| ly, when a student or prospective computer | | | | programmer, where do you start? The first area to |
| programmer envisions working in the field, they think of | | | | work on is your programming knowledge and skills. As |
| working for a company, the government, or some | | | | a freelance programmer, your clients will consider you |
| other formal entity as a direct employee, enjoying the | | | | an advisor and consultant. You need to be able to |
| perceived security and benefits of working for an | | | | answer difficult questions that may rise up along the |
| established entity. For some, working outside of the | | | | way during the project. Your clients will not provide on |
| office as a freelance computer programmer is a | | | | the job training. It is imperative that you gain expert |
| terrifying prospect. For others, confident in their skills | | | | level skill in the technologies that you specialize in. Start |
| and attracted to the prospect of flexibility and higher | | | | by browsing the online knowledge bases for computer |
| compensation, it's the ticket to a whole new ballgame. | | | | languages. These usually contain everything you need |
| Freelance programming is an avenue that offers | | | | to know about how the language works. You can also |
| significantly higher pay coupled with very flexible hours. | | | | visit online programming forums and communities to |
| These individuals, working as freelance programmers, | | | | learn tips and tricks. A good place to look is Invest in |
| accept short-term (or less than permanent positions, in | | | | developing strong technical skills and it will definitely pay |
| any event) from a variety of companies that employ | | | | off in your client referrals and testimonials. |
| them to complete specific projects. For them, the | | | | Build a customer base – "The hardest thing is to |
| higher pay and flexibility is too attractive to resist. And | | | | get started." Says Lisa, a web developer in Huntington |
| when you factor in the opportunities to both apply your | | | | Beach, CA. "It's really slow to start, and you need to |
| skills in a number of environments and gain very | | | | stick with it for a while before you can actually feed |
| valuable experience, and the chance to earn | | | | yourself." That's the reality of being a freelancer |
| outstanding compensation; it's easy to see why many | | | | – most often, you're the one responsible for lining |
| make this their preferred career path. | | | | up work for yourself. For some, chasing opportunity |
| So why do companies hire freelance programmers? | | | | and building their business is exciting all by itself. For |
| One reason companies hire freelance programmers is | | | | others, it's drudgery. A good strategy to follow is to |
| that even though freelancers usually charge more | | | | build that customer base before you leave your |
| money on an hourly basis than employees, the | | | | regular job, so that once you're on your own you have |
| company still saves money. Freelancers only receive | | | | an existing base of customers and work to support |
| payment for time spent working on a software | | | | yourself as you expand that base of business. |
| development project and their services can be | | | | In conclusion there are distinct advantages and |
| discontinued at any time. Many freelancers provide | | | | disadvantages to working as a freelance programmer. |
| their own hardware and software. Also, they do not | | | | If you prefer the "security" of having a steady |
| receive employee benefits which are usually quite | | | | paycheck or dislike the idea of running your own |
| expensive. Another reason companies use freelance | | | | business, then freelancing may not be for you. Working |
| programmers is that freelance programmers are | | | | as a freelancer involves doing your own accounting, |
| expected to be able to complete projects faster and | | | | purchasing health insurance and managing your |
| more efficiently than employees. Above all these, | | | | productivity carefully. If you don't want to be |
| contract programmers get hired to perform | | | | responsible for these, then consider full time |
| programming work that companies do not have the | | | | employment. On the other hand, if you are excited at |
| in-house talent to accomplish. Some companies do not | | | | the thought of being able to control where and when |
| have any in-house programmers or they may need | | | | you work, charge more for your services while |
| special technical skills for an application development | | | | creating a successful business, you should definitely |
| project. | | | | give freelance programming a try. |
| Now that you've decided to become a freelance | | | | |