Reply to: Crosstrain as a contractor?

[DimPrawn]

When you are king of .NET, BizTalk and SQL Server, WHO needs to learn anything else in order to coin it in?

[xoggoth]

Is it just me? When somebody says "crosstrain as a..." my mind automatically adds "hairdresser"

[cojak]

a combination of b) and c)

I tend to train myself up for the next contract before the existing one finishes, that way you have the training & the experience. I view training as an investment, looking at courses with ROI opportunities. So I tend to go for the ones that start with 'ISEB...'.

[milanbenes]

Franko,

having said that, no point dwelling on the past

look to the future man !


Milan.

[AtW]

No, didn't do .NET yet.

I have already gotten 5 years of .NET 4.0 experience.

threaded.

[Francko]

afternoon Franko,

I have a fine memory and remember the technology you had exposure to in 2002, it was your opportunity to get into it,

you passed it by.

Milan.

No, didn't do .NET yet.

[milanbenes]

afternoon Franko,

I have a fine memory and remember the technology you had exposure to in 2002, it was your opportunity to get into it,

you passed it by.

Milan.

[Cowboy Bob]

I always created a little project for myself in my spare time to get confident with the technology. Once you are certain you have mastered it, just exaggerate/lie about how much you used it in your last contract/job.

I also do that too. It's worthwhile doing it as an open source thing too so you get feedback from people using it and so the client can see your code.

<blatent-plug>For example, I did this when I was learning J2ME - http://sourceforge.net/projects/mobilesudoku</blatent-plug>

[Francko]

poor franko,

he had a chance to get onto the real gravy train in 2002, but he didn't take it

Milan.

As usual you don't have a clue of what you are talking about.

2002 was the worst year ever in the last years. I have done contracts between 2001 and 2004 for your own record.

[milanbenes]

poor franko,

he had a chance to get onto the real gravy train in 2002, but he didn't take it

Milan.

[sasguru]

I always created a little project for myself in my spare time to get confident with the technology. Once you are certain you have mastered it, just exaggerate/lie about how much you used it in your last contract/job.

[zathras]

Well: Any and all of the following

1. Develop something to sell yourself in the chosen technology

2. Any chance to use it in a current contract take it

3. Take advantage of any training opportunities (MS have had some excellent free online training opportunities)

[tim123]

Back to the original question.

I reckon the answer is (a).

I know of several people who have done this.

Personally I don't have the bottle.

tim

[rootsnall]

Option C is my preferred training method.

[Cowboy Bob]

What's the preferred solution?

d) Decide which technology you want some experience in, then find a contract where you have 99% of the required experience but not in your target area. Go to interview. Do contract. Gain experience.