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Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

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Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#111

Post by u02sgb »

OJFord wrote: post #106
benjaminwootton wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The responses in this whole sub-thread are a bit strange regarding the UK. The typical model is for end clients or employers to hire a recruitment agent to find them either contract or permanent staff. For contract staff, the agency will invoice the customer, keep approximately 10% and pass the difference to the contractor. A contractor can choose to work as a LTD company or through an umbrella organisation depending…

> A contractor can choose to work as a LTD company or through an umbrella organisation depending on how much admin they want to take on and requirements of the client such as IR35. IR35 is not a 'requirement of the client', it's HMRC's judgement of the relationship between contractor & client that matters.

True, but it's up to the client to decide if they are willing to take on the risk.

Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#112

Post by poulsbohemian »

senko wrote: post #31
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #14

One thing that makes me sad, is the old "contract agent" seems to have gone the way of the dodo. I clearly remember these folks. They acted in almost exactly the same way as literary or artist agents; searching out opportunities for their clients, and setting up interviews, etc. As a hiring manager, I dealt with them frequently, and had friends that used them. They used to make a lot of money, because they would char…

Were contract agents really a thing for software developers? I was just thinking there could definitely be a niche like that, there must be a bunch of people that would love contracting but hate bizdev etc. Up until know I hadn't heard those ever existed.

Back in the late 90s it was definitely a thing. I'd argue that part of what diminished it then was the permatemp lawsuits over who was an employee vs contractor. Many BigTech companies swung away from working with independent contractors for a period of time.

Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#114

Post by zymun »

roflyear wrote: post #110
zymun wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for adding all that value.

You're saying I have to offer an alternative each time I criticize something? Why?

No, I am not, but someone explicitly asked you for an alternative. But it's nice to have an alternative ready, otherwise you just sound bitter. Plus, you are not adding to the discussion, the reader is stuck with the same original question - where do you find contract work?

Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#116

Post by sjducb »

How did you find jobs in the past?

I just found a 6 month contract at £600/day after a 2.5 week job hunt. 2.5 weeks from first message to a recruiter to getting a verbal offer. The actual contract took another week to come through.

I just went to all of the job boards, searched for contract jobs and applied by sending my CV with no cover letter. Four recruiters got back to me and one of them had a contract that was at a good company.

Just send out lots of applications and you'll get something.

Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#117

Post by gbro3n »

thr0wawayf00 wrote: post #30
akuji1993 wrote: post #27

Toptal is trash if you're in the US or in EU. They have shit hourly rates and you compete against developers from anywhere in the world, so you can't ever match the rates they are throwing in. If you are in the EU, check out Freelancermap, Austin Fraser, Hays, Malt, Darwin Recruitment, Upper.co (for less pay, but startup work). I think one thing which is restricting your search is your tech stack. I'd honestly concen…

Not only that, but their interview process is pretty insane. They wanted me to grind leetcode and do a week-long project and didn't give a lot of specifics about how much I could expect to make on the platform. Felt like a major time-suck without a lot of upside.

Agree, there's just easier ways to make good money than this. I think the upside of pure freelance is only having to deal with my own code, but it's still not worth the hoops these companies make you jump through.

Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#118

Post by eatYourFood »

sph wrote: post #47
eatYourFood wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't the US have an active contractor market like the UK? In the UK there are lots of job boards with a contract filter and many recruitment agents deal exclusively in contracts rather than perm roles. Is this different in the US?

Care to direct me to these UK-specific job boards for contracts?

https://www.cwjobs.co.uk/

https://jobserve.com/gb/en/Job-Search/

Filter the results on 'contract'.

Hit me up for tips if you're thinking of going contract. I've been in and out of the game for years and making more than double than I would as a perm.

Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#119

Post by ryandvm »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #14

One thing that makes me sad, is the old "contract agent" seems to have gone the way of the dodo. I clearly remember these folks. They acted in almost exactly the same way as literary or artist agents; searching out opportunities for their clients, and setting up interviews, etc. As a hiring manager, I dealt with them frequently, and had friends that used them. They used to make a lot of money, because they would char…

We did this at our small dev/design studio for about 5 years. It worked amazingly well. The contractors always had work and the "contract agent" got 10% of the contract in perpetuity.

The downside was that we were a fairly small operation and so we only had one agent. When he left to pursue his own business venture we were unsuccessful at replacing him and ended up closing up shop.

A platform that facilitated this type of arrangement would be valuable indeed...

Re: Ask HN: Where are the good platforms for contract work?

#120

Post by vr46 »

brtkdotse wrote: post #67
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #14

One thing that makes me sad, is the old "contract agent" seems to have gone the way of the dodo. I clearly remember these folks. They acted in almost exactly the same way as literary or artist agents; searching out opportunities for their clients, and setting up interviews, etc. As a hiring manager, I dealt with them frequently, and had friends that used them. They used to make a lot of money, because they would char…

They're alive and well in Northern Europe at least. I'd say a majority of contracting work is done through them since they somehow get exclusivity deals with big clients like H&M, Scania, SAAB and the like. They charge around 5-15% (almost always 10% though) of every invoice. Before you balk at the number, consider that during my almost 5 years as a solo contractor I've spent _zero_ hours doing sales. None. When I wa…

Huh, I’ve just moved to Northern Europe and had no idea this was a thing here (from London). I guess I’d better start Googlying.
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