working from home

[spedtwig]

I am starting school for Microcomputer Specialist. I am very new to programming. one of our projects was to research the job market for what employers wanted. I ran across a lot of ads for independent work on a project. Is this something that is very common?

[RobDog888]

Yes, independant contracting is big because the small and medium sized companies can not afford to hire a programmer full time when they usually only need one for a particular project. If you check out the market trends on http://www.dice.com you can get more info on jobs in the US, their descriptions, and pay rates, etc.

[sevenhalo]

Mind you, Rob posts from inside of a dumpster and steals wifi from the local library.

I wouldn't even make an attempt until you get some real world experience (with a company and such). It'll make you look more credible and also, give you some knowledge you can't learn in school. Every time I think I'm ready to contract myself out, I hit a wall in a project and say "thank God I'm salary."

[RobDog888]

one of our projects was to research the job market for what employers wanted

I dont think he wants to start independant consulting yet. Sure you dont have to drive to work and fight the traffic but you also need to be very experienced and skilled as you open yourself for liabilities unless you get yourself bonded and insured etc. You have to factor these issues into the mix and then you can get a better picture of how hard it is to consult. Dont forget you would also need to get your own health insurance and that is expensive. Oh the joys of working for yourself.

Ps, I dont post from a dumpster but rather a small trash can as thats all I can afford.

[spedtwig]

Thanks for the imput. like I say I'm just getting started and have a lot to learn but I like to get an idea of whats ahead. I have a Learn to Program VB 6 as well as going to school. Would I be better off playing around with it and learning a little from it before I jump into VB.NET or should I start with VB.NET as it will be a little while before I take a language course? I can't wait to get started! Thanks

[RhinoBull]

You don't have to be a consultant to work from home - more and more companies are considering telecommute which is nothing else but "working from home while being full time employee".

[szlamany]

A great way to get experience and not be a salaried employee is to get an employment agency to get contract jobs for you.

Granted they want an experienced person since they are selling the "talent" and taking a cut - but it gives you the ability to work independently.

Our business makes a practice of hiring local high-school students who have ambition - we train them how to use MS SQL server and you would be surprised at how productive they can be!

[RobDog888]

* cough child labor cough *

Seriously though, sure they can be productive but not experienced. I wouldnt want to micromanage them to help them through the spots where experience is needed. Unless that is if they are working on an internship.

[szlamany]

Honestly Rob, 50% of the time I get an extremely ambitious and productive worker.

Since we created a 4GL type environment most of the work is plotting screen positions for data entry boxes - grids - stuff like that.

The SPROCS are all ripped from prior ones.

And I truly enjoy being a teacher/mentor...

The other 50% of the time I get frustrated

[RobDog888]

50% frustration is just too high for me as I need a major reduction of that in my life. I trained a programmer below me before and it was ok but getting questions for every little thing and cleaning up their mistakes is all not worth it to me as at that time I had my own projects to work on and manage the department too.

[spedtwig]

Well szlamany I commend you for what you do. Companies seem to forget that everyone has to start somewhere. When I get more education and get ready to apply it I just hope someone will give me the opportunity. Will I make mistakes, sure I will, because that is how we learn. Everyone did when they first started. On the up side you can get good employees this way because when you train them they pick up some of your qualities!! On the downside for some people it is hard to train somebody. I have a difficult time sometimes with that too. Its easier to do it yourself that wait for somebody to learn it. i work in the school system and its difficult waiting for children to grasp the concept of something. Plus, I'm not as young as I once was and somewhere along the way my patience has diminshed! Ha