Dear Molly: I am a software developer with three years of experience. In addition to my day job, I like to take part-time contractor jobs, mostly to improve my skills. However, that is easier said than done. It seems to me that I need to have some connections to get that type of work. Do you know of any Web sites or clients who might be interested in my experience? I program in Java, C++, VC++, VB, and some Internet languages like ASP, HTML, and JavaScript.
Molly says: Do I have some Web sites for you! Every time I search the Web it seems that a new Web site for programmers turns up. You can post your availability for these kinds of jobs on the Sun Java Web site and can even post code you've written as a kind of free sample.
Here are some other Web sites where independent IT contractors can post information about themselves and search for contract work: ProgrammingJobs.com, A-Z Internet Jobs, and Freelance BBS. If you find a job that you are interested in taking on, but the requirements say it must be full-time, submit your data anyway. There might be something else the company is working on that they could pass along to a freelance programmer.
If you haven't already created a Web site for yourself that is a virtual resumé and code sample center, put that at the top of your project list. That way you can e-mail the URL to potential clients and they can browse there without feeling pressured.
By the way, you are doing exactly what so many other IT people should be doing--looking for ways to improve your skills and add experience to your resume. I am sure that the extra work will pay off for your career.
Molly Joss also writes the monthly Career Advisor column for ComputerUser magazine. Ask a career-related question at askmolly@computeruser.com.
