| What is contract programming, you ask? Well, when | | | | 2) Generally gets paid top-dollar for his or her work. |
| companies need specific computer programming | | | | Many earn $100 or more per hour for 40+ hours a |
| expertise, for temporary periods of time, they generally | | | | week. |
| hire a contract programmer or an employee of a | | | | 3) Can take as much time off from work as he or she |
| consulting firm. Contractors almost always have a | | | | pleases, while in-between contracts. |
| higher hourly wage than a salaried employee and are | | | | 4) Has independence from corporate politics. |
| often paid for overtime. Contracts can last from one | | | | 5) Has the chance to live wherever she wants or live |
| to three months to many years, depending on the | | | | in different places as determined by the particular |
| situation. A contract programmer generally does one | | | | contract. |
| thing: program (code) for the duration of the contract. | | | | 6) Is often seen as an expert in his or her field. |
| So, contract programming is just an area of computer | | | | More work for "1099" contractor |
| consulting. Other areas of computer consulting include | | | | These points apply to the "1099 contractor" as well, but |
| custom developers, network consultants and | | | | the "1099" contractor has more work to do in filing |
| information technology (IT) consultants. The contract | | | | taxes, corporate paperwork, advertising and searching |
| programmer can work via two forms of contracts: 1) | | | | for her next contract as opposed the "W-2 |
| "W-2 " contracts and 2) "1099" contracts. | | | | contractor," who basically makes a few calls to her |
| There's the "W-2" contractor | | | | favorite brokers and tells them she is ready for |
| The "W-2 contractor" receives the typical IRS W-2 | | | | another contract and the brokers do the job-searching |
| form at tax time and works as a temporary employee | | | | for her. Now, everything I've said thus far is pretty |
| of a contract broker or some form of employment | | | | cut-and-dry, so let's take a look at a more elusive topic: |
| agency. The contract broker basically acquires a | | | | what qualities make a good contract programmer. |
| contract with a client company and hires the | | | | Signs of a good contract programmer |
| contractor to work on that contract for them. Brokers | | | | Over the last decade, I have met and worked with |
| make their money by charging the client an amount | | | | many varied computer programmers. From this |
| over your agreed upon hourly rate. In this form, the | | | | experience, I have devised the following list containing |
| contract programmer is a temporary, hourly employee | | | | what I believe makes a good potential contractor |
| of the broker's company and this is the form that is | | | | programmer. A good contract programmer: |
| easiest for the newcomer to obtain. | | | | 1) Makes computers an avid hobby of his. When he |
| And the "1099" contractor | | | | comes home from work he plays with or hacks the |
| As a "W-2 contractor", your broker a.k.a.: temporary | | | | computer trying to improve its performance. |
| employer or agency will collect taxes from your | | | | 2) Tries to learn more about computers than his peers |
| paycheck, just as if you were a regular employee. The | | | | do and he also likes to program the computer to have |
| "1099 contractor", can still work through a broker, but | | | | it do "cool" things. |
| gets paid on an IRS form 1099 and must take | | | | 3) Has often dreamed of being an expert, high-paid |
| responsibility for paying all applicable taxes herself. This | | | | computer professional. |
| "1099" form is for, in IRS lingo, "Independent | | | | 4) Has learned how to master the art of studying |
| Contractors." Independent contractors have more | | | | computer science. |
| work to do before they get a contract: they have to | | | | 5) Spends his free time reading computer books and |
| market themselves like any other business. This | | | | magazines -- yes kind of geeky! |
| includes brochures, business cards, web sites, | | | | 6) May like to build his own computer systems and |
| networking, etc. They have to consider obtaining more | | | | enjoys tweaking and upgrading them to extract the |
| forms of insurance that may include general business | | | | most performance from them. |
| liability and errors & omissions insurance. They | | | | 7) Is very professional and humble. |
| also generally have to form a corporation in order to | | | | You've got to love to do it! |
| work for certain companies. The pay back for this | | | | These really are just some of the basic qualities of |
| extra work is a higher hourly rate. To the beginning | | | | someone who loves computers and loving computers |
| contractor, I always suggest starting out as a "W-2" | | | | is really the main ingredient for a successful career in |
| contract programmer because it is generally the | | | | contract programming. If you don't love doing it, you will |
| quickest and easiest path to becoming a contract | | | | not survive. If you do love it, it will be a joy to go to |
| programmer and the best way to determine if | | | | work every day and to continually update your skills. |
| contracting is the right career choice. | | | | The computer field changes rapidly and only someone |
| The "W-2" contractor is like a typical employee...almost | | | | who really loves computers and makes it his hobby will |
| The main differences between a full-time employee | | | | have the desire to continually upgrade his skills and be |
| and an hourly, contract employee working for a broker | | | | the best he can be at all times. If you possess most of |
| are, the contractor: | | | | the seven qualities listed above and like the idea of |
| 1) Will probably have to pay for his or her own health | | | | using your hobby to catapult yourself into a high-paid, |
| and disability insurance, which amounts to very little | | | | fulfilling career, even if the economy is down, you |
| compared to the increased income one usually sees. | | | | should consider a career in contract programming. |