 |
|
The source of the best business, financial and legal news |
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
 | |
| |
 |
Business Informations |
|
|
|
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:
careers employment - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Goal Setting - Road Map To Achieving Your Career Goals Goal Setting & ResearchYou can only set informed career goals if you acquire plenty of information about the career choices open to you. This will require research which can be conducted online or through a local library. 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. Four Job Interview Mistakes That Can Torpedo Your Chances of Success What are the worst mistakes job hunters make? It turns out there are four big ones. These four mistakes turn up repeatedly when executives responsible for hiring talk about the reasons why someone didn't get a job offer. Resume Writing - Importance of a Professional Summary The Summary is the preview of your entire resume. This may be be the only part that an interviewer or employer might read for shortlisting your resume. Are You Ready To Start A Business? Take This Quiz and See Don't get discouraged! A "no" answer to any of the questions will identify an area for development -- not a roadblock. I am available to help if you would like to discuss your options in greater detail. What Exactly Online Recruitment Agencies Do? Any online recruitment agency can help you to submit for vacancies to the agency by employers.Online recruitment agencies are used by employers for many purposes. Take Charge of Your Job Search: 12 Steps to Success Despite what many people may say, a job search does not have to be an unpleasant experience. There are those people who choose to take charge of the process, who actually find the process to be very rewarding and stimulating. The Ripple Effect of Fear Unemployment carries a lot of emotional baggage for most of us and fear is a major component. We fear the financial fallout of no longer receiving regular wages. I Just Lost My Job: How Am I Going To Tell My Kids? One of the responsibilities of a human resources professional is to let employees know that their job has been eliminated. It is seldom easy to do and often painful for the person who is hearing the news. A Killer Secret To Get Your Cover Letter Read You're still reading-so I know my title grabbed your attention.Why? Because it 'packed a punch. Why Human Resources Are The Real Key To Success In This Information Age The rapid changes that have mainly been brought about by the information age are numerous and irreversible. They have affected our way of life on virtually every front and have left many old companies in ruins while causing other new ones to swiftly emerge and grow to great unprecedented profitability, literally overnight. My Landscaping Business is Better Than Your Lanscaping Business... Yesterday I was having a discussion with Mary who I know from a mother's group that I attend with my daughter Sammi. Through previous conversations I have determined that this woman is very talented in the areas of landscaping and interior design. Don't Be Too Passionate About Your Work Of course, she then offered me a six-month process, costing thousands of dollars to get me back on track. However, I must say she was ethical in her approach and suggested I get a medical check up to rule out any physical or mental-health issues. How to Change Career Horses in Mid-Stream You'll get wet but the reward just might be a more fulfilling ride!In Survival is Not Enough, author Seth Godin says change is the "new normal." Rather than thinking of work as a series of stable times interrupted by moments of change, Godin says we "must now recognize work as constant change, with only occasional moments of stability. Becoming A Home Inspector: What the Home Inspection Schools Dont Want You To Know Chances are if you're reading this you've thought about becoming a home inspector. You may have even seen the ads that say you can make hundreds of dollars a day as a home inspector. How To Find Your Dream Job Here's the bottom line: many people work in jobs that aren't what they want or are less than they deserve.It's partly the pull of inertia (better the devil you know. Salary Negotiation Secrets Revealed Before you go into the interview, it is important to know what salary you want, what you need to live on, and what you will be prepared to accept. Spend some time working out your budget. 5 Steps to a New Job The economy is picking up, budgets are new, positions are open and companies are hiring. Now is the time to rev up your job search efforts. Your Job Search -- a Marketing Campaign? The successful job search is really just a personal marketing campaign. And the same techniques used in infomercials and junk mail can help you get hired, too. Are You Taking Your Inner Brat to Work? Is your inner brat taking over your job? Everyone has an inner brat. It's the part of us that's still a 2-year-old.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
||||
|
