Subj : Re: Fulltime contracting?  Which field?
To   : comp.programming
From : Phlip
Date : Sun Aug 14 2005 11:47 pm

Dan wrote:

> Hi.  Just a quick question regarding contracting.  I'm currently a
> programmer in the computer games industry, and have been programming as a
> fulltime job for 7 years.

What location are you in?

> I'm looking to get into doing contracting, and am
> thinking that I'm more likely to be successful if I do something other 
> than
> games programming.

Games are hard enough to break into but I don't know how easy they are to 
break out.

Now, what's wrong with games, and with your current gig? Do you long for the 
boredom of a business job stuffing a database?

> My main strength is Windows and DirectX programming.
> I've done a lot of application programming too.  But I'm a quick learner, 
> so
> can quickly learn other stuff like SQL.  My question is what's the most 
> sort
> after type of programming for fulltime contractors?  I'm guessing it's 
> SQL -
> but could me wrong ;)

In theory, people are supposed to hire you because you can learn rapidly and 
solve problems. No matter how good your SQL, you still must learn this 
site's use of SQL, so your previous learning is only a small fraction of the 
onsite learning. I personally would do very well if I dropped into a gig 
using XYZ, and I quietly Googled for everything I needed to know about it, 
on the job.

In contracting, you will be hired by acronyms alone. You must invest in some 
learning. Start with your local users groups, and download free software 
using the acronyms you want to target. Then pursue the contracts that need 
the acronyms that you were happiest with.

-- 
  Phlip
  http://www.greencheese.org/ZeekLand  <-- NOT a blog!!!

.