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I am a self-employed contractor for programming, site work and design. I have enough reliable customers I've culled over the years to keep the ball rolling but it could always be better. I am very cautious about who I take on. As many here can probably attest (<snicker>) I don't know it "all,", but have been at it 15 years and know . . . enough.
A few months back an ad appeared for web dev work, met with them talked to them. Guy #1 and Guy #2, seem honest enough, they are actually a networking company picking up web work on the side. Not too tasty, a mild hourly wage or sporadic contract work - and I gathered, whichever benefits them the most. "Great, we love your work, will be sending work your way." I wasn't waiting by the phone.
A month passed. Nada.
Another. Zilch.
Last month they called in a frenzy. See, everyone's on the PHP wagon, and by that I mean if someone's doing dynamic apps these days most of them are doing it in PHP. When an existing perl project breaks, most need to call someone in, and that was the case. "Sure," I said, "give me access to the site, I'll have a look."
"Well, we'd rather have you come in the office and talk about it."
Hmm. Talk huh, yeah I know what's up. So I go in and it was as I thought. They wanted me to sit there and debug it, in office, basically fix it for them. Of course they paid for my time. Again,
"Thank you ever so much, we have lots of projects and will be calling you soon."
That was the beginning of last month. Yeah right, I'm thinking these guys are just like many companies, they'll keep all the work close to the vest and only call me in for slop, or when they get in trouble. Not a problem, really, so long as I know the playing field I'm okay with it.
Can you tell I have trust issues? :-)
So I just got this call. Guy #2 gave his notice, Guy #1 wants me to start working immediately full time to replace him. Suddenly I'm their Golden Boy.
I won't be calling back until tomorrow for three reasons. The call came late in the day, which gives me a little buffer. I definitely don't want to appear anxious, and I need to think about this. In my mind, I already know how I'm going to approach it.
So given the above conditions, what would you do? Granted I have an ego, at least I am AWARE of this - am I too full of myself? :-)
Every self-employed person understands that the value of a regular paycheck and benefits are a much easier road than what we're doing. But that's not the only thing at play here.
My tolerance would be zero; these people are probably simply middlemen creaming off cash that comes on the basis of your work.
But even so, if they have access to work, and the price is right, go for it. At least you can walk away!
But I'd avoid a conract that blames you when things go wrong, and STILL gives them most of the cash!
So it's the old story; check the contract, and decide if the pay justifies it for you.
I once has a similar arrangement (different field), and just as I decided "this is the last job, I'm sick of these idiots", they stopped calling, just like that. So just don't depend on them, and don't even think about making them a priority over other clients.
I would politely reject.
1. There is probably a reason why Guy #2 left. Maybe the company is in trouble.
2. The company has not been reliable in the past why should it be in the future.
3. I would always prefer beeing self employed, working on multiple projects to beeing someone elses employee even if it meant less money. Besides: Have you ever thought about that what you do for others you could very well do for yourself? So use idle time between projects to develop your own projects. Thats what I did and now I only work on my own projects fulltime with several employees.
Anyway I can tell you what will most likely happen if you decide to take the job:
You will be head over heals in work, won't get paid on time, will be blamed for everything that goes wrong, the company will close within the next 12 months or at least disband the "web work" section. You will have lost your current regular customers in the meantime and will have to get a new job or work at some fast food joint.
Every self-employed person understands that the value of a regular paycheck and benefits are a much easier road than what we're doing.
I am not sure that this is the case. I am now in my seventh year of self employment and it would take a really good deal to tempt me back to working for a <<<<BOSS>>>>. I had enough of that during my first thirty odd years as a worker. Don't forget the following points, which are very important when you don't have them
* I like the idea of deciding for myself what <I> am going to do and when.
* I like taking my holidays when it suits me.
* I like taking a day off/finishing early/starting late when it suits me.
* I like working in my dressing gown.
* I like making a mug of tea or having lunch when I feel like it.
* I like the fact that while I am not a rich man, I am able to keep a surplus in my business account that will keep me alive for at least a year if work dries up (It has never done so yet).
* Add to this list ad infinitum.
Having said all that, the guy obviously recognises your skills and you have been at the top of his list so my advice would be to take the job if the contract and the money is right ... and you can keep the other business ticking over so that you can go back to it and tell him to shove it if the notion takes you. (When you think about it ... that's a pretty good position to be in.) :)
Have you considered a counter-proposal where you would work for them on a contract "temp-to-perm" basis first? Then you can get to know them for a month or three before you make your decision.
Remember, if you want a full time job, this isn't the only one out there.
Ask yourself, what would Luke do: Look into your heart. Feel, don't think. Trust your feelings.
And in this case the employer sounds a bit flaky to begin with.
Also, make sure he understands that this is a short-term gig (a few months or whatever you feel comfortable with). Put a deadline on it, at which time you'll need to re-evaluate/renegotiate.
Oh, and amke sure you include frequent payments (weekly, if possible).
[edited by: LifeinAsia at 4:43 pm (utc) on Nov. 30, 2007]
Another factor in this was that before the call, their web site boasts that they'd hired a "designer" with "five years experience in print and web." One of my duties would be to "train" this designer. I'm sitting here with 10 in print and 15 on the web thinking, what am I, chopped liver?
I'm careful not to allow emotions to cloud the issue here, but this in itself indicates I'm a washrag to these guys. :-)
I go with LifeinAsia: stipulate max X hours per week, weekly payment in arrears (a short payment cycle is more valuable than you can imagine, and my main clients are mega international BANKS!), and that you are a jobbing worker for them with NO upstream responsibility if they fail to manage the projects properly.
On the other hand, if they give you the chance, you'll probably do a damn fine job most of the time, and be proud of it, and bring them repeat business.
Rgds
Damon
I am also self-employed, work as web coder, also IT/network/server support & actual contracts (I'm currently upgrading ATM's for Natwest and installing self service for Tesco!).
Going on 3 years now, I would never go back to a 9-5 unless I had absolutely no option. If you've lasted 15 years they need to make you an absolutely amazing offer, which would include moving to bigger house if they asked me!
This is how I see your situation, they are trying to dictate terms to you. If they are as desperate as you seem to think they are, dictate to them. Offer to code for them on your terms, and for your rate.
Maybe you should look into a spot of advertising instead and boost your client base a little?
That's my tuppence anyways.
