IT contractors need to be skilled in the art of negotiation, sales and marketing if they are to obtain the most lucrative positions, according to an expert.

It is important for IT contractors to keep in mind that they are small business, with a brand that needs to be promoted, according to Contractor Calculator's chief executive officer Dave Chaplin.

The first step is to understand the product they are selling - i.e. themselves and their skill set, as well as how it transfers to different job roles.

Then comes the interview, which is really a sales meeting with an IT contractor pitching for work, which differs from a regular job interview, Mr Chaplin claims.

"Contractors who invest time and potentially money in developing their contracting skills will ultimately earn more, stay in contract longer and get to maximise the benefits of the contracting lifestyle," he concluded.

Maggie Berry, managing director of womenintechnology.co.uk, claimed this week that there are a wider variety of roles out there for IT contractors than people think.