The Good News?

[swestrup]

I just got off the phone with the bohemianpsyche because I needed advice on how one should go about negotating a work contract these days. Thats because someone I know in Redmond referred someone to me who was looking for a programmer. The work sounds easy enough, and shouldn't take too long -- maybe a week or two.

Anyway, I was just writing down some notes about what the lady had said, when the phone rang again. It was someone else that I had interviewed with a while ago. They are looking to hire me on a short term contract (3-6 months) with the possibility of permanent employment if I become indispensible. They have asked me to send them blurb by email on what kind of rates I charge for contract work. *GULP*

I think I'm going to have to spend some time figuring out what kind of rates I charge, real quick, as I promised to send him something by tomorrow. Now, I just need to figure that out for myself...

Comments

[skjalm.livejournal.com]

Fantastic. Sounds like there's finally a break-through on the job front.

Hope you get the fees sorted out and find a level both you and they are comfortable with.

A hint for the upcoming job interviews: relax and be yourself. Think of it as much as you approving them as them approving you.

Good luck with it.

[swestrup]

The big problem I have is that I'm incredibly shy whenever I am meeting people I don't know in a strange environment. Its bad enough that I feel proud of myself whenever I manage to merely show up for a job interview.

[skjalm.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes. Been there, done that. Didn't like it. It really is a problem, being shy.

I think that what finally made it possible for me in job interviews was that I stopped giving a damn about whether I got the job or not. Not exactly apathy, just an offspring of my getting way too used to stressful situations like exams, meeting new people, job interviews and so on. At some point I just stopped getting all excited and nervous about it.

Not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing...

In-ter-view?

[denizsarikaya.livejournal.com]

Interviews? For contract work? What is this concept?

You are requested to make an offer. You make the offer, you negotiate. The company makes the decision of which offer to accept, if any. The interview process is aborted altogether.

The hardest part, especially if you haven't done contract work before, is the negotiation process. Good luck, swestrup, and I hope you find negotiation less stressful than interviewing, unlike myself (I will nonchalantly interview on a dime, I've been performing and auditioning and interviewing for so long).

Re: In-ter-view?

[skjalm.livejournal.com]

Interviews? For contract work? What is this concept?

My fault. Got the two things confuzzled and mixed together. It makes sense to not have an interview for contract work.

Fortunately, the few times I've had to do contract work there haven't really been any negotiations. Which makes me wonder if I sold myself too cheap ;-)

Re: In-ter-view?

[swestrup]

You're right, there won't be any interviews. In one case I'm getting the contract after I already had an interview, and in the other I'm not going to have to do more than talk to the guy on the phone (not that that won't be strenuous enough for me).

Re: In-ter-view?

[thebabynancy.livejournal.com]

If only it were THAT simple Denzo. If only...

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

Just posted to a friend's blog, who seems to know what he's talking about:

"(PS: Do not ever, ever, EVER sign a contract that is fixed-price [as opposed to hourly], unless it's as a corporation that you can bail from. At least not as a programmer. I guess as a plumber or something it might be different.)"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_grey_knight/]

Make sure you a) have the business requirements, in excruciating detail. Say that you will be charging a lessor rate (perhaps - business writers get less than programmers)for the time needed to document them. And b) explicitly note that changes to the requirements will invalidate any previous time line agreed upon, pending further evaluation.
Having been on the corporate side of the fence, got side whacked by the programmer offering additional functionality, with claims it wouldn't take any time. No amendment to the original contract was made - and Bam! larger invoice than anticipated. Bad blood all around for that.

[thebabynancy.livejournal.com]

I just got home - 5 minutes ago - Friday, January 7th 11:38AM... and am looking around for the adapter so I can grab the information you need from my laptop. Desolee!