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Don't focus entirely on programming. Find small IT services firms in your area, call them, and ask if they're looking for people. I guarantee you're at least 2

Don't focus entirely on programming. Find small IT services firms in your area, call them, and ask if they're looking for people. I guarantee you're at least 2 steps above who they normally get, and depending on their size and customer base you may be able to get good local freelance development projects and references while helping them keep their customers happy. You may also get a variety of experience with both business needs and end users that may be very valuable to you later. You'll also help with things that seem incredibly simple to you like basic spreadsheet or macro stuff - something you'll spend 15 minutes on that will literally save a business staffer or manager days of error-prone tweaking by hand.

jessehorne 12y ago
I'm going to look into this option a bit more, thanks! I don't expect I'll find much in this area but I'll look more in the Atlanta area as well.
- fencepost 12y ago
  You might be surprised. Consider that every doctor's office (at least those with 2 or more doctors) is almost guaranteed to have someone they call for computer help, and odds are high that you've never heard of any of the companies. Those companies may consist of only 2-5 people, but just with changes over the past couple of years along with changes coming in 2015 (ICD-10, end of support for Windows Server 2003, lingering XP users) there's a ton going on just in that one vertical market.
  - rab_oof 12y ago
    I've worked in university/clinical medical IT too. Large universities are great for consulting IT practices because each dept is like a separate client. Work there for a year or three and then setup your own shop to bill back to it. Even a temporary contract can be useful to make relationships and identify pain-points.
rab_oof 12y ago
Yup. It's possible to show massive value by doing the job of the talent agency by finding your own jobs. The downside is that the ratio of interest of you going out and looking is 1% of someone coming and finding you via LinkedIn, github etc. TL;DR inbound >>> outbound. But if you're deperate, don't hide it but don't be overly needy or whiny if they don't return calls.... leave it as "if you change your mind, here's my contact info." almost always.

jessehorne 12y ago

I'm going to look into this option a bit more, thanks! I don't expect I'll find much in this area but I'll look more in the Atlanta area as well.

fencepost 12y ago
You might be surprised. Consider that every doctor's office (at least those with 2 or more doctors) is almost guaranteed to have someone they call for computer help, and odds are high that you've never heard of any of the companies. Those companies may consist of only 2-5 people, but just with changes over the past couple of years along with changes coming in 2015 (ICD-10, end of support for Windows Server 2003, lingering XP users) there's a ton going on just in that one vertical market.
- rab_oof 12y ago
  I've worked in university/clinical medical IT too. Large universities are great for consulting IT practices because each dept is like a separate client. Work there for a year or three and then setup your own shop to bill back to it. Even a temporary contract can be useful to make relationships and identify pain-points.

rab_oof 12y ago

Yup. It's possible to show massive value by doing the job of the talent agency by finding your own jobs. The downside is that the ratio of interest of you going out and looking is 1% of someone coming and finding you via LinkedIn, github etc. TL;DR inbound >>> outbound. But if you're deperate, don't hide it but don't be overly needy or whiny if they don't return calls.... leave it as "if you change your mind, here's my contact info." almost always.