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Aren’t these sites just a race to the bottom for devs especially with global reach
Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
31–40 of 84 posts
Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#32You should consider two most important things (unfortunately, each other opposite): 1. Yes, better to start own business when favorable environment, for example, when see macroeconomic grow (now recession, and high probability of crisis), or when You have some money accumulation. 2. But business is by definition, PRACTICE of make stakes and earn profits on success. - You will not practice if not try. And best practic…
> better to start own business when favorable environment, for example, when see macroeconomic grow (now recession, and high probability of crisis),
I could actually see the opposite being true. Lots of companies might not want to hire FTEs right now due to a maybe recession, but there's still a lot of work to be done, so they just use contractors instead.
Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#33Personally, as a freelancer/consultant, I never think there is a right time for anything in my life. Of course, you might feel differently (and it probably is different). I'm offering advice from my perspective only, and I don't have a home to make, or children to worry about. I've been freelance/consulting/whatever for about 2 years, so make of this what you will, but I'm still early stages having just been where you're at.
First I want to say, the risk might not be as big as you might think it is. You've a pretty in-demand skill set right now, more so than most SWEs. If things don't pan out as you expect, you can always get another full-time position despite the 'looming recession'.
That said, here is some unsolicited advice. Rebuttal as necessary :)
Regarding leads/prospects, if you do decide to make the jump, chances are you'll be tapping your professional network for leads, or pitching strangers if you happen to get on a call with them via cold email. This can work for a while, maybe get your first recurring clients, but I don't recommend working with a matchmaker like Toptal, Fiverr, Upwork, or an agency.
The platforms tend to have poor pay and bad clients. Agencies will limit your ability to build a direct relationship with the clients. I know people have built successful businesses using both of them, but for me having a direct relationship with high-value clients seems to have paid off doubly as I can set my own terms (fixed rate / value based) rather than the typical hourly model. If you can/want to build such a relationship, you should *get on the phone with a decision maker* (a huge unlock for closing work). Regular dev/engineer interview channels will yield regular dev work, pay, and circumstances (maybe that's a feature for you).
After a few sales calls for clients, You may realize getting leads to come to you is best, or at minimum people should have a reason to answer your emails like having some kind of branding or marketing, so start writing, coding, tweeting, or whatever regularly to get attention. Keep at it. It's hard work.
On top of everything, you will fuck up, and that's okay, so give yourself some breathing room financially and mentally.
Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#34As a consultant, urgently looking for a full time job: not now. Most probably not now.
Wouldn’t contracts be more in demand during a recession?
Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#35Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#3615 year+ consultant through my own company with recurring clients and more work than I can handle (and no interest in delegating or growing) Never needed to network. Don't have to market myself. Never had or needed a full time position and never been short of work. Get to know good recruiters who have streams of contract work with goal based outcomes. Learn how the contracts are managed by middle men and understand w…
Why work with recruiters at all?
They’ll charge 30-50% over your rate. They provide zero value besides the initial contact.
Their overhead impacts your negotiation leverage for a higher rate.
Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#37Every scenario is going to be different, I took the plunge as a software consultant and can provide some datapoints. I was laid off from my job as a software engineer about 5 years ago. I had previously worked in software consulting and knew the operating model and had a handful of potential clients. I had some savings and my wife works full time so I decided to give it a go for 6 months to see how it would go. I par…
How many years experience did you have? :)
Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#38I left full time work for consulting after I did a project and discovered my bill rate was so high I could replicate my salary income while being less than 40% utilized. I wasn't doing something especially specialized; that's just what the market clearing rate for that contracting work was. I would not have guessed that rate before discovering it.
So my somewhat tangential advice is: figure out your rate, and start with a rate that doesn't require you to constantly hustle for clients to make your nut. It's easier to figure out the right (high) rate when you've still got a salary to fall back on, and much harder when you're grinding it out as a full time contractor.
Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#39Re: Ask HN: When to make the jump to freelance/consultant?
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've been a consultant through my own company for 15 years and never needed to do this. I simply apply for contract roles. My day rate is 150+% of the average for my role and area and my contract terms are ridiculously weighted in my favor. You can learn to negotiate going from one client to the next. And you mainly have to be able to negotiate better than the client. That's pretty easy usually.
Where do you find these roles
Seconded.
The vast majority of contract roles I see here in the UK are brokered by recruiters who will enforce their own standard contract terms & rates on a take-it-or-leave-it basis.
This kind of approach seems like it has no chance of working as the recruiter would rather place someone at an "okay" rate rather than having to risk submitting a higher-rate candidate and having the client balk and go away altogether.