Reply to: Contractors that don't work 5 day weeks...

[d000hg]

But it's never just that, it's design work as well probably.

There's earnings there for westerners if you know your stuff and put the time in.

[Peter Loew]

As a PM I did 3 - 3.5 days per week a year ago for a startup, that's all they could afford, and that's all I really wanted. Rate was crap but I enjoyed the flexibility.

[Antman]

If these guys really can do excellent work for peanuts then you can start producing websites for local companies and make a fortune, if not (which is what I suspect), then you can earn money doing the work yourself. I have checked and serious Asian companies are charging $20-30 an hour. But at the end of the day there are quite a few contracts on this site offering over $50. Also quite a lot is fixed price "build me a website with 10-15 pages for $500 just static pages no fancy stuff" I mean that´s not bad, if you know what you´re doing, you ought to be able to knock one off.

But it's never just that, it's design work as well probably.

[northernladuk]

If these guys really can do excellent work for peanuts then you can start producing websites for local companies and make a fortune, if not (which is what I suspect), then you can earn money doing the work yourself. I have checked and serious Asian companies are charging $20-30 an hour. But at the end of the day there are quite a few contracts on this site offering over $50. Also quite a lot is fixed price "build me a website with 10-15 pages for $500 just static pages no fancy stuff" I mean that´s not bad, if you know what you´re doing, you ought to be able to knock one off.

Fnaaar fnaaar <muffled giggling>

[BlasterBates]

There are a few sites like this.

I'd be very surprised if you made anything from them.

Full of bobs bidding peanuts.

If these guys really can do excellent work for peanuts then you can start producing websites for local companies and make a fortune, if not (which is what I suspect), then you can earn money doing the work yourself. I have checked and serious Asian companies are charging $20-30 an hour. But at the end of the day there are quite a few contracts on this site offering over $50. Also quite a lot is fixed price "build me a website with 10-15 pages for $500 just static pages no fancy stuff" I mean that´s not bad, if you know what you´re doing, you ought to be able to knock one off.

[mudskipper]

I work 4 days a week. But the time to negotiate is at renewal, not at interview.

[jmo21]

You need to look at this:

https://www.elance.com/

It´s mainly web work and mobiles, I´m looking at it seriously but I really need to improve my web building skills, which I´m doing.

There are a few sites like this.

I'd be very surprised if you made anything from them.

Full of bobs bidding peanuts.

[BlasterBates]

You need to look at this:

https://www.elance.com/

It´s mainly web work and mobiles, I´m looking at it seriously but I really need to improve my web building skills, which I´m doing.

[GillsMan]

Whenever a client asks me to do a contract, say, of 3-6 months, I nearly always advise them that they don't need me as a fixed-resource for that period of time. I agree a fixed-price (to deliver the work, usually implementations) and tell them that if the project takes longer, they don't pay more. This allows me to work multiple contracts at the same time, for multiple clients, and allows me to come and go as I please. So I turn up for meetings, and stuff like that, but I'm not a bum-on-a-seat.

Sometimes, the client doesn't like that and we don't agree a deal. Usually they do, and we do.

Admittedly, I work with learning technologies, and a lot of the work is done via the web, so can be done remotely. I also develop e-learning which requires specialist software, which I have and the client doesn't. So that lends itself to WFH also.

[northernladuk]

How do you get 'maybe' from all that feedback??

[fragglerock]

Thanks all for your thoughts.

Take home is 'maybe' I think

[d000hg]

What strikes me is a lot of clients dont like upsetting the permies by allowing the contractors to WFH unless the permies have the same facility or better.

Also I reckon being a contractor plays against you - they want a short-time resource to come and work without all the mess of having an employee with rights and personal life that they should accommodate. A (good) company should expect to give a bit to the employee so the employee gives to them and feels some sort of bond, not so with a contractor.

[jmo21]

The fact your company won't let you work reduced hours isn't because you're a permie, it's because they are inflexible (or your line manager is). I wouldn't go contracting for that reason alone, in fact I think it would be far easier to find a new permie job with an employer who is prepared to treat you with more respect.

yep, I agree with this.

I know plenty of permies with flexible working, whether it be proper flexi-time, compressed hours, working from home.

A friend of mine is about to take advantage of the changes in maternity/paternity and take the last 2 months of his wifes maternity leave (not sure if his employer HAS to allow this though?)

I also know a contractor who once negotiated a 4 day week at extension time.

Always fancied doing the same at some point should it work for project/client.

[BolshieBastard]

One of my previous banking clients used to let you work 5 days in 4. Being a 35 hour week also helped and for nearly 4.5 years I only worked 4 days!

In the current market though, just asking the client in interview how flexible are they on start \ finish times seems to mark you out as some sort of slacker (only kidding!).

What strikes me is a lot of clients dont like upsetting the permies by allowing the contractors to WFH unless the permies have the same facility or better.

[bassy]

I've worked like this on quite a few contracts now (SQL devt):
The last one I compressed 5 days into 4 - came in early every day and stayed late. I worked 5 day weeks for the first month and then arranged for the revised week once they got to know me.

The one before that I worked from home 3 days a week and just went into the office 2 days a week.
(negotiated this at interview)

And the contract before that I worked from home one day per week (negotiated at the first three month renewal).

I did try and work my current contract 3 days per week but they made a lot of people redundant so I'm now sole project person. Means my plan B suffers now that I'm doing 5 days a week.

As you see it can be done but you usually have to prove yourself to the client first.