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Contracting is the way to go for the older crowd. How else could I be making $125-$250/hour? No company is going to pay me $250k-$400k in salary, and if they d

Contracting is the way to go for the older crowd. How else could I be making $125-$250/hour? No company is going to pay me $250k-$400k in salary, and if they did, they'd expect to own me 24/7. This way I get to work part time, have lots of time with my kids, and when I do work overtime, I get paid for the extra hours. So I know they aren't asking it lightly. At least right now I've had no trouble finding gigs. Work's been finding me, in fact. I have more options available than I can take. And between gigs, I can work on personal projects, one of which may turn into a real business someday. It's all good. :)

NkVczPkybiXICG 13y ago
How do you go about finding this contract work?
- SomeCallMeTim 13y ago
  I would tell you if I knew. I kid you not that the work finds me. I've been in the industry for 20+ years. I've made lots of friends who like working with me. I ping them from time to time because I enjoy their conversation. And sometimes they think of me when they have a problem they need to solve. I also found a local company on Craigslist during one lull about a year ago that does embedded software and is consulting-friendly; they now call me from time to time with contract offers as well. Hit up your network; let people know you're looking. And don't be afraid of Craigslist. :)
nostrademons 13y ago
A number of big companies do pay in the $250-400K range for experienced computer programmers with a solid track record, and give them reasonable hours.
- SomeCallMeTim 13y ago
  I have heard hints of this, but I have a number of other...quirks...that prevent me from seeking this out. I like to be running my own business, for instance; my next product is being funded by my current gigs. Take a job as an employee and they expect you to stick around for a couple of years. I want my next three projects to be released in that time frame.

NkVczPkybiXICG 13y ago

How do you go about finding this contract work?

SomeCallMeTim 13y ago
I would tell you if I knew. I kid you not that the work finds me. I've been in the industry for 20+ years. I've made lots of friends who like working with me. I ping them from time to time because I enjoy their conversation. And sometimes they think of me when they have a problem they need to solve. I also found a local company on Craigslist during one lull about a year ago that does embedded software and is consulting-friendly; they now call me from time to time with contract offers as well. Hit up your network; let people know you're looking. And don't be afraid of Craigslist. :)

nostrademons 13y ago

A number of big companies do pay in the $250-400K range for experienced computer programmers with a solid track record, and give them reasonable hours.

SomeCallMeTim 13y ago
I have heard hints of this, but I have a number of other...quirks...that prevent me from seeking this out. I like to be running my own business, for instance; my next product is being funded by my current gigs. Take a job as an employee and they expect you to stick around for a couple of years. I want my next three projects to be released in that time frame.