Seven strategies for landing a temporary technology job in 2026

For 2026, it’s ‘out’ with the old freelance IT career advice — and ‘in’ with these seven strategies to boost your chances of staying off the bench.

For basic advice on how to land a temporary technology role in 2026, please consult your friendly local recruiter.

Or maybe don't, according to this IT manager's post, which shows how some agents can deeply damage job candidate confidence.

And an agent himself, Nicholas Hopkins, director of contract at VIQU IT, bravely says IT contractors in 2026 should sack off his type — if agents don't do for their freelance tech career what they once did.

Should temporary job-seekers stick to one recruiter?

"Don't become complacent by only working with a recruiter or two who has placed you previously, if you are not getting the right results now," Hopkins told Moore News.

So that's Strategy one — in Hopkins' own words:

Strategy 1: Make sure you're working with the RIGHT people, and as a minimum the RIGHT recruiter

Before the VIQU IT director's other tips on ‘agent selection’ (Hopkins has got 4 questions he recommends that all IT contractors ask in 2026, see Strategy 7, below), his mention of 'people' speaks Matt Craven's language.

Specialising in CV and LinkedIn profile rewrites, Craven acknowledges that even the virtual helping hands he excels in to help techies land jobs will be left in their tracks by good, old-fashioned people power in 2026.

"What I would suggest to IT contractors is not solely relying on online channels," begins Craven, boss of the CV & Interview Advisors, who, like Hopkins, is daring to go against his own ‘raison d'être.’

"Online channels are already flooded with AI-generated applications and ChatGPT-written CVs. By all means, use LinkedIn and IT job boards, but alongside it, use your network and talk to people.

Strategy 2: Be front of mind with 'key people' – clients, stakeholders, contractors, project sponsors, even old mates

Further advocating the importance of 'who you know' in pursuit of a freelance IT assignment this year, CV reviewer Matt Craven continued with a real-world example:

"One of our recent IT contractor clients did just that. They wanted to work within a health and fitness setting. So they went to an industry fair, targeted a MedSpa exhibitor, talked to their reps, got the contact details of their managing director, reached out on LinkedIn, and sent an email.

"The IT contractor was then contacted. Subsequently invited for a face-to-face meeting. And then victory; they secured an assignment!"

How to use ‘people power’ to land a job?

Asked by Moore News for a formula for IT contractors wanting to make better use of 'people power' in 2026, Craven didn't oblige.

"Networking isn't an exact science," he says.

"But for contract IT job-seekers, I'd recommend re-engaging with old clients, former stakeholders, ex-project sponsors, definitely yesteryear's contractor colleagues and even old friends. In a nutshell, while there's no exact formula, being front of mind with people is the best chance independent techies have of securing a new IT gig in 2026."

Strategy 3: Prioritise 'small wins' on your CV, and on the job…

Estimates provided to Moore News by the CV & Interview Advisors indicate that there are approximately 500 applicants for every IT role that requires qualifications or technical-level/certified skills.

While Craven reckons the quality of the 'application bar' is often set pretty "low," keeping outcome-related 'quick-wins' small is highly advised — both when coming forward and once the contract is underway.

What’s the fastest way to land and succeed in a temporary tech role?

Amy Dennis, technology development manager at CV-Library, explained her advice yesterday to Moore News.

"The fastest way for IT contractors to land and succeed in a temporary tech role in 2026 is to focus on small, high-impact changes, not heroics," Davis says.

"[Then once in the role, do the same— and that means you should] stabilise tests, smooth pipelines, unblock colleagues, and strengthen what already works."

How to quickly win trust in the workplace?

The CV Library  manger further recommended to IT contractors who are freshly 'on-the-job':

"Win trust quickly by adding speed and confidence, not complexity.

"These improvements reduce risk and cognitive load for the team long after your contract ends."

Strategy 4: Outcomes, outcomes, outcomes — on your contractor CV

According to a certified Scrum Master, CV Library’s Amy Denn is on the money with the phrase "high-impact changes."

"The trend [with CVs in 2026] is…[to be] outcome-focused and less qualification-based," says Rod Lewis, who is also a senior portfolio analyst.

"And what value have you delivered appears to be the exam question."

Mark Hurren, founder of tech recruiters Hurren & Hope, also has the humble CV on his mind.

And interestingly, the Curriculum Vitae doesn't appear to be going anywhere in 2026 despite an anti-CV campaign's best efforts in mid-2025.

What’s the number one CV mistake in 2026?

"The number one mistake I see when reading resumés is the belief that a resumé is there to tell the reader everything you have done over the years.

"It's not. [Your CV] is there to tell the reader what you can do for them," Mr Hurren, who specialises in technology placements, opined this week.

“Start with your 'end audience' in mind when writing a resumé,” he added.

"[And then make sure your CV answers these two key questions] 'What problems do they have?' [and] 'How [can] you address [those problems]?'"

Hurren then said of a CV's contents: "Anything that isn't speaking to that audience is just noise distracting from your true skills."

What should your CV represent?

"Your CV should be a representation of you", preferred Jamie Spencer of Matchtech, an IT recruitment agency, in a LinkedIn thread.

"The main thing is that you feel comfortable talking through it when it gets to…[interview] stage. And [while professional CV rewriters can potentially help], if it's been heavily influenced by an external party, [then] that is going to hinder your ability to comfortably…talk it through."

Strategy 5: Align, align, align – at your contractor job interview

"Most people…research the company, but not in a way that actually helps," says Lee Harding, a director at Join Talent.

With 20 years' experience in parachuting techies into tech roles, Harding added: "Don't memorise facts about the company like when it was founded or how many offices it's got…

"Instead, it's about understanding why the company exists, who it serves, where it's under pressure, and how this role [you're going forward for] helps."

Strategy 6: Have ready for viewing a digital shop window with polish and panache

CV submission stage complete? Interview(s) over?

Then, it’s over to your 'digital shop window', which ideally should already be ‘open’ before any application.

Or at least that’s the top tip of Hays UK's Amanda Whicher.

How important is an online presence as a freelance tech job candidate?

The FTSE-listed recruiter's director of technology, Ms Whicher told Moore News:

"One top tip for IT contractors in 2026 is to treat their online presence like their most powerful business card.

"A polished LinkedIn profile with recent certifications, recent client recommendations, and a clear availability status/calendar doesn't just attract potential employers — it signals to recruiters that you take pride in your IT contracting career and are serious about your craft."

How does recruiter Hays say job applicants can stand out?

Depending on skillset, contractors should also be pairing an up-to-date LinkedIn profile with a "simple personal website, showcasing your portfolio and testimonials," to further "stand out in a crowded market," the Hays IT boss says.

"Recruiters are looking for candidates who look credible and prepared," Whicher says.

"So investing in your digital brand as a tech contractor can be the difference between waiting for work and landing your next project quickly."

Strategy 7: Know about Spec CVs, Preferred Supplier Lists, and ask 4 questions of IT jobs agencies

No temporary IT assignment will be landed quickly, however, where the 'wrong' recruiter is in play.

What is catching out experienced tech job hopefuls in 2026?

And 'wrong' in 2026 potentially means more than one thing.

It's a truism that respected recruitment agency VIQU IT says still catches out some tech job-hopefuls, even experienced contractors.

"We recently placed a contractor, 'Contractor A,' the agency began in a statement to Moore News.

"We then received a call from 'Contractor B', who knew Contractor A.

'B' was confused how 'A' had landed a contract with the client, when he – B – had already been put forward by another recruitment agency for the very same role. But he'd then heard nothing back.

"After doing some digging…[we] found out that the agency which B had submitted his CV to was not on the client's Preferred Supplier List (PSL). Turns out, this non-PSL agency had just been trying its luck by presenting a shortlist of CVs for an advertised contract role!"

What 4 questions can IT contractors ask to test if their recruiter is good?

So when looking for a new temporary tech role in 2026, advises VIQU IT's Nicholas Hopkins, contractors should ask themselves four questions.

     I.         Is my agent working with my best interests in mind?

   II.         Are the contract scopes I'm receiving a good match for my skillset and contract requirements?

 III.         Does my agent have clients and projects that are relevant to me?

IV.         Am I just being used as a 'spec CV,' or does the agent have terms in place with the business?

Hopkins then moved to emphasise "that there's nothing wrong with being used as a spec CV" — it can result in "great opportunities for both the contractor and the recruiter, on occasion."

What top two qualities should contract IT recruiters have in 2026?

"However, a recruiter should make an IT contractor seeking work with them aware of this fact, and whether there is or isn't a live role in place," Hopkins told Moore News. "In 2026, work only with agents who are transparent and honest."

To read Simon’s article in full, please visit ContractorUK where this article was first published (and where Moore News is the primary editorial supplier.)

How to negotiate salary, terms, or secure a special something

It’s pleasing to see that it’s not just me extolling the virtues of negotiation, with entrepreneur and investor Steven Bartlett last week taking to social media to drive home the message.

What has ‘Steven Bartlett said about negotiation?

The Dragons’ Den star used his LinkedIn profile page to describe “Emotional Intelligence skills” like “negotiation” as “increasingly valuable.”

Professionally, I couldn’t agree more.

Although personally — full disclosure — the thought of negotiating terms, prices, or trying to secure agreement for that something special previously filled me with dread, writes Olivia Sear, head of legal and compliance at Meet Life Sciences.

What’s a common negotiating fear?

When facing a haggle, I usually had the tools and understood the methodology to negotiate terms, say, with clients. But the negotiation itself wasn’t something that came easily to me.

I felt a common fear when negotiating— that the other person was always better suited to the back-and-forth than I was. And often, had a better understanding of the issue or subject at hand.

How to regard negotiation?

To reassure you, over a 10-plus-year career in Legal and Compliance, I now see negotiation as less of a daunting task. It can even be an enjoyable one!

Negotiation is something I regard as more of a coveted skillset for any employer that I work for.  

This way of regarding negotiation is especially applicable to those businesses where there are often regular and heavy negotiations to be completed, notably in the tech and life sciences sectors, where I have previously worked and now specialise in, respectively.

What are the four questions of negotiation?

As a non-lawyer, I have always come at negotiations from a commercial perspective. Unless you’ve got legal training under your belt, I recommend that you do the same.

To that end, there are four, if not five, questions with a commercial edge that I recommend asking yourself BEFORE entering a negotiation.

1. What are both parties wanting to get out of this discussion?

2. What is my end goal / what do I want to achieve?

3. How will my requirements affect the other party?

4. What, and more importantly, WHY are they likely to counteroffer?

This type of thinking works well — at least for me — as a starting point for any negotiation, commercial or otherwise.

When do you consider mindset in a negotiation?

Your four pre-negotiation questions asked and answered, it’s next time to consider the other party’s mindset.

Really try to get into the mind of the counterparty, and then try to understand whether your ask is going to be fair and balanced for all parties.

For example, ‘uncapped liability’ would be very nice for you and your camp, I’m sure! However, it’s often not practical for the party sitting opposite you at the negotiating table to just rubber-stamp such a big demand.

What’s key to negotiating successfully?

Therefore, there cannot (usually) be a (totally) one-sided obligation.

And that really is almost the case, no matter how much your sales team or CEO tells you it’s acceptable or “not risky” for the other camp to agree to ‘your’ terms.

The key to a negotiation is to try to make the other party understand why the negotiation cannot be one-sided.

How to use examples in a negotiation?

In a negotiation, I’ve found that the use and inclusion of real-world examples, or realistic scenarios to mitigate risk, for instance, is often helpful in getting the other party to understand your position.

So rather than redlining their proposal without any context, add your amendments and objectively but subtly state the reasons ‘why’ in the ‘Comments’ section.

Aim to put down in a MS Word document (which is typically accessible for all) a clear thought process for the other party to follow and digest.

What’s a top tip for a negotiation?

My most important tip for effective negotiation, based on my 10-plus years in Legal and Compliance, is to lean into the tête-à-tête.

So, pick up the phone, get on a Teams call, or book the date for a face-to-face at the VERY first opportunity you can (post-preparation), to actually ‘do’ the negotiation!

What are two benefits of beginning a negotiation swiftly?

First, you will find it less stressful than constantly thinking about the exchange, as you’ll get the negotiation ‘out of the way.’

The second key benefit of your swift action to begin negotiating early is effectively saying ‘No’ to overly exploring all the permutations.

Not that SOME exploring isn’t sensible!

What are three negotiation risks of conversational emails?

Second, in my experience of workplaces, many negotiations fail at the first hurdle due to ‘conversational’ emails sent back and forth, often with:

1. Not enough careful consideration of redlines,

2. Too many redlines, or/and

3. An excess of terms or/and red tape.

You’ll have your own example, I’m sure, of a conversation which was effectively a negotiation that got away from you, and went against you — possibly before you’d appreciated that the negotiation was actually underway!

Why else should emails be used sparingly when negotiating?

Limping into a ‘negotiation conversation’ via email, where you risk irking the other party straight away (sometimes due to the nature of email), is not a conducive way to do business. At any stage.

An initial use of email, intentionally sparingly and selectively, might be ok.

Perhaps you need to understand why they have set out specific clauses in their contracts, for example.

Are ‘Alternatives’ and ‘Options’ a good idea to mention in a negotiation?

But then prioritise getting to the one-on-one, ideally in-person, to discuss why the clauses, say, are unfavourable for your side.

Next, at the same face-to-face meeting, provide alternatives or options.

Using the ‘A-word’ or the ‘O-word,’ introduce potential compromises in other areas.

What’s a good compromise for you?

And a ‘good’ compromise for you means sacrificing a small something that might mean quite a big something, in value terms, to them.

Or how about a temporary ‘special discount’ if price is the sticking point?

Or an indemnity for those specific instances that they’re concerned about?

How often will your negotiations receive a positive response?

When negotiating in person, most of the time, you should receive a ‘human,’ positive response if you follow the above course of action.

And likewise in the majority of cases, unless you’re facing off against a particularly bullish client or stubborn individual, you’ll likely be met halfway, with an all-important COMPROMISE.

Is it easier to say ‘No’ in a negotiation from an inbox or face-to-face?

To reiterate, often email isn’t your friend if landing a deal or securing an agreement is your aim.

It is much easier for the party to say ‘no’ to a negotiation or proposal weighted in your favour via email, especially where there has been no chance to build rapport.

It is much harder for your opposite number to say ‘No’ when you are face-to-face with each other, particularly if beforehand you’ve added some ‘human’ elements into the conversation.

What’s an example of negotiation success?

I once had a negotiation where there was no choice but to have a phone call as ‘the decider.’

The call involved a client who had been INSISTING on uncapped liability for a particular provision.

Once we discussed it reasonably, with a realistic example I’d prepared and where I asked questions AROUND why uncapped liability was required, their position shifted. We both came out with favourable yet compromised terms that we were each happy with.

Is there value in talking and ‘walking through’ before a decision?

Eyeing a salary, better terms, or other contractual changes, I endorse actually TALKING (on the phone or in-person), before the other party decides.

When you need to win the argument, the straightforward activity of speaking and then ‘walking through’ it all with questions and examples from your side is too often missed.

How can an Internal Risk Matrix help you in negotiation?

As a legal and compliance adviser, I’ve found it also helps to have an Internal Risk Matrix (IRM) signed off at board-level. Such an IRM helps you to explain why certain terms are non-negotiable straight off the bat while providing you with extra confidence as to why you are making certain decisions.

An IRM also ensures that whoever is completing negotiations across the business follows the same stance as you, minimising the risk you’ll get caught out in your final stages of negotiation.

What about securing that special something in a negotiation?

We’ve all been brought into a conversation or pitch at the 11th hour, where that ‘special something’ has been promised to get the client or buyer through the door.

And suddenly, you get the pit-of-your-stomach feeling, because that ‘special something’ is simply not achievable!

That’s partly why the art of negotiation can feel so daunting.

How to stay calm and focused during a negotiation?

But to help you stay calm and focused, regard negotiation as a skillset that simply helps you or your employer to grow, build confidence and develop.

Relegate email; bring your questions around their position, ready your options, alternatives and realistic examples around your position. If you get onto a phone or video call, use a reassuring, reasonable but assured tone.

The takeaway

In today’s global turmoil amid technological change led by AI, I’m finding that always remaining human, with a commercially astute mindset, is an asset that resonates and refreshes. Negotiation can even become enjoyable, because you can potentially achieve goals, and not always just for you or your employer. Negotiation is ultimately a ‘people-first’ exercise, where you get to meet many new individuals and even learn from their negotiation skills, ultimately making you an even better negotiator.

This Moore News article, based on the exclusive comments of legal and compliance expert Olivia Sear, is an edited version of the original, created by Simon and supplied to Women In Tech.