Contractor Faq
Contractor FAQ
General
Q: What is BrightMinds?
BrightMinds Software Inc. is a Canadian software corporation founded in 1997, that has provided Professional Services (PS) to dozens of organizations that include:
Q: Why BrightMinds?
BrightMinds has extensive experience providing Professional Services (PS) on numerous high-profile short and long term projects and escalations for numerous clients and partners throughout Canada and the USA.
BrightMinds has a highly experienced IT contracting core that understands that successful contracting requires:
- Established long term relationships with clients, contractors, referrers and partners
- Excellent contractor and referrer programs (see 'What are BrightMinds' programs?')
- In-house custom software engagement automation (see 'What is the BrightMinds 2=Connect platform?')
- Thinking that is beyond typical short-term body-shop recruiting mentality
Q: What does BrightMinds specialize in?
BrightMinds specializes in offering Professional Services and recruiting of IT contractors in the following areas: Identity Management, Java, and UNIX.
Q: What is the BrightMinds 2=Connect platform?
BrightMinds invested well over a year to develop an in-house, advanced software platform to automatically process, manage, and support all aspects of engaging a contractor and service/lead.
Furthermore, this software platform is the key engine that drives the entire BrightMinds Referrer program, making it possible for BrightMinds to offer an exceptional and unparalleled IT Referral program.
As the software platform is end-to-end, and automated, it fuels our Professional Services (PS) supply chains and moreover allows us to exclusively focus on the PS needs of our clients and partners.
Q: What are BrightMinds' programs?
BrightMinds offers a unique and generous BrightMinds Referrer program to referrers.
Anyone who knows anyone in IT can sign-up to become a BrightMinds Referrer.
BrightMinds also offers the BrightMinds Mind-Body program to its active contractors.
Q: Who are BrightMinds's clients?
BrightMinds's clients include many Fortune 100/500 companies as well as various municipal, provincial and federal government agencies in Canada.
Q: Where is BrightMinds located?
BrightMinds is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, with offices in Montreal, Quebec.
Overview
Q: Why we believe that contracting can be different?
- We believe in Remote Work, Family, Health, Passive Income and Mentoring for all contractors.
- We have developed an entire business model that revolves around contracts and contractors.
- We sincerely want to pay contractor's referrer fees as it is a win-win and provides passive vs. active income.
- We offer the BrightMinds Mind-Body program to active contractors to help reduce stress and promote health.
- We designed the BrightMinds 2≡Connect platform so contractors can easily become referrers and in turn reap the rewards of increased passive income like other referrers that refer contractors.
Q: Why do I need an invite to connect?
BrightMinds is looking for people to refer people they know and we want to pay them to do it.
It's personalized, we are all about relationships, and it avoids cold leads, spam or junk mail.
Q: How do I get an invite to connect?
BrightMinds has setup a BrightMinds Authorized Referrer page that lists authorized referrers and provides their respective public LinkedIn profile page. Simply invite any Authorized Referrer to connect on LinkedIn, and be clear about wanting "A BrightMinds Contractor Invite".
If you appear qualified, they will accept your invitation and they will, in turn, generate a contractor invite as they will have your full name and email address. If your email address is not directly visible to your connections, you will need to provide this information before they can generate the invite.
Q: Why leverage LinkedIn at all?
Linkedin is an incredibly successful social network for professionals. BrightMinds eliminates or reduces unwanted cold leads, spam or junk mail by leveraging LinkedIn.
In turn, BrightMinds can focus more on our core business of contractors and contracting.
Q: Who is BrightMinds looking for?
We are constantly looking for IT contractors with the following skills/attributes:
- Must be skilled in one or more our areas of expertise: Oracle/Sun products, Java Application Architecture, Java Web Development, Solaris/UNIX Administration
- Highly experienced or very experienced individuals may be offered more potential opportunities.
- Fluency in English is a must. French may be required for certain opportunities. Other language(s) may be beneficial.
- At minimum university graduate in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or equivalent degree.
- Must have permanent residence or citizenship status in Canada or the Unites States and must be able to work in that country.
Q: How much experience is BrightMinds looking for?
Ideally, we are looking for high-level performers known by their peers to be "rock stars” in their, and our, area(s) of expertise (see 'Who is BrightMinds looking for?').
BrightMinds is also open to contractors of varying experience levels, although it is typically easier to place more experienced contractors with Fortune 100/500 clients.
Q: Why should I connect with or contract through BrightMinds?
Because you want to work for an organization that is: built by contractors; focused on "People helping People through IT"; focused on long-term relationships and is not a typical body shop.
Also, the BrightMinds Referrer program is ideal for contractors as it is simple and FREE to sign-up, provides a 50% bonus to active contractors and affords contractors the opportunity to work less while earning significant passive vs. active income by simply referring other contractors or service/leads in IT that they know.
Q: What are the advantages of sourcing through BrightMinds?
BrightMinds is a contracting firm at its core and, as such, has beliefs that are directly aligned with those of contractors (see Why we believe that contracting can be different?).
Q: Why the emphasis on family if I am single?
We refer to "family" in the general sense and want to be respectful to all.
Your 'family' may include a partner, children, parents, friends, pets, etc....
Contracting
Q: Does BrightMinds contract individuals?
No. Contractors must be incorporated. Although this does create some overhead for the contractor, it is the most sensible long-term manner in which to offer Professional Services.
Q: Are there any permanent positions available?
No. All work is contract based.
Q: Are contracts for full-time or part-time work?
Both. It depends on the contract/opportunity and, moreover, the specific needs of our clients.
Q: Will BrightMinds engage me for an opportunity?
As per any job application, your CV and other credentials will be reviewed and we will attempt to match your qualifications with any current or future customer needs.
Q: Will BrightMinds hire me?
As with any successful relationship, BrightMinds may offer you an employment opportunity down the road.
Q: Is a BrightMinds or client interview required?
Yes, you will be contacted for a BrightMinds interview should your qualifications match a current or potential contract. Typically, a client interview is required to engage in a BrightMinds contract.
Q: How will BrightMinds pay me?
You will be paid per the terms and conditions in a BrightMinds Independent Contractor Agreement (ICA).
Once an opportunity match is available you will be provided a contract to review and sign.
Q: What currency will I be paid in?
Generally speaking this depends on the client incorporation information. $CDN for Canadian contracts and $USD for USA contracts.
Q: Will I be working on-site or remotely?
Our goal is to always allow contractors the freedom to work mainly remotely (at your home or place of business). Typically, BrightMinds contracts will involve an initial period on-site to define the problem, architect a solution and develop a rapport with the client. We then strive for extended periods of time of remote work, but this varies from contract to contract.
However, some contracts or roles that are focused on a hands-on team environment (e.g. Lead Developer, Project Manager, etc...) must be performed largely, if not entirely, on-site.
Q: Where are your clients located?
Our clients are located throughout Canada and the USA. BrightMinds will leverage NAFTA to assist you to obtain the appropriate VISA if one is required.
Programs
Q: What is the BrightMinds Mind-Body Program?
The BrightMinds Mind-Body Program is offered to all active contractors to help reduce stress and promote increased health. The program allows any contractor who is engaged in full time contracting to claim $30 for themselves and $30 for their spouse towards yoga classes, gym membership or any other type of health/exercise class. BrightMinds believes that increased physical health leads to increased mental health.
Q: What is the BrightMinds Referrer Program?
A program driven by the BrightMinds OpenReferrer software platform that is FREE to sign-up and compensates you repeatedly for sharing your connections.
Q: How much will I be compensated should a referred contractor work for BrightMinds?
You will receive a referrer payment of:
- $1 for every $25 paid to a referred contractor under a BrightMinds contract (i.e. 4%)
- $1 for every $50 paid to all contractors of a referred service/lead under a BrightMinds contract (i.e. 2%)
As a bonus to contractors only, your referrer fee will be increased by 50% if, during a fiscal quarter, you work 20 cumulative days under a BrightMinds contract. In these cases, you will earn 6%, or $6 for every $100 paid for your referred contractors and 3%, or $3 for each contractor of a referred service/lead.
Full program details and terms are provided in the BrightMinds Referrer Agreement, which may be updated from time to time.
Q: Can I refer someone to BrightMinds?
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage you to sign-up as a BrightMinds Referrer as well to earn passive income.
Q: Can I refer myself?
No, as this goes against the spirit of the program. We reward referrers for sharing their connections and we pay contractors for the work they do.
Q: Can a family member or spouse/partner refer me?
Yes, as long as you are not living at the same address. Referrer fees will not be paid to referrers living at the same address as a contractor.
Q: Do I need to have a recruiting background to be a referrer?
No. You just need to know IT contractors that we may be interested in. As a contractor you are ideally suited to refer other contractors.
Q: Why should I sign-up as a referrer?
Because sign-up is FREE, takes little effort and you have the potential of earning significant passive income by leveraging the people you know or work with in IT.
Q: I have more questions concerning referrer payments (timing, individual/business, invoicing, etc.)?
Please refer to the "Payments" section of the Referrer FAQ as it provides answers to numerous questions concerning referrer payments.
Rates
Q: How much will I be paid?
When you connect with BrightMinds, you will be required to enter your preferred rate as well as your minimum acceptable rate. You will only be considered for positions that meet your minimum acceptable rate and preference will be given to candidates who's preferred rate is in-line with the contract rate. It is therefore in your best interest to specify rates that you are entirely comfortable with.
Q: What is a good rate?
That depends on many factors including, but not limited to: your experience, your expectations, your location, the client's needs, the client's budget, the client's location, remote or on-site work, etc. We typically target on-site rates and work from there. Rates may be slightly lower if working remotely.
Q: Does my minimum rate include travel expenses?
No, these are usually reimbursed separately on a T&M basis. If a blended rate is required by a client, then that will be negotiated separately.
Q: If BrightMinds pays a contractor referrer fee, does that mean I get paid less?
No. You will always be paid an extremely competitive rate that you largely define. Referrer fees are removed from BrightMinds’ margins only, not your rate.
Passive Income
Q: What is passive income?
As a contractor you typically earn 100% active income by being paid for each hour you work.
Passive income is a source of income that is earned without you having to work hourly for it.
Q: Why is passive income important?
Unlike traditional retirement typically through active income, once your level of passive income equals or exceeds your expenses you are in a position to retire. This could happen at any age.
Q: Why would I want passive income?
Because it makes life more enjoyable by allowing you to spend more time doing things other than working.
Depending on the amount of passive income you earn it may allow you to retire earlier.
Privacy
Q: If I connect, is my personal information private?
Yes, your personal information will be kept private. However, in order to place you on a BrightMinds contract, we may need to share business or personal information with Clients or Partners. Prior to asking your consent to do so, BrightMinds will only disclose information that does not personally identify you (non-personal information) so as to qualify your candidacy for an opportunity.
Q: Why am I not asked for my full personal or business information at sign-up?
BrightMinds believes in collecting a minimal amount of information. BrightMinds will be contacting you to request additional information as it is required.
Q: Will my personal information ever get on a mailing list?
No. BrightMinds will only send a "one-time" invite to each contractor. Only if someone connects with BrightMinds will we communicate with them for contract/business related purposes.
Q: Will my personal information ever be sold to a 3rd party?
No. BrightMinds does not and will never subscribe to this type of business practice.