Outside Contract work

[beastboy]

Anyone in the IT or design field that does this as their primary source of income or for extra money?

Just curious how you may advertise for work or does most of it come to you?

 

[jnuts]

I do software / database work as a side job. A friend I grew up with has started his own consulting company and he's the one that does all the phone calls to drum up the business. I do the coding. Works out pretty good. The money isn't crazy, but it's a nice little side job that's interesting.

He's been in the IT industry for quite awhile, so I guess he uses his contacts to check and see if they have any IT work that needs to be done. He also said he does a lot of cold calls to drum up work.

 

[beastboy]

I'm not in the IT field, but in the engineering/design field......I'm playing with the idea of trying to do some outside work....whether it just being simple paper to CAD work, or some actual design.

 

[Bullit]

Headhunter/body shop.
Thats probably the way 90% of the contractors get their contracts here.

 

[the nature boy]

natty does I think.

 

[Y_lifter]

Get one good contract.
Do super fantastic work and kiss the customers ass several times.
He/She will advertise for you amoung their peers

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

I'm not in the IT field, but in the engineering/design field......I'm playing with the idea of trying to do some outside work....whether it just being simple paper to CAD work, or some actual design.

where do you live?

PM me I might be able to help.

 

[the nature boy]

beastboy, making glory holes in mens restrooms doesn't make you an engineer.

 

[beastboy]

beastboy, making glory holes in mens restrooms doesn't make you an engineer.

How about in the women's?

 

[the nature boy]

How about in the women's?

that would make you something way better than an engineer.

 

[beastboy]

that would make you something way better than an engineer.

Damn

 

[naturally anabolic]

word of mouth is great, do a nice job and they will be braggin to their friends, word will spread to their competitors and they will be talking to you as well, I tried the whole advertisement deal in the business section of the local paper but it got me maybe 5 solid clients out of all the calls i got, all wanting me to mega lowball the "estimate" they got from an IT firm. having contacts from your current field is always a plus.

 

[beastboy]

word of mouth is great, do a nice job and they will be braggin to their friends, word will spread to their competitors and they will be talking to you as well, I tried the whole advertisement deal in the business section of the local paper but it got me maybe 5 solid clients out of all the calls i got, all wanting me to mega lowball the "estimate" they got from an IT firm. having contacts from your current field is always a plus.

I'm curious what the "market" (for lack of a better term is for) is for companies needind design services.

 

[TheProject]

I've thought about being an independent contractor, and doing work for small offices and homes. I'm just not convinced the money is there right now.

Also not sure I could handle the stress of trying to play salesman and do support.

 

[naturally anabolic]

I'm curious what the "market" (for lack of a better term is for) is for companies needind design services.

due to downsizing i feel alot of companies are out sourcing to freelancers and smaller firms for there design and IT work because it saves them alot of money, larger IT firms have alot of overhead as far as costs so there prices reflect it. IT really depends on your definition of design as well.

 

[beastboy]

I'm looking to just pick up side work...to supplement my income. Not looking to do this as my full time job, at least not at first.

natty: Machine design, CAD work...jigs, fixtures, etc.

 

[naturally anabolic]

I'm looking to just pick up side work...to supplement my income. Not looking to do this as my full time job, at least not at first.

natty: Machine design, CAD work...jigs, fixtures, etc.

beastboy, I cant say I know alot about machine design and such but you should look into it, its a great way to make an extra few hundred to a few thousand (on occasion) a month, use your connections in the industry if u have any, ask around, get a feel for whats going on in the market right now as far as people losing their jobs, the need for designers, what people are charging for their services, start off slow, make sure to price out the jobs so they undercut whatever the competition is, because cost and quality are number one just as much as how well you are able to sell yourself.

 

[beastboy]

We have to sign non-compete forms, so using my workplace connections is not an option...that is why I was curious about trying to drum up new ones......I may try placing a small add....it may not bring alot, but right now I'n not looking for that either.

Thanks for the info....this has my curiousity sparked even more.