Your three jobs

When you get your first 1099 gig, you may think you have just one job: the work you were hired to do.

But actually, you have three:

• The job you were hired to do
• Relationship builder
• Business intelligence officer

Being a relationship builder means you are developing a rapport with your direct colleagues and potentially other folks in your organization. "Making friends" so to speak.

This will not only help you down the road, but it also feels good. Being totally isolated at work is a drag. Having folks to chat with at work makes it more tolerable.

Being a business intelligence officer means you learn to gather information about client needs, future contract re-competes, other projects and contractors in the building, etc.

The goal is to give you more options for your next gig.

If you learn that say, Leidos has another contact in the building that you'd be a good fit for, you can track down the PM and introduce yourself. Since you're already working with the client organization, you are credible.

If you do all three jobs well, you will have a solid professional reputation, friends to help you, and new opportunities to pursue.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.