Contracting: Taking the plunge.
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So I have been pondering. But to those who already are, how do you keep up with new technology? As a contractor, one is obviously expected to be an expert on a particular (to a few) technologie(s) by your client. You would have started learning those technologies somewhere so I take it you spend the nights educating yourself, since you're charging for your hours during the day?
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So I have been pondering. But to those who already are, how do you keep up with new technology? As a contractor, one is obviously expected to be an expert on a particular (to a few) technologie(s) by your client. You would have started learning those technologies somewhere so I take it you spend the nights educating yourself, since you're charging for your hours during the day?
---------------------------------------------------------- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
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So I have been pondering. But to those who already are, how do you keep up with new technology? As a contractor, one is obviously expected to be an expert on a particular (to a few) technologie(s) by your client. You would have started learning those technologies somewhere so I take it you spend the nights educating yourself, since you're charging for your hours during the day?
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Pretty much: I try and spend some time each weekend just 'playing' with new and interesting things and reading articles. Up to you how much time you devote to this. Tend to peak when a new version of the framework comes out. All part of the fun.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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I commute on the train to London daily, 80 minutes twice a day. With a laptop and a Vodafone dongle I get plenty of time to learn new tech.
Way to go. Although I find the best way to learn new tech is to code while reading. You have a visual studio / sql server express and IIS all installed in your laptop? It must cost you a bit as well downloading / surfing the web for references. Where I am I have to drive to work so it's out of the question as I would need a certain level of situational awareness.
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Pretty much: I try and spend some time each weekend just 'playing' with new and interesting things and reading articles. Up to you how much time you devote to this. Tend to peak when a new version of the framework comes out. All part of the fun.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
I'm way behind on latest web technology. I have read / played with WCF, WPF etc stuff but not really have used it on a professional setting. MVVM / MVC I have only read about. I'm beginning to think contracting is for an unmarried / uncommitted person.
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So I have been pondering. But to those who already are, how do you keep up with new technology? As a contractor, one is obviously expected to be an expert on a particular (to a few) technologie(s) by your client. You would have started learning those technologies somewhere so I take it you spend the nights educating yourself, since you're charging for your hours during the day?
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I spent extra time at night working on the same projects as during the day, to learn how to apply unfamiliar tech to those projects. Fortunately I had fairly progressive clients who were open to new technology as long as it didn't cost them more.
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I spent extra time at night working on the same projects as during the day, to learn how to apply unfamiliar tech to those projects. Fortunately I had fairly progressive clients who were open to new technology as long as it didn't cost them more.
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If you had to use a technology that you told your client you don't have at the time you accepted the contract, would you charge for the time you spent learning?
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I think it depends on my ROI learning the technology. I've just finished a project where I spent a great many hours on my own time learning the required technology, but the prospect of future such projects is good, and the technology will by me significant productivity gains in these future projects.
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So I have been pondering. But to those who already are, how do you keep up with new technology? As a contractor, one is obviously expected to be an expert on a particular (to a few) technologie(s) by your client. You would have started learning those technologies somewhere so I take it you spend the nights educating yourself, since you're charging for your hours during the day?
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swjam wrote:
As a contractor, one is obviously expected to be an expert on a particular (to a few) technologie(s) by your client
That is only true if your client is a software house. If your client is anybody else the only expectation is you need to deliver your promises on time, on budget and to the agreed upon quality. All the other details are red herrings.
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I'm way behind on latest web technology. I have read / played with WCF, WPF etc stuff but not really have used it on a professional setting. MVVM / MVC I have only read about. I'm beginning to think contracting is for an unmarried / uncommitted person.
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swjam wrote:
I'm beginning to think contracting is for an unmarried / uncommitted person.
By no means: I am married with kids and a pretty full life outside of work. My family understands the importance of my continuing education so helps me by making sure I'm left alone to get on with it. besides, you also have to have other interests: there is more to life than c#. :-)
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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Way to go. Although I find the best way to learn new tech is to code while reading. You have a visual studio / sql server express and IIS all installed in your laptop? It must cost you a bit as well downloading / surfing the web for references. Where I am I have to drive to work so it's out of the question as I would need a certain level of situational awareness.
---------------------------------------------------------- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
yeah it probably wouldn't work, driving and coding... I have VS2010 and SQL2008 installed on a quad core lappy - the battery life is a bit bad and it weighs a lot (17" screen) but they have mains elec on the trains so I just plug in. A 1GB data PAYG lasts me about 6 weeks and costs £15.