4 ms·

My experience is quite different. I enjoy contract work. And it is quite rare that I am treated very different than an FTE. While I don't get the same benefits,

by acruns 6y ago

My experience is quite different. I enjoy contract work. And it is quite rare that I am treated very different than an FTE. While I don't get the same benefits, I am paid more, in fact I have a prepared statement for when FTE's ask how much I am making to avoid the awkward conversation after. I pay for my own HC and Roth and still make more than FTE's doing similar work as me at the same company. I control my WFH schedule, vacation, sick, etc. I also enjoy working at different places so I may be working at a financial company for six months, about half way through that I will start looking for a new gig (if I don't have one already) and that new gig might turn out to be a utility company. They often ask me back for projects as well. So it's nice to see old friends again. I obviously don't work on the help desk or racking servers but in tough times I wouldn't turn down datacenter work. Most of the gig's I work at approach me about coming on full time but at most I might extended my contract a few months. Most of my work I find on my own but I also work as a sub-contractor for a few places I like if they need help and our schedules align.

tomlagier 6y ago
I'm trying to get started in this world! Mind if I ask a few questions? - When you were getting started, how did you find your contracts? Did you use an agency or recruiters, or make connections on your own? - How do you negotiate the length of a contract? From what I've seen, most employers are looking for 6 months to a year, while most freelancers are looking for 2 to 4 months. - How long did it take to start charging premium rates? Obviously it's a tough market right now but I'm trying to figure out how to turn some small contracts into a sustainable lifestyle and would love to learn from your experience.
- acruns 6y ago
  Delighted to help. - When you were getting started, how did you find your contracts? Did you use an agency or recruiters, or make connections on your own? My network. I had worked in technical sales for several years and had built up a decent size network and a great reputation. I did approach one local smaller agency where I knew they specialized in an area of consulting and I was in the same realm but they didn't have anyone who did the type of work I specialize(d) in so I offered to accompany them on calls/meetings to expand the sale and they took a portion of the revenue. I did the same with another firm that was small and I knew the owner. I haven't used agents or recruiters, I guess I haven't needed to but if they add value I wouldn't have a problem using them to get land gigs. It's always about the work, I don't chase the money, and I find that the works (usually) turns out to be great and the money is too. - How do you negotiate the length of a contract? From what I've seen, most employers are looking for 6 months to a year, while most freelancers are looking for 2 to 4 months. I don't do staff augmentation work if I can avoid it. Then it is all project based work, so a few months, typically. Although I had a gig last almost a year last year. I scope out the work and send them a SOW, we can negotiate rates but I always bid high. If I was just starting out and building a reputation I would bid lower, and tell them that I was purposely bidding low and ask them for a letter of reference and/or take reference calls from other customers. - How long did it take to start charging premium rates? Not long but I had a head start because of my reputation and blog. The market dictates the rate quite a bit, and I changed my specialty so I went through a period of about six months where I was transitioning and charged lower rates to get gig to build my reputation back up and get the experience. Obviously it's a tough market right now but I'm trying to figure out how to turn some small contracts into a sustainable lifestyle and would love to learn from your experience. This is the best thing you can do. I have found if you treat customers like family, they will fall in love with you and want you on all their projects. I get birthday and Christmas cards (yes they still exist) from customers. I get asked advice on other projects that have nothing to do with my specialty because they trust my opinion. I get asked to bid on work even if its remotely related to what I do. I had the worlds largest financial company (you can guess who it is) wait four months for me to be available for work, essentially holding up their entire project for me. I regularly get asked by the largest airline in the US if I know anyone that specializes in 'blah' because we have built a level of trust over the last six years, and I pass that work on to my network. I feel like if I treat everyone with respect and kindness it is returned back to me 10x. For example, if a dir at said airline calls me at 2am, I pick up the phone and do anything I can to help, at no cost, and then call him about a week later to see if things are working and almost every time I get work from it. If you can build and maintain those relationships you will have more work than you can handle.
  - tomlagier 6y ago
    Thanks for the response, very helpful! I've done my best to build relationships over my 8 years in the software development industry, but I don't have much work to show for it after querying my network. All of my work to date has been from external sources. I also make a point to over-deliver, both in availability and deliverables, and to ask for referrals. I wonder if the types of interpersonal connections in tech sales are more valuable for finding work than those in software development - I'm certain I could tap my network for a job offer easily, but contract work has been a tougher sell. It's still early days though, we'll see how things look 6 months down the line after I have a couple more contracts under my belt.
drdeadringer 6y ago
What is your prepared statement regarding pay?
- acruns 6y ago
  I have a range I stay in. I have a SOW that I just use a template, pull things out, put things in, depending on the scoping call/requirements. I don't do MSA's.

by acruns 6y ago

tomlagier 6y ago

I'm trying to get started in this world! Mind if I ask a few questions? - When you were getting started, how did you find your contracts? Did you use an agency or recruiters, or make connections on your own? - How do you negotiate the length of a contract? From what I've seen, most employers are looking for 6 months to a year, while most freelancers are looking for 2 to 4 months. - How long did it take to start charging premium rates? Obviously it's a tough market right now but I'm trying to figure out how to turn some small contracts into a sustainable lifestyle and would love to learn from your experience.

acruns 6y ago
Delighted to help. - When you were getting started, how did you find your contracts? Did you use an agency or recruiters, or make connections on your own? My network. I had worked in technical sales for several years and had built up a decent size network and a great reputation. I did approach one local smaller agency where I knew they specialized in an area of consulting and I was in the same realm but they didn't have anyone who did the type of work I specialize(d) in so I offered to accompany them on calls/meetings to expand the sale and they took a portion of the revenue. I did the same with another firm that was small and I knew the owner. I haven't used agents or recruiters, I guess I haven't needed to but if they add value I wouldn't have a problem using them to get land gigs. It's always about the work, I don't chase the money, and I find that the works (usually) turns out to be great and the money is too. - How do you negotiate the length of a contract? From what I've seen, most employers are looking for 6 months to a year, while most freelancers are looking for 2 to 4 months. I don't do staff augmentation work if I can avoid it. Then it is all project based work, so a few months, typically. Although I had a gig last almost a year last year. I scope out the work and send them a SOW, we can negotiate rates but I always bid high. If I was just starting out and building a reputation I would bid lower, and tell them that I was purposely bidding low and ask them for a letter of reference and/or take reference calls from other customers. - How long did it take to start charging premium rates? Not long but I had a head start because of my reputation and blog. The market dictates the rate quite a bit, and I changed my specialty so I went through a period of about six months where I was transitioning and charged lower rates to get gig to build my reputation back up and get the experience. Obviously it's a tough market right now but I'm trying to figure out how to turn some small contracts into a sustainable lifestyle and would love to learn from your experience. This is the best thing you can do. I have found if you treat customers like family, they will fall in love with you and want you on all their projects. I get birthday and Christmas cards (yes they still exist) from customers. I get asked advice on other projects that have nothing to do with my specialty because they trust my opinion. I get asked to bid on work even if its remotely related to what I do. I had the worlds largest financial company (you can guess who it is) wait four months for me to be available for work, essentially holding up their entire project for me. I regularly get asked by the largest airline in the US if I know anyone that specializes in 'blah' because we have built a level of trust over the last six years, and I pass that work on to my network. I feel like if I treat everyone with respect and kindness it is returned back to me 10x. For example, if a dir at said airline calls me at 2am, I pick up the phone and do anything I can to help, at no cost, and then call him about a week later to see if things are working and almost every time I get work from it. If you can build and maintain those relationships you will have more work than you can handle.
- tomlagier 6y ago
  Thanks for the response, very helpful! I've done my best to build relationships over my 8 years in the software development industry, but I don't have much work to show for it after querying my network. All of my work to date has been from external sources. I also make a point to over-deliver, both in availability and deliverables, and to ask for referrals. I wonder if the types of interpersonal connections in tech sales are more valuable for finding work than those in software development - I'm certain I could tap my network for a job offer easily, but contract work has been a tougher sell. It's still early days though, we'll see how things look 6 months down the line after I have a couple more contracts under my belt.

drdeadringer 6y ago

What is your prepared statement regarding pay?

acruns 6y ago
I have a range I stay in. I have a SOW that I just use a template, pull things out, put things in, depending on the scoping call/requirements. I don't do MSA's.