel comfortable with. The Client does not give us the opportunity to bargain a rate as we are competing with other agencies. Make your rate as attractive as you can. Depending upon how much you need a (new) project, the length of your search, how interested you are in this particular Client, the location and the SOW included, we suggest you establish an aggressive professional rate that secures you a high place on the short list of candidates for this job.

If I don't have the skills and experience described in the SOW, can I still apply?
A: If you make the 'short list' you will participate in a technical interview where your skills and experience will be reviewed. If you don't possess the appropriate skills and experience you will not be hired. 

Do you deal with intermediaries, other agencies, corp-to-corp arrangements?
A: Yes. 

I replied previously to Vitaver & Associates, Inc. for this position; should I reply again?
A: No. We invited you again because your resume was reposted on Monster as new. 

Can I telecommute; work from home full or part-time?
A: No, the Client needs you to work at their facility. If later on the Client allows you some or all the work remotely, is up to the two of you. 

Is there overtime pay?
A: You will get paid a flat hourly rate for every hour you work. All your working hours will be 'billable hours' as long as it is work requested by the Client and authorized by the Client with their signature on our timesheet, which you need to submit to us together with your invoice on weekly basis, to get paid. 

I have replied before to Vitaver & Associates, Inc. for a different position, should I reply again?
A: Yes. Even if the required skill-sets and experience are similar, the SOW is different and we need to know that you are confident that you possess the skills and experience required, and that you would like to do this particular work.

Why would you only then answer my questions?
A: We respect your time and that of our employees equally. We would not like to take up your time or ours unless you meet the requirements and have a legitimate interest in taking this position: you can demonstrate your commitment by providing all the required information as listed above. If you prove to be a suitable candidate, we will gladly respond to your email. 

What if I am just looking around, 'testing the waters', but not certain that I will take the job if offered?
A: You should definitely not respond at this time. This will ensure that you will be considered by us when you decide at a later date to commit yourself to finding another job. 

Do you welcome feedback on the format, contents and/or style of this invitation?
A: Yes, please let us know your input by replying to this note with "Feedback" on the subject line. Thank you! 

Do you consider H1B visa holders?
A: Yes, we do consider H1B visa holders for most of our contract positions. 

Would you require me to complete an IRS form W9?
A: Yes. This confirms your understanding that you will pay your own taxes and that we do not need to hold back any monies for your taxes. We will pay you the full amount of your contract according to its terms and you will pay your own taxes, benefits, licenses and insurance. 

Do you work on W2 for contract positions?
A: At this point we work only on 1099 and Corp to Corp basis for contact positions. 

Can I quote a rate-range, a rate plus relocating expenses, a rate plus benefits, a rate to start negotiating and agree upon later, etc.?
A: No, we can only consider your resume if you provide one, clear, all inclusive hourly rate under 1099. 

I have been contacted by other agency. Why should I work with Vitaver & Associates?
A: Our lower overhead allows us to offer your services at a much lower rate than most of our competitors, increasing your chances at landing the contract. Our 16 years of experience and track record on Contingent and Permanent Placements gives you (and the Client) additional peace of mind. Furthermore, we are preferred vendors with the South Florida Water Management System and we have other important companies as clients: City of Miami, Miami-Dade County, Coca Cola, American Express, NASA, DOD, Miami Police Department, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Motorola, etc. 

If I have more questions?
A: Please send us an email after you have submitted ALL items listed in the invitation we sent you by email.

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