Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited
Return to career-consulting-limited.com
People |
|
|
 |
What is Contract Programming? An Alternative to the Conformity of Everyday Employment
What is contract programming, you ask? Well, when companies need specific computer programming expertise, for temporary periods of time, they generally hire a contract programmer or an employee of a consulting firm. Contractors almost always have a higher hourly wage than a salaried employee and are often paid for overtime. Contracts can last from one to three months to many years, depending on the situation. A contract programmer generally does one thing: program (code) for the duration of the contract. So, contract programming is just an area of computer consulting. Other areas of computer consulting include custom developers, network consultants and information technology (IT) consultants. The contract programmer can work via two forms of contracts: 1) "W-2 " contracts and 2) "1099" contracts. There's the "W-2" contractor The "W-2 contractor" receives the typical IRS W-2 form at tax time and works as a temporary employee of a contract broker or some form of employment agency. The contract broker basically acquires a contract with a client company and hires the contractor to work on that contract for them. Brokers make their money by charging the client an amount over your agreed upon hourly rate. In this form, the contract programmer is a temporary, hourly employee of the broker's company and this is the form that is easiest for the newcomer to obtain. And the "1099" contractor As a "W-2 contractor", your broker a.k.a.: temporary employer or agency will collect taxes from your paycheck, just as if you were a regular employee. The "1099 contractor", can still work through a broker, but gets paid on an IRS form 1099 and must take responsibility for paying all applicable taxes herself. This "1099" form is for, in IRS lingo, "Independent Contractors." Independent contractors have more work to do before they get a contract: they have to market themselves like any other business. This includes brochures, business cards, web sites, networking, etc. They have to consider obtaining more forms of insurance that may include general business liability and errors & omissions insurance. They also generally have to form a corporation in order to work for certain companies. The pay back for this extra work is a higher hourly rate. To the beginning contractor, I always suggest starting out as a "W-2" contract programmer because it is generally the quickest and easiest path to becoming a contract programmer and the best way to determine if contracting is the right career choice. The "W-2" contractor is like a typical employee...almost The main differences between a full-time employee and an hourly, contract employee working for a broker are, the contractor: 1) Will probably have to pay for his or her own health and disability insurance, which amounts to very little compared to the increased income one usually sees. 2) Generally gets paid top-dollar for his or her work. Many earn $100 or more per hour for 40+ hours a week. 3) Can take as much time off from work as he or she pleases, while in-between contracts. 4) Has independence from corporate politics. 5) Has the chance to live wherever she wants or live in different places as determined by the particular contract. 6) Is often seen as an expert in his or her field. More work for "1099" contractor These points apply to the "1099 contractor" as well, but the "1099" contractor has more work to do in filing taxes, corporate paperwork, advertising and searching for her next contract as opposed the "W-2 contractor," who basically makes a few calls to her favorite brokers and tells them she is ready for another contract and the brokers do the job-searching for her. Now, everything I've said thus far is pretty cut-and-dry, so let's take a look at a more elusive topic: what qualities make a good contract programmer. Signs of a good contract programmer Over the last decade, I have met and worked with many varied computer programmers. From this experience, I have devised the following list containing what I believe makes a good potential contractor programmer. A good contract programmer: 1) Makes computers an avid hobby of his. When he comes home from work he plays with or hacks the computer trying to improve its performance. 2) Tries to learn more about computers than his peers do and he also likes to program the computer to have it do "cool" things. 3) Has often dreamed of being an expert, high-paid computer professional. 4) Has learned how to master the art of studying computer science. 5) Spends his free time reading computer books and magazines - yes kind of geeky! 6) May like to build his own computer systems and enjoys tweaking and upgrading them to extract the most performance from them. 7) Is very professional and humble. You've got to love to do it! These really are just some of the basic qualities of someone who loves computers and loving computers is really the main ingredient for a successful career in contract programming. If you don't love doing it, you will not survive. If you do love it, it will be a joy to go to work every day and to continually update your skills. The computer field changes rapidly and only someone who really loves computers and makes it his hobby will have the desire to continually upgrade his skills and be the best he can be at all times. If you possess most of the seven qualities listed above and like the idea of using your hobby to catapult yourself into a high-paid, fulfilling career, even if the economy is down, you should consider a career in contract programming. About The Author Michael Nigohosian is the author of the award-winning and bestselling series, "The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches" and instructor for the course "Introduction to Contract Programming". He is also director of Rapid Mastery Technology? at McGillis, Wilcox, Webster & Co., Inc.? http://www.mwwcorp.com
MORE RESOURCES: Tier 2 isn’t broken for Illinois’ career workers: expanding choice secures benefits Illinois Policy Students came 'for a day out of school and left with a career' at Construction Career Days Pensacola News Journal Ohio to host Gen Z virtual job fair for those 27 and under Dayton Daily News What Jobs Can You Get With a Finance Degree? | Careers | U.S. News U.S. News & World Report Hundreds attend Spokane County Career Expo seeking employment NonStop Local KHQ Approaches for Finding International Research Jobs (opinion) Inside Higher Ed Careers Schnucks Careers University of Northern Colorado Compensation & Benefits Lowe's Careers Understanding America’s Labor Shortage U.S. Chamber of Commerce Careers US Forest Service (.gov) Careers at Givaudan Givaudan Careers | Career Opportunities West Virginia University Careers City of Phoenix (.gov) So, Why’d You Leave That Job? The New York Times Careers City of Ontario, California (.gov) Careers at Prairie View A&M University PVAMU Home Employment at WKU Western Kentucky University Careers at J&J Johnson & Johnson Careers Technology Lowe's Careers Employment Opportunities at National Headquarters The Salvation Army USA Careers | Home USDA (.gov) Employment Opportunities Alabama Department of Public Health (.gov) Careers and Jobs at CRS Catholic Relief Services Careers UC Santa Cruz Work at Fairfield Fairfield University The Chinese factory jobs Donald Trump wants to bring back Financial Times Careers - MDOT Maryland.gov Careers Baxter Careers Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Working for ICE ice.gov Careers at USCIS USCIS (.gov) Employment Opportunities | Game Commission Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov) Careers Johnson & Johnson Store Hourly Job Areas Target Corporation Careers at TWU Texas Woman's University Work for Us (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service (.gov) Work at Butler Butler University Jobs and Training at FDA fda.gov Healthcare Jobs at Novant Health Novant Health Employment | Department of Corrections Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov) Explore Store Careers Target Corporation Careers at Simon & Schuster SimonandSchuster.biz Work With Us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov) Careers at University of Missouri Health Care | University of Missouri Health Care jobs University of Missouri Health Care Water Services Careers City of Phoenix (.gov) Jobs City of Rochester (.gov) Careers at Willamette Willamette University Career Opportunities UMHB Career Opportunities Gilead Sciences How to Apply FEMA (.gov) IOM career gateways International Organization for Migration 'Effectively the death of salaried employment': Marcellus Investment CEO Saurabh Mukherjea's big warning Times of India Careers BASF Careers Washington State University Jobs at Liberty University Liberty University The ultimate guide to getting a job: Recruiters, job seekers, and execs reveal top tips Business Insider Early Talent programmes AstraZeneca Healthcare Jobs at Novant Health | Novant Health Novant Health Careers and Employment Willamette University Future of Jobs Report 2025: The jobs of the future – and the skills you need to get them The World Economic Forum NASA Careers: Pathways NASA (.gov) Student internships at J&J Johnson & Johnson Careers Our Hiring Process Target Corporation Are you retiring or retired and searching for job? Here’s a guide on finding job after retirement The Economic Times Careers The Ocean Cleanup Finding Your New Career at the City of Phoenix City of Phoenix (.gov) UF Health Careers UF Health Careers Ready for your next great job? ADP Careers Store Leadership Job Areas Target Corporation KPMG Careers KPMG Careers West Virginia Department of Education Careers at Union Union College Jobs for Veterans and transitioning military VA Careers (.gov) Work for the City of St. Louis City of St. Louis, MO (.gov) Early Careers | Students & Recent Graduates | BCG Careers Boston Consulting Group Current opportunities Turner & Townsend Interview Guide and Tips Target Corporation Job Opportunities Bellevue School District Job Seekers Illinois Human Resources RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO POLICY-INFLUENCING POSITIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE The White House (.gov) Gender pay gap in U.S. has narrowed slightly over 2 decades Pew Research Center 3. Skills outlook - The Future of Jobs Report 2025 The World Economic Forum Experienced Professionals | Careers | BCG Boston Consulting Group WORK AT LVMH LVMH Careers at Sinai Health Sinai Health Work with us JPMorganChase Internship Opportunities | Careers Boston Consulting Group Work at UI Health Care | University of Iowa Health Care University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Career Opportunities Bethel College |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love Tough words.. Stop Whining and Ask For What You Want! When you want something, the best way to get it is to make your request in a straightforward and positive way. You should not expect your boss or co-workers to read your mind and know what your expectations and desires are. How To Prepare For A Telephone Interview It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.Begin by studying the job description and the candidate profile. Using Recruiters: How To Get A Step Ahead Of The Crowd When there is an opening to fill, a company has four basic approaches at their disposal:? Advertise the position on Internet job sites? Network? Probe the Internet for viable candidates? Use recruitersWhen a company advertises an opening on an Internet job site, they receive hundreds of resumes. It simply is too long of a process and financially prohibitive to review every resume and move through each step of the interviewing and selection process to fill the opening. Are You Ready For A New Career? Is your current or most recent job truly what you want to do?Do you dread the prospect of coming into work every day? Do you look back on your work day as you travel home and cannot seem to find a fulfilling moment? If you answered yes, read on.You could be unhappy with your supervisor; you may not like the politics or corporate culture; or you may not like the industry you are in. The Group Interview Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up in a situation where you are in a group interview. A group interview is where you are being interviewed along with several other candidates for the job. Travel Light to Work As a frequent traveler, my goal for each trip is to travel light. Despite thoughtful planning, sometimes that goal is shattered when I go to close the suitcase and realize I need a larger, or even second one. Diplomats and Spies "The Baratarian pirates also offered their services. Even though an American naval force had destroyed their base on Grand Terre Island in September, the Baratarians rejected British overtures to side with them. Job or no Job: The Certainty of Uncertainty Headline from AP via Yahoo News! January 11, 2005: "Chrysler Expects No Job Cuts in 2005, 2006." Headline from Detroit Free Press, January 12, 2005: "Chrysler Cuts 200 Hourly Workers. The Chicken or the Egg? Even before I checked my calendar on Monday morning, I knew the appointment would be there. Passed over for promotion again, Ralph wanted specifics on why I hadn't chosen him for the position. Jobseekers! Look For Smoke, Not Fire "If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always received," said some wise person. This is certainly true when it comes to job-hunting, especially during a "sucky" economy. Interpersonal Skill Building -- Yank The Suckers & Weeds According to the National Gardening Association, suckers are rapidly growing shoots rising from an underground root or stem, often to the detriment of the tree. They can be very irritating and annoying for they bear no flowers or fruit. Hiring the OverQualified Employee or Mining for Gold I am having a hard time understanding why a valuable resource such as the "over qualified employee is having such a hard time getting a job. Something seems to be out of whack here. 7 Steps to Interviews that Win the Job These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The Call, make the most of your time -- and go for it!1. Resurrecting the Perfect Resume, Part One Is your resume dead? Don't be so quick to say, "No way!" Of the hundreds of resumes I've seen written by job seekers of all backgrounds and educational levels, easily 95% qualify to be labelled as dead-but-not-yet-buried. A dead resume lacks a clear structure or chronology, does not present or quantify achievements, fails to offer a "big picture" of what you would bring to the employer and is impersonal rather than expressive. Simple Interviewing That Works Powerful questions to get below the surface1. Ask for specific "stories" of complete situations"We all meet situations where people disagree on the correct way to proceed. Your Value Proposition: A Critical Component To Having A Successful Job Search Your value proposition is a series of statements defining your worth. It is the value you bring to the table - the skills, strengths, core competencies, marketable assets and accomplishments you can declare as your own. Need a Job? Put a Gun to Your Head A legendary marketing genius once said that, if he had to write a killer sales letter, he would imagine he had a gun pointed at his head and that he would be shot if his advertising didn't deliver.This motivated him to create some of the world's most-profitable ads. Using Keywords to Find Legitimate Telecommuting Job Leads Many people are choosing telecommuting as an option to bring in an income while being at home. Whatever the reasons that we choose to work at home, the one thing we all have in common is the problem of locating legitimate jobs online. The Changing Values Landscape of the U.S. and How It Impacts Midlife Job Searchers, Part Two The values landscape of our nation is changing, and with it your personal values landscape is changing as well. What does this mean and what does it have to do with midlife? Researcher Dr.
|
|
|
| © Career Consulting Limited.com 2011
|