ITCareerCoach Training - Coaching » employee http://www.it-career-coach.net How To Take Your Career To The Next Level Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:09:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/04/06/the-health-care-and-education-reconciliation-act-of-2010/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/04/06/the-health-care-and-education-reconciliation-act-of-2010/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:53:12 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2890

The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 helps American families that choose public service. It does several things to make college easier for American families;

  1. It invests more than forty (40) billion dollars in college and going forward it will be adjusted to keep pace with inflation or cost of living

  2. By 2017, the maximum PELL Awards may be raised to six thousand dollars ($6,000). These are grants and not loans, so they don’t add up to student debt for qualifying families

  3. To qualify for student grants and low-interest student loans, fill out the FAFSA forms

  4. You may also qualify for up to a $10,000 credit for four years of tuition and related expenses … for your child’s tuition including books. This is called The American Opportunity Tax Credit. It triples the amount you can deduct from your taxes for college.

  5. Beginning in 2014, students can limit their payments to 10% of their income with any remaining balance forgiven after 20 years.

  6. Graduates who work as teachers, nurses or other public service professions including the military can have their loans forgiven after ten (10) years.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2010/04/06/the-health-care-and-education-reconciliation-act-of-2010/feed/ 0 Why Your Resume Gets Tossed http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/12/17/why-your-resume-gets-tossed/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/12/17/why-your-resume-gets-tossed/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:28:15 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2743

Is Mindless Resume Submission Working?

Is Mindless Resume Submission Working?


Finding a job is just a numbers game, so submitting my resume to several job postings will get me hired … says a business analyst!

This is the mindset of some IT job seekers who approach the business of finding a job as if it is purely a numbers game.

But is a successful job search simply a numbers game or is there more to getting a job than that?

Why Resumes Get Tossed

  1. Learn It First – Before you start submitting resumes, first learn how to do the job you are applying for.

    Getting the right knowledge and skills does more for your job search because it assures the attention of hiring managers.

    Yet some job seekers assume that they can get the attention of hiring managers by simply re-writing their resume without significantly improving their skills!

    In a real life example, a marketing and sales professional with no real world business analysis knowledge, skills or experience, just keeps rewriting or submitting resumes for business analyst jobs without taking the time to study or learn!

    There is danger when one conditions the mind to act reflexively without thinking.

    Applying for jobs is not meant to be a mindless task that one attempts like an unthinking robot.

    You be the judge of the job prospects of anyone who thinks that “finding a job is just a numbers game“.

  2. Which Comes First Learning Or Doing – learning has always been the forerunner to doing. You always have to learn a career before you can start performing the roles, responsibilities or duties belonging to the career.

    As a basic rule, everyone has to first learn a skill before they can start producing or working with the skill.

    In some careers, the practice of learning before doing is regulated and enforced by law.

    For example, you cannot become a Medical Doctor without going though Medical school and training. And you cannot just assume that you are a Medical Doctor and start submitting your resume for jobs without first learning, studying for and passing medical examinations.

    In information technology careers, the practice of learning before doing is not enforced by laws or exams or any set of IT schools because it is enforced by the Information Technology (IT) employer.

    Employers want to know that you’ve mastered the knowledge, skills and experience needed for the job before you are hired.

    And when you think of the rigorous credentialing, certification and licensing standards applied to other non information technology careers, you will agree that IT employers are not asking for much!

    The good news is that, it is not how you learn new skills, careers or work that matters (self study, books, coaching, training, college is ok) but that you learn it well … in a rigorous, thorough, step by step way!

  3. Learning Comes Before Finding A Job – employers don’t want to re-train new hires. In other words, job postings are written for those who will be productive from day one.

    What this means is that if you are looking for a new job, you need to take the time to learn or master the skills required for the job and not just shop your resume around.

    Posting your resume mindlessly without first learning the required skills is a black hole that either sucks up your time and energy or brands you in a negative light as thoughtless to employers.

  4. Take a Personal Inventory of your Skills – Do yourself a favor during this holiday season.

    Take a personal inventory of the skills required for your job. List all the skills required; (for example: UML, Use Cases, Requirements Management, SQL, Databases) and then rate yourself on a scale of one to ten on each skill.

    Finally, take the time to study, learn and improve on your weak areas because that is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself or your family!

This post discusses why most resumes get tossed by hiring managers. If you have a question or need some help with your career, post it as a comment on this page and we will be glad to answer it for you!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/12/17/why-your-resume-gets-tossed/feed/ 6 Did I Mess Up My Career? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/08/02/did-i-mess-up-my-career-part-2/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/08/02/did-i-mess-up-my-career-part-2/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:39:02 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=2185

Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

Po Bronson, author of “What Should I Do with My Life?” listened to more than 900 people who dared to be honest with themselves about their line of work or careers!

In the end, he discovered that it comes down to a simple gut check: “You either love what you do or you don’t.“

With that in mind, here’s question posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”.

What To Do About making Wrong Career Choices

I think I did myself well careerwise by reading for a degree that bears no inclination to what I am trying to aspire to in life.

The programme entitled: Degree in Computing with Management Studies is embeded with C++, COBOL and Report Programme Generator (RPG) courses.

The final year I underwent a gruelling course in Artificial Intelligence that I haven’t started to utilise in anyway in my career path.

What I strongly desire is a competence in database management and its integration with records management and design.

Regards

Career Transitions Are A Fact Of Life

Hello,

I feel your pain because I have been in your shoes – in a similar situation.

I’ve had to transition career several times from Chemical Engineering to IT Sales to IT Consulting to IT Career Coaching!

I’m reasonably sure that my last transition is permanent … but that doesn’t mean much because I expect my IT Career Coaching skills to change so much that I would literally be re-inventing myself every year!

Think about it for a moment. The world around us is constantly changing and we have to remain flexible and adaptable or we become as dead as the DoDo!

Fact is … “career transitions are a part of life“!

What I’ve learnt that I would like to share with you is this: “march boldly in the direction of your dreams!“

Start by forgiving yourself thoroughly.

Forgiving yourself is really not as easy as it sounds … put some effort into giving yourself a break because you did the best that you could based on the information you had.

Don’t be too hard on yourself; make sure you take out some time to love on yourself before you do the next big thing.

Now, having done that, “follow your call wherever it leads without any hesitation“!

Since your heart is saying that you need to become a database professional, do exactly that!

“Jump into the water with both feet and don’t be afraid of getting your feet wet”.

What I mean is: “pursue your dreams fearlessly, follow your heart wherever it leads and don’t be afraid of making mistakes”.

You owe yourself the pursuit of “life, liberty and love”.

What Should I Do with My Life?

Po Bronson, author of “What Should I Do with My Life?” listened to more than 900 people who dared to be honest with themselves about their line of work or careers!

In the end, he discovered that it comes down to a simple gut check: “You either love what you do or you don’t!”

So, if you find yourself doubting or regretting the choices you’ve made for your career or work, do these:

  1. Do What You Love; Start building your career around what you love or enjoy doing. Be honest with yourself by finding out what type of work fulfills you and doing it.

  2. Discover Your Strengths; Don’t spend your entire career or life building on weaknesses by doing what you don’t love.

    Discover what you excel at doing and then pursue opportunities that align with them.

    Use a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis to reposition your career.

  3. Follow Your Dreams; It’s never too late to discover or follow your dreams, aspirations or happiness.

    Don’t deny yourself the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness because everyone including your dear self, deserves better!

  4. Develop A Positive Mental Attitude; Don’t let past mistakes or career choices hinder you from making better decisions going forward!

    Believe that “you can do better and you will” because “if you think that you can, you can!“

  5. Learn From Past Mistakes; Don’t be reacting to past failures, learn from them!

    We all do the best that we can, based on the information we have. Now, re-invent your career by making better, informed decisions based on your past failures!

  6. Plan to Succeed; Now prepare a step by step plan for transitioning to a your new career!

    Start with a SWOT Analysis that addresses specific issues like “how you will learn new skills” and “how you will gain hands-on experience“.

    You need to plan your career transition because “failing to plan is the same as planning to fail!”

  7. Now, Do What You Love; You’ve learnt from past mistakes and planned a better career transition, now start doing what you love.

    Stick to doing what you love even when it’s tough on your purse or ego.

    Because a day will come when you’ll start reaping the financial and emotional rewards of “Career Nirvana!”

How To Achieve Career Nirvana

You’re not alone in making wrong career choices. But you must overcome the past by learning from it and by making better, informed decisions going forward!

This post answers a question posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”!

If you have a question about your career or are facing a challenge, be sure to post it as a comment on this page and I will answer it for you!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/08/02/did-i-mess-up-my-career-part-2/feed/ 5 Discover Your Strengths Like Michael Jackson http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/06/27/discover-your-strengths-like-michael-jackson/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/06/27/discover-your-strengths-like-michael-jackson/#comments Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:40:03 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=1742

Michael Jackson, King of Pop. August 29, 1958 to June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson, King of Pop. August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson discovered his musical strengths early in his career, developed into a musical genius and then dedicated his life to serving humanity with music.

What we know about legends or superstars like Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan or Michael Jackson is that they are the best at what they do.

But the reason why we love the Michaels’ (Phelps, Jordan, Jackson) is: “we are just like them way down or deep inside of us”!

Each of us … everyone … has strengths that when discovered, developed and dedicated to the service of others … makes us stand-out and be noticed!

First, Disover Your Strengths

The answer to the questions: what career should I go into or what should I study in college or how do I get a job is “first, discover your strengths“.

Choosing a career just because it pays well, is not good enough because it may stop paying well when it becomes flooded with fortune seekers.

Not choosing a career because it doesn’t pay well, is not good enough because you are judging by the average pay reserved for average performers.

Choose a career by evaluating your answers to some of these questions:

  1. What truly motivates or inspires you?

  2. What do you love doing?

  3. What are you good or exceptional at doing?

  4. What do you do efficiently or what do you produce easily?

  5. What do you like to read, research or study on your own time?

  6. What are your hobbies and what do you do with your spare time?

  7. What work will you do if money wasn’t an issue?

  8. What work will you do if you weren’t trying to please anyone in you life?

  9. What do you get paid to do?

If you are not building your career around your strengths, now is a good time to stop and re-evaluate because it is never too late to do the right thing!

Develop Your Strengths By Constant Practice

You need to develop your strengths through constant practice.

Your strengths needs to be developed and improved by conscious practice otherwise you stand to lose them!

You lose the benefits of having strengths when you neglect to exercise them repeatedly until they become a competitive advantage.

Remember that no one hires for under-developed strengths. Employers prefer to hire workers who have developed their strengths versus those who are hoping to do so after they are hired!

Developing your strengths helps you take advantage of opportunities discovered along the path of doing what you love or what you are good at.

Not developing your strengths means you won’t be able to take advantage of opportunities that further what you love doing or what you are good at.

Not developing your strengths also means that you are building your career or life around your weaknesses.

When you don’t develop or play to your strengths, you are likely to get burned-out, unhappy, depressed and earn lower wages because you can’t work as efficiently or as productively as your colleagues!

Not developing your strengths puts you at a competitive disadvantage in a global economy because you will lose out to someone, somewhere, someday who will do a much better job than you!

Building your career around weaknesses instead of strengths puts you in a situation where ultimately, you won’t be able to keep up with the demands of your job!

Dedicate Your Strengths To Serving Others

Your strengths are for you to use in serving others. Seek out opportunities to serve with your strengths because “what you use becomes stronger” and “what you don’t use becomes obsolete!“

Your first reaction shouldn’t be to quit your day job. Begin by finding opportunities to use your strengths within or outside your day job!

If you are a business analyst and you discover that your strengths are in requirements documentation and not Use Cases for example, then ask for more requirements documentation tasks at work.

If you are a computer programmer and you discover that your strengths are in database development, and not coding for example, then ask for more database development tasks at work.

It more practical for you to utilize your strengths at work because that is where you spend the majority of your active working day. But if you can’t then do something with your strengths after work or as a hobby!

Whatever you do, don’t go overboard and quit your day job because you can’t use your strengths at work and don’t neglect to use your strengths because of work or family committments either!

Regardless of your situation, discover your strengths, develop your strengths and dedicate your strengths to serving others!

Use SWOT Analysis to Plan Your Career Around your Strengths

Use SWOT Analysis to elicit your strengths and position it for your benefit at work or in the job market!

It is not enough to know your strengths, you also need to take advantage of your strengths in a competitive manner.

Why, because competition is a fact of life. Your strengths are not evaluated in isolation but in comparson to others!

  1. Michael Phelps is not just a strong swimmer, Michael Phlelps is the Greatest Swimmer of All Time!. Michael Phlelps is the “Top Olympic Gold Medal Winner of All Time” with 14 career Olympic gold medals!

  2. Michael Jackson is not just a great singer, Michael Jackson is or was the “King of Pop!. The Guinness World Records holds him as the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time” and his 1982 album “Thriller” is the “World’s Best Selling Record of All Time“!

  3. Michael Jordan is not just a good basketball player, Michael Jordan’s biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, “By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the Greatest Basketball Player of All Time.“

Do you get the picture? Your strengths are always compared to others … that is just how the world works!

To succeed at work, you have to pursue opportunities while defending against threats by playing to your strengths.

Use SWOT Analysis to plan your career by factoring in your competitive strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Remember that failing to plan your career is the same as planning to fail at your career!


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/06/27/discover-your-strengths-like-michael-jackson/feed/ 3 Recession Proof Your Career – How to Survive In 2009 http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-how-to-survive-in-2009/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-how-to-survive-in-2009/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:34:25 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=685

recession-economic-downturn

It’s not news anymore. We are officially in a recession and people are being laid off everywhere. At first, it looked like the IT sector was going to come through this relatively unscathed, but that is no longer the case. Microsoft, IBM and Intel all announced job cuts this week.

In 2008, the US economy shed 1.2 million jobs. 10% of those jobs were Information Technology jobs. As of December, over 100,000 IT jobs had been lost and it doesn’t look like the situation is going to get better any time soon.

If you haven’t been laid off already, there is a real possibility that it may happen to you. It’s time to hunker down and prepare for the worst. The good news is that even in a recession, there are still jobs out there.

To offer you some hope and prepare you to be successful in the economic downturn, I will be writing a series of articles packed with tips to help you get through the current recession/depression.

These articles will help you prepare to sail right through to your next position if you’ve been laid off and prepare to not miss a beat if you do get a pink slip.

In addition, I am scouring the web to bring you the best of what’s been written about surviving the current tough economy.

Here are two great articles from Robert Scoble chock full of tips for holding on to your job and getting a new one right away if you do get laid off.

If You Are Laid Off, Here’s How to Socially Network

What to Do If You’re Laid Off in 2008 recession

And on a more humorous note:

7 Essential Steps to Surviving a Post-Layoff Existence

How To Recession Proof Your Career

Check out the ‘IT-Career-Coach’ Resume, Job Search and Interview training program that walks you through the process of finding a new job immediately.

You’ll Learn Step-by-Step

  • How to Run an Accelerated Job Search

  • How to Find Unadvertised Jobs

  • What Employers Want to See on Your Resume

  • How to Be the Best Candidate in a Technical Interview

  • Advanced Techniques that 98% of Job Searchers Don’t Know (This Means You’ll Be Ahead of the Game)

How the Coaching Works

  • You Get Step By Step Video Training that Shows You How to Get Hired Fast!

  • Your Resume and Cover Letter are Reviewed to Ensure They Match the Positions You’re Applying For.

  • You are Coached on How To Be the Top Candidate by Selling Yourself During Your Technical Interviews.


Click here for more information


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-how-to-survive-in-2009/feed/ 2 Recession Proof Your Career – Eat Lunch With Co-Workers http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-eat-lunch-with-your-team/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-eat-lunch-with-your-team/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:47:54 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=676

business-lunch

You Need People and You Need Information

Are you missing out in information at the office that could be critical to your career? You may be a hard working employee who eats lunch at your desk and prefers reading another IT book to attending company parties.

However, knowledge is power. Networking within your company prevents you from being the one who is always the last to know about major changes that may impact you, your team or the organization.

The current economy makes it a bad time to be isolated at work. Many job cuts are being announced every single day, making it critical that you build your network of co-workers, colleagues and acquaintances up to provide a safety net if your job situation is ever in jeopardy.

By networking within your company, you will pick up on the organizational culture within your company. You’ll learn about job openings within the company and in other teams, organizational changes, information on mergers and sales, new technology strategies and software purchases.

7 Ways to Build Your Network and Get in Loop at Work

  1. Go to Lunch with Your Team: Invite a co-worker out to lunch, or join other co-workers who regularly go to lunch together. The relaxed atmosphere at lunch is a great place to pick on tidbits about what people are working on.

  2. Attend Company Functions: Company parties are great places to strike up friendships with people in other departments and find out what’s interesting on their teams.

  3. Read Company Newsletters and Reports, Research Industry News: Read about the organizational changes and industry trends that may affect you or bring about new opportunities.

  4. Help Others: Look for opportunities to do someone a favor within and outside your team. You’ll need to have started talking to others, first. As you begin to get information, find ways to solve problems. If your boss mentions that the higher ups plan to move to another software platform, do some research for her to help her impress her bosses.

  5. Stay in Touch With Ex Co-Workers: When you leave a company, or someone leaves your company, ask for their contact information. Stay in touch. Send a card at Christmas. You never know when you’ll need a job reference or a job referral.

  6. Tell or Teach People What You Know: Share the information you have. Give tips, ideas and suggestions to others. Giving is a great way to get in the loop.

  7. Ask Questions: Become curious about what’s going on in the workplace. As questions about the direction your company is moving in. Your performance review is a good time to ask your boss the same questions he asks you: Where do you see this team going in five years? What goals do you hope to achieve this year?

As you begin to interact regularly with people on the job, you will find that you are slowly building a network of people who like and rely on you, thus expanding your options for moving ahead in your career.

How To Recession Proof Your Career

Check out the ‘IT-Career-Coach’ Resume, Job Search and Interview training program that walks you through the process of finding a new job immediately.

You’ll Learn Step-by-Step

  • How to Run an Accelerated Job Search

  • How to Find Unadvertised Jobs

  • What Employers Want to See on Your Resume

  • How to Be the Best Candidate in a Technical Interview

  • Advanced Techniques that 98% of Job Searchers Don’t Know (This Means You’ll Be Ahead of the Game)

How the Coaching Works

  • You Get Step By Step Video Training that Shows You How to Get Hired Fast!

  • Your Resume and Cover Letter are Reviewed to Ensure They Match the Positions You’re Applying For.

  • You are Coached on How To Be the Top Candidate by Selling Yourself During Your Technical Interviews.


Click here for more information


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/29/recession-proof-your-career-eat-lunch-with-your-team/feed/ 0 Recession Proof Your Career – 7 Signs a Pink Slip is Coming http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/28/recession-proof-your-career-7-signs-a-pink-slip-is-coming/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/28/recession-proof-your-career-7-signs-a-pink-slip-is-coming/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:50:36 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/?p=647

Pink Slip

Pink Slip

Being laid off usually comes as a shock to most people that it happens to. This is even more the case if your company does not make a public announcement of its intentions to cut jobs.

However, the layoff decision is rarely made the morning you get your pink slip. Managers are often given weeks within which to select the people who will be laid off from their teams.

While it is always difficult for a manager to let an employee go, sometimes it is an opportunity for them to weed out those people who have been dragging the team performance down. If you’ve had trouble with your manager or co-workers in the past, that’s a sure sign that you may be one of the first to go.

Other times, there’s no good reason for you to be chosen as the sacrificial lamb. You’ve worked hard and been a team player; however, you still get the boot. There are signs that can give you a heads up that this may happen.

Here are the warnings that you are being considered for a layoff:

  1. Your workload suddenly becomes very light. If there are no new projects coming your way, it may be a sign that your employer plans to let you go.

  2. You have consistently been an underperformer on the job. You miss deadlines and your work is under par. Your lack of energy or application of commitment and creativity to the tasks your team faces will make you a sure pick for a layoff. If you’ve been hovering around the fringes of productivity, this is the time to do a 180 degree turn and start contributing in major ways to your team. Get to work early, stay late, stop surfing the web during work hours. Go over and beyond the call of duty. You may just save your job.

  3. You don’t get along with your co-workers or with your boss. In a downturn, your manager is more likely to keep his or her favorites around. It’s just the way life is. Most organizations value a team player over a star player. If you’ve had problems in your interactions with co-workers in the past, this is a good time to patch up. Reach out and be likeable.

  4. Your manager starts to micro-manage you. He requests status updates on all of your projects and tasks. In this case, you may be scheduled for a layoff and your manager is trying to get a handle of what’s on your plate.

  5. You only perform one task or one function for your company. You need to evaluate how much value you are creating for your company. The junior business analyst who only works on documentation is less valuable to an employer than the mid-level business analyst who interacts with the customers, gathers requirements and performs requirements analysis. Make yourself indispensable to your employer by gaining new skills fast. Find out the functions needed in your area that you currently don’t have the skills for and read a book, go for training or get certified.

  6. Your boss gets laid off. This usually happens when a company plans to get rid of a division or department altogether. I heard from an in-house software developer for an IT staffing company whose boss got laid off. She was kept on to complete her project and was laid off the day after she wrote the last line of code. Keep your eyes and ears open and start working on your resume and job search plans if you see any hints that your company is cost-cutting.

  7. Your company or company division gets sold or merged with another. Mergers and division sales always create an at-risk situation for jobs. The new company may choose to replace all the employees from the former company with their own people. If your company is in the middle of a merger or sale, try to find out as much as you can about the terms of the deal. Either way, get your resume ready to find a new job if you need to.
How To Recession Proof Your Career

Check out the ‘IT-Career-Coach’ Resume, Job Search and Interview training program that walks you through the process of finding a new job immediately.

You’ll Learn Step-by-Step

  • How to Run an Accelerated Job Search

  • How to Find Unadvertised Jobs

  • What Employers Want to See on Your Resume

  • How to Be the Best Candidate in a Technical Interview

  • Advanced Techniques that 98% of Job Searchers Don’t Know (This Means You’ll Be Ahead of the Game)

How the Coaching Works

  • You Get Step By Step Video Training that Shows You How to Get Hired Fast!

  • Your Resume and Cover Letter are Reviewed to Ensure They Match the Positions You’re Applying For.

  • You are Coached on How To Be the Top Candidate by Selling Yourself During Your Technical Interviews.


Click here for more information


What Is The Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career?



What Is The Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career?

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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2009/01/28/recession-proof-your-career-7-signs-a-pink-slip-is-coming/feed/ 0 The Secret Path To Contract Programming http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2007 08:00:38 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/

Who is a contract programmer?

A contract programmer is a software developer who is paid an hourly rate for working on special software development projects for a period. Contract computer programmers are not paid salaries like full-time developers but hourly wages.

Contract programmers tend to be very project focused because they are hired to solve specific problems or code specific features and as soon as that is done, they have to move on to another project or find a new client.

Contract programmers are independent software developers who work with clients on a project-to-project basis. The relationship between a contract programmer and a client lasts as long as the client has a steady stream of work. What usually happens is that as soon as the client can’t find any work or the work starts dwindling down, the client initiates the process to end the relationship.

Contract computer programmers are not supposed to form strong emotional bonds or ties to their clients unlike their full-time colleagues because the nature of their work is temporary. That is why contract programmers are sometimes called temporary workers.

Contract programmers are specialists, experts and master craftsmen. When a client hires a contract computer programmer, the client expects to find a master programmer who will hit the ground running. This separates contract programmers from full-time software developers and the master craftsmen from the wannabe contract programmers.

A contract programmer is expected to start churning out high quality code, fixing bugs, improving their clent’s software and generally justifing their high pay by solving important problems within a few hours or days of starting work. Unlike full-time software developers who may take 6 months to 1 year to prove themselves, contract programmers who haven’t mastered their art well-enough to make a difference are usually dropped like hot potatoes by their clients.

Contract programmers may be W2 contract programmers or 1099 contract programmers. The difference lies with how their taxes are filed with the IRS.

The W2 contract programmer is paid by a recruiting agency that is also responsible for withholding taxes and providing liability insurance. Many recruiting agencies will also provide medical, dental and 401K benefits.

On the other hand, 1099 contract programmers, generally known as free-lancers, pay their taxes to the IRS and provide their own medical, dental and 401K insurance.

A contract programmer has the liberty of working as a W2 contract programmer with one firm and a 1099 contract programmer with another firm.

How long do contract programming projects last?

Contract programming projects typically last from a month to 5 years. The trend is towards fewer months and higher billing rates. The typical duration is 3 months, 6 months or 1 year.

How much do contract computer programmers bill?

Contract programmers typically bill anywhere from $50 per hour to $200 per hour.

What factors determine the contract programmer’s billing rate?

The factors that determine a contract programmers billing rate include:

1. Experience: The more experienced a contract programmer is, the more the contract programmer can charge

2. Demand: Some computer programming skills are in high-demand while others are not. So contract programmers who master computer programming skills that are in high-demand can bill at a higher rate than others

3. Client: The compensation provided for the same programming skills can vary widely by client with no other explanation other than one client having more money than the other

Who should be a contract programmer?

Contract programming makes sense for computer programmers who love to be independent or who do not want to climb the corporate ladder. It is also good for those individuals who want to make more money than is found in regular full-time software development. Finally, it works for those who can use their down-time in between projects to sharpen their computer programming skills, pursue other hobbies or take vacations.

What is the future or outlook for contract programmers?

The future is bright for contract programmers as more companies are trending towards out-sourcing their software development projects to temporary staffing firms or recruiting agencies that in turn out-source the programming work to contract programmers. Contract computer programmers are considered to be expert, highly-skilled craftsmen and their opinions and expertise are valued at client sites They are also paid significantly more money and do not have to stand inline or beg for a pay raise when they work for it.

How do you become a contract programmer?

The critical skills needed for a successful contract programming career are:

  1. Expert programming skills

  2. Well-crafted resume

  3. Effective job interviewing skills

  4. Aggressive Resume Marketing

Read this previous post titled “The keys of a successful computer programmer career” to learn more about these keys.

If you have these skills in abundance, you will do well in contract programming. If you don’t or will like to develop them, you should read “How to become a master contract programmer” or CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY IN A FEW MINUTES.


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]]> http://www.it-career-coach.net/2007/07/16/the-secret-path-to-contract-programming/feed/ 0 Full-Time or Contract W2 Programmer Job, Which Is Better? http://www.it-career-coach.net/2006/08/26/full-time-or-contract-w2-programmer-job-which-is-better/ http://www.it-career-coach.net/2006/08/26/full-time-or-contract-w2-programmer-job-which-is-better/#comments Sat, 26 Aug 2006 20:38:53 +0000 ITCareerCoach http://www.it-career-coach.net/2006/08/26/full-time-permanent-employee-or-contract-w2-programmer-pros-and-cons/

full time programmers contract pros cons

full time programmers contract pros cons

Do you have what it takes to be a contract software developer (W2) or a full time permanent computer programmer (FTE)?

Or perhaps you have heard that contract programming is unreliable and full time employment financially unrewarding?

Enough of these myths. There are long term contracts that last longer than some full time positions and there are full time positions that pay better than some contract programming engagements.

Here are the differences that will really matter to you:

  1. Job Duration

  2. Benefits

  3. Job Satisfaction

  4. Paycheck

  5. Technical Skills

  6. Experience

  7. Entrepreneurism

Job Duration:

Contract programming jobs are of shorter duration than full time employment positions.

In the software development industry, computer programming jobs have a duration of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and more.

The challenge with contracting positions is that your recruiter may tell you that your contract is 6 months only for you to hear after 3 months that your contract has been terminated. With full time positions, you are more likely to be moved to another project when your current project is terminated or completed.

Benefits

Contract programming positions come with 401Ks, vacation time, vacation pay, sick days, medical, dental, flexible spending accounts, vision care, life insurance and disability insurance just like full time programming jobs.

The difference is that the quality of benefits or how much you pay for them may vary greatly from one recruiting firm to another recruiting firm.

So, while one recruiting firm may offer competitive benefits, another recruiting firm may offer benefits only if you willing to pay for that at a premium that is sometimes twice as high as that of a full-time position!

The smart thing to do is to go over the benefits with your recruiter and ask questions.

However, with contract programming positions, you also have the option of asking your recruiter to remove your benefits package and increase your hourly compensation or billing rate

.

Job Satisfaction

As a contract programmer you are expected to derive your job satisfaction from being good at what you do.

You build a reputation backed up with skills and experience on getting in, doing a good job and then getting out.

As a contract computer programmer you are expected to deliver good code, on time and on budget and you must enjoy being held to high quality standards in terms of the quality of your code.

As a full time computer programmer, you are expected to love the company you work for.

Your job satisfaction is driven by working with a team of people for a common set of goals.

Over time, the bonds, affections, ties with each other and your company deepens.

You may not face the same time, budget or quality of code pressure as the contract programmer who has a higher reputation to live up to!

Paycheck

As a contract programmer you may earn significantly more than full time permanent employees.

However, unlike contract programmers, full time employees do not have to look for a new project or client every 3, 6 or 12 months.

So, even though contract programmers earn a lot more than full-time software developers when they are working on a project, the total bench time or the unpaid time spent in-between projects can affect the stability or dependability of a contract programmers pay.

The shock of sitting at home for 1 month, earning $0 (zero dollars) after a highly successful project that may have lasted 6 months can be quite unsettling for some contract programmers.

This is one major reason why some computer programmers prefer FULL TIME to CONTRACT (W2) computer programming positions.

Technical Skills:

Contract programmers tend to have sharper skills, because they make a living putting a demand on those skills every day (at least that is what clients think).

Since contract programmers are generally paid much more than their full time colleagues, very few clients hire a contract computer programmer with rusty skills.

Also, contract programmers can choose the clients and projects they work on. which is something that full-time developers are limited in doing.

Contract programmers prefer projects that involve the latest technology or skills, since that’s where the money is.

Full time computer programmers on the other hand tend not to be so obsessed with working on leading edge technologies and they are not generally expected by their employers to have the sharpest skills.

This is partly because full time programmers are expected to be business domain experts and not just technology experts.

So, the value of a full-time computer programmer lies in both the domain / business knowledge as well as the technology skills.

Experience

As a contract programmer, you need to have relevant industry and experience to find work.

If your area of expertise is brokerage or java or .net, both recruiters and hiring managers will scan your resume for the number of years and projects where you utilized those skills.

However, for full time employment positions, the hiring managers and recruiters are more apt to look at your general industry experience and not just the experience needed to deliver the next 3 months project!

Entrepreneurism

Contract programming requires a certain degree of risk tolerance and entrepreneurism.

Contract programmers have to constantly research the market for new technologies and skills that add value to their clients while delivering increased compensation to them.

They have to constantly be on the go, marketing their resume, skills and experience to new clients every few months.

They have to adapt to new environments all the time as they are constantly changing jobs and clients.

They have to constantly make their clients (employer) happy or they may get fired and their contracts terminated.

Contract programmers have to accept the inherent risk that despite their best effort, a proposed 12 month project can turn into a 1 month failed engagement.

Ultimately the contract programmers that last have to accept full responsibility for their careers.

Decide What Works for You

The conclusion is that the decision to be a contract computer programmer or a full time permanent employee depends on your personality, risk tolerance, financial expectations and your own situation.

Whether you decide to become a W2 contract programmer or a full time employee, I hope that I have helped you become more informed about the two possible career paths.

To learn more about fast tracking your computer programmer career, visit this resource.


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