Contracting, LinkedIn, and Titles

[Anonymous]

I've been contracting for a few small business clients for the last three years following a corporate lay off. I work FT for a startup as a contractor and then have a few additional clients I do work for on nights/weekends. The startup is great, I'm proud of the work I do with them, and feel that I am part of the team (attend offsites, get bonuses, etc.) other than not being a W-2 employee. They have a mix of W-2 and contract employees so I'm not the only one in this category.

My LinkedIn has me listed as an independent contractor still, which I guess just makes me feel ... kind of less than in some ways? I am not actively seeking a W-2 role as I am making it work with my main client and the smaller clients, but wonder if it would be better to keep my title as contractor (as things change in the startup world) or switch over to "claim" the role I have been doing for the last few years. At a recent conference one of the startup clients said he couldn't find my profile to connect in advance of the event since my profile did not name the startup and it got me reconsidering whether to change the title or not.

What have other 1099s done with their profiles? Keep it neutral or "attach" to a company if you have been with them for a few years?

[Anonymous]

I am in the same boat. I created an LLC and work as a consultant under that company's name. That way it isn't just my name as the organization shown on LinkedIn.

In my role description, I could name the clients I work with if I wanted and that would at least get them into a keyword search.

[Anonymous]

I got laid off from a F500 and came back as contract through a staffing service. Then hired back in.

Here's how my LinkedIn works.. (fake job titles)

Senior Accountant, XYZ Corp (2012-14)

Accountant (contracted through ABC Staffing) (2010-12)

Independent Business Consultant (2008-10)
-Project 1
-Project 2
-Project 3

Accountant, XYZ Corp (2006-08)

OP, you could either put (Contract Employee) after your job title or you could list the startup name where I listed projects.

As a longtime F500 employee who has been directly employed and contract, I've seen a lot of former coworkers lie on their LinkedIn. I think you will be fine as long as your entries look honest to coworkers and/or the manager who manages you as a contractor (if you are on good enough terms to consult them).