I've been freelancing for a few years as a DevOps Engineer. I've gotten very lucky because I've landed gigs that let me become virtually in expert in a few different technologies, while making the most money I've ever made, all with no on-call at all (traditionally the bane of my existence) and with very friendly people and clients. However, I'm nervous now as my gig runs out for at least two reasons.
First, I'm self-employed in name only. While managers view me as a very senior resource that is essentially a team lead due to experience and charisma, I still feel like I have no more control than an employee. In other words, I feel like an employee. Which is not how I suspect many of you feel.
Second, finding a new gigs is going through recruiters (here in NYC) and interviews are --again-- exactly like, if even worse than, employee interviews. In other words, not only am I expected to spend hours going through round after round of interviews, but I'm expected to already know all the technology they need, and moreover I'm competing with A) full time employees since many roles will take FTE or contractors; B) other contractors with lower rates.
I live in NYC and would pay someone for advice on the second part above.
We need some sort of not-for-profit place to meet and congregate online as freelancers.
> interviews are --again-- exactly like, if even worse... hours going through round after round
I would decline extensive interviews for contracts less than a year.
Be up front with them that the process does not make sense. It will be obvious in a few hours whether you can do the job, and therefore little risk to them.
(I realize some places will stick to their process, be damned. It is a quality signal, however.)
First, I'm self-employed in name only. While managers view me as a very senior resource that is essentially a team lead due to experience and charisma, I still feel like I have no more control than an employee. In other words, I feel like an employee. Which is not how I suspect many of you feel.
Second, finding a new gigs is going through recruiters (here in NYC) and interviews are --again-- exactly like, if even worse than, employee interviews. In other words, not only am I expected to spend hours going through round after round of interviews, but I'm expected to already know all the technology they need, and moreover I'm competing with A) full time employees since many roles will take FTE or contractors; B) other contractors with lower rates.
I live in NYC and would pay someone for advice on the second part above.
We need some sort of not-for-profit place to meet and congregate online as freelancers.