Question - What is independent contracting really about?

[kbomb987]

I've received my B.S. in Comp Sci and am currently working on a certification (MCSD or MCP) and was wondering what exactly is involved with independent contracting? Such as, how many hours a week do you actually work, and do you typically work at the client's location or from home. Also do you design an entire app on your own, or with a team, or just work on segments of a large app with other employees? Basically, what is your day-to-day work life like? I was just wondering if you are expected to take on and design a complete program from scratch on your own so your knowledge would need to be very vast in creating apps. Or if you do in fact work with other employees like in a regular job on a software team working on a program, except you just get paid bvy the hour?

Also, do you find you make a great deal more money than being a permanent employee of a company making a standard salary?

Finally, how do you go about starting as a contractor - through a consulting agency perhaps?

Any info is appreciated.

Easy Internet Software @
http://www.DummySoftware.com

[NeilPearson]

First of all being an independent contractor is different than being a contractor through an agency. Generally being a contractor with an agency means that you are actually an employee of the consulting company. You still get paid hourly. You submit your timesheet to the consulting agency and the agency pays you and bills the client (of course they take a cut here). An independent consultant works directly for the client and bills the client. There is an advantage to both. Independent consultants get the full bill rate but they have to handle their own taxes and benefits (health care) and they have to find their own contracts. Working through an agency, you will get benefits even though you will most likely have to pay for them - but they are at the companies group rate. They will also take money off your checks for taxes and they may offer a 401k. If you are independent there can be up to a few months lag from when you bill the client to the time you see any money. Through an agency you are set on a pay schedule as an employee would be.

Generally the work is the same as if you were an employee. Most of the time you will work on the clients site and you will be working just like any other employee. The big difference is you work hourly and have no delusions of performance bonuses or working up the corporate ladder. You are a hired gun to work on a project which may or may not mean that you will only be there for a short period of time like 6 months (depending on the contract) Consultants are generally expected to have experience since they are only there for a short time - there is not as much time to get them up to speed which makes sense - if you are temporary, they don't want to invest a lot in you (so don't expect to be sent on any courses) Most consulting agencies will shy away from you if you do not have several years experience.

You could be doing a complete program from scratch or fixing legacy code. You may be working by yourself or in a group. This doesn't change whether you are a consultant or an employee.

I don't think you make 'a great deal more money being a permanent employee'. You will may more money as a consultant but you will not get any training and they are less likely to let you learn something on the job - they expect you to know it already.

To answer your last question about how to become a consultant... If you have a lot of industry connections you may be able to find a contract by yourself and make about $20-$30 / hour more (but as I said above, there are drawbacks) If you do not have the connections, contact an agency and they can either find you a contract or they might tell you to go be an employee for a while and get more experience. (In which case they will probably want to find you a permanent job)

Neil

Neil