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Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed

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markspace <-@.> wrote in news:jb0m9l$3n3$1@dont-email.me:

> On 11/28/2011 9:04 AM, Novice wrote:
>> Jeff Higgins<jeff@invalid.invalid>  wrote in
>> news:jb0d7h$4h1$1@dont-email.me:
>>
>>> 
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Sun_Certified_Java_Pr
>>> ogrammer_%28SCJP%29/Hourly_Rate
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you! That's a great resource for determining what I should 
charge.
>>
> 
> 
> My feeling on those rates:  they're for full-time permanent employees, 
> not contractors.  I.e., they include benefits.  I'd at least double 
> those rates for an independent contractor.
> 
Good catch! I didn't realize that. That changes things considerably for 
me....

> I think not charging customers for your education is fine, but only if 
> they are paying you full rate.  If they force you down too much because 
> you aren't experienced, then they do pay for everything, because 
they're 
> paying for a novice engineer.
>
Fair enough. So you'd suggest asking something like $80/hr (I was leaning 
toward $40 based on the payscale page) and explaining that I would not be 
charging them for my learning time at that rate, right? 
 
> As for selling yourself, I do this rather carefully.  You don't have to 
> describe yourself as a "hobbyist" but do describe yourself as a 
> beginner.  

I know that "hobbyist" is not the best word but I wanted something that 
would suggest enthusiasm and imply that I wasn't a beginner. I've 
actually been coding in Java since 1998 (with a gap of a few years). I 
just haven't been getting paid for most of that coding. "Beginner" sounds 
more like a guy who just started into Java a few months back. Even 
"advanced beginner" sounds better than "beginner", although it has a bit 
of an oxymoron feel....

> DO NOT sign a contract that describes you otherwise.  (If 
> you're not used to signing contracts, get advice on how to do so.) 

I've signed contracts before - I'm one of those weird people who actually 
READS documents before I sign them (at least most of the time) - but any 
gotchas or common mistakes you can point me to would be very helpful.

> Describe your actual experience in web design, including working with 
> people on a team, meeting deadlines, being professional, commitment, 
> etc.  Sell the experience you actually do have.  Let the customer 
decide 
> whether you are qualified.
>
Fair enough. I'm not the most self-confident person in the world in the 
first place and I do tend to get pessimistic on whether my experience is 
adequate when applying for jobs. Sometimes, I disqualify myself without 
even giving the customer a chance to decide and I'm not always sure that 
was appropriate.
 
> I don't like fixed-price contracts.  Estimating software is hard, and 
as 
> a novice you've got no basis to work from.  I'd seriously push time 
> estimates on the customer; make sure the contract you sign is for an 
> hourly rate.  At your level of experience you can only meet with 
> disaster if you try to provide a fixed time and cost contract.
> 

He's actually asking if I'd do the work on a fixed-price contract given a 
spec. Given that I'm chronically over-optimistic on how long things will 
take, a fixed price contract would seem to be a very bad idea. But how do 
I resist that? What are the standard justifications for saying no to that 
question?

Also, when you say that you'd seriously push time estimates on the 
customer, I'm not sure what you're saying. Can you clarify please?
 
-- 
Novice

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Thread

General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 15:41 +0000
  Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Jeff Higgins <jeff@invalid.invalid> - 2011-11-28 11:37 -0500
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 17:04 +0000
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-28 11:09 -0800
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 19:48 +0000
          Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-28 12:14 -0800
            Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Rhino <no.offline.contact.please@example.com> - 2011-11-28 21:28 +0000
              Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed markspace <-@.> - 2011-11-28 14:14 -0800
                Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-29 05:24 +0000
                Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2011-11-29 20:44 +0000
  Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 17:53 +0000
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 19:52 +0000
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Arved Sandstrom <asandstrom3minus1@eastlink.ca> - 2011-11-29 07:20 -0400
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-29 16:06 +0000
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-29 12:04 -0800
          Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-30 00:12 +0000
            Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Lew <lewbloch@gmail.com> - 2011-11-29 22:02 -0800
              Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-30 20:28 +0000
  Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-11-28 10:03 -0800
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-28 10:44 -0800
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 20:13 +0000
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-28 12:59 -0800
      Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Roedy Green <see_website@mindprod.com.invalid> - 2011-11-29 14:04 -0800
        Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Gene Wirchenko <genew@ocis.net> - 2011-11-29 15:07 -0800
    Re: General Consulting Advice Urgently Needed Novice <novice@example..com> - 2011-11-28 19:56 +0000

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