Subj : Re: Fulltime contracting? Which field? To : comp.programming From : David Date : Tue Aug 16 2005 01:51 am On Mon, 15 Aug 2005 12:18:22 UTC, "Dan" wrote: > Thankyou both for your replies. I think you misunderstood my question > however. I'm not suggesting that I'm going to go into a particular area of > contracting without studying the area first. I just want to know what the > best area is for me to start studying. I.e. If I'm doing full-time > contracting - what's the most likely area where I would have a constant > stream of work available without having months being unable to find work. Full-time contracting is almost an oxymoron. You are selling a talent that is not normally needed full-time to employers that are not willing/able to hire you full-time. I'd go with your strengths, whatever they are, and get as many other useful talents developed as well. Along the way, get a very good background, perhaps even a degree in business management. I presume that you don't want to transition to working for a contracting company, but instead are wanting to strike out on your own. The best method of moving out on your own is to have a good business sense and have saleable talents. You will then need a fresh supply of clients that will want to hire you. To minimize job thrashing, many contractors develop a business model whereby they frequent a great many of the same customers on a periodic basis. Consider something like specializing in designing web-stores for companies. Pay may or may not be great and once done, the job is over, However, if you also own part of the web-store, such as the web-hosting, there is some recurring charge. You can also revisit a great number of these customers to periodically update their sites as needed. Some companies will also entertain the idea of long term contractors where a multi-year project is needed but they really don't want to hire you. You may or may not require a formal business or bonding (insurance) to works for some employers. > The reason I'm looking to get out of the games industry if purely financial. > Games programming may be one of the most interesting areas of programming - > but it's also one of the most poorly paid. And most games companies expect > you to work long hours without being paid overtime. If I went the > contracting route, then obviously I would be paid a lot more, and would get > a lot more holidays where I can do my own thing. Out of curiousity, what's > the average hourly rate for an experienced contractor nowadays? Contracting does not gaurantee better wages. Over here in the USA a personal contractor has higher business costs as well as taxes. Couple that with a business whereby you are working half-time and looking for your next job half-time means that to break even you will need to charge a great deal more than might be reasonable. There are perhaps some specialties that could be useful as contracting only. Developers of embedded applications sometimes go this route. I've also met a lot of web-app people, and a few human-computer-interface designers. None of them made much money. Those that did generally had several peopel working for them and a well established clientel that they frequented. > I live in Oxfordshire - so it's commutable to London via the M40. > > Thanks again, > Regards, > Dan. David .