Becoming A Freelance Computer Programmer

Usually, when a student or prospective computer programmer envisions working in the field, they think of working for a company, the government, or some other formal entity as a direct employee, enjoying the perceived security and benefits of working for an established entity. For some, working outside of the office as a freelance computer programmer is a terrifying prospect. For others, confident in their skills and attracted to the prospect of flexibility and higher compensation, it's the ticket to a whole new ballgame. Freelance programming is an avenue that offers significantly higher pay coupled with very flexible hours. These individuals, working as freelance programmers, accept short-term (or less than permanent positions, in any event) from a variety of companies that employ them to complete specific projects. For them, the higher pay and flexibility is too attractive to resist. And when you factor in the opportunities to both apply your skills in a number of environments and gain very valuable experience, and the chance to earn outstanding compensation; it's easy to see why many make this their preferred career path.

Is there really a demand for freelance programmers? Yes, there is a demand for freelance programmers from both large and small companies. Companies are able to save money when they use freelance programmers because they only have to pay them for work performed and they can be let go from a project at any time. In addition, freelancers use their own computers, purchase software licenses and provide their own medical, dental and other benefits. Some companies are unable to shoulder the costs of maintaining an in-house programming team and prefer to use contractors intermittently. Companies also find that contract programmers are typically faster and more efficient at completing projects than full time employees. They also provide expert technical skill that a company's employees do not possess. The need for expert programming skills is by far the most compelling reason for the high demand for contract and freelance software developers.

Now that you've decided to become a freelance programmer, where do you start? The first area to work on is your programming knowledge and skills. As a freelance programmer, your clients will consider you an advisor and consultant. You need to be able to answer difficult questions that may rise up along the way during the project. Your clients will not provide on the job training. It is imperative that you gain expert level skill in the technologies that you specialize in. Start by browsing the online knowledge bases for computer languages. These usually contain everything you need to know about how the language works. You can also visit online programming forums and communities to learn tips and tricks. A good place to look is www.becomeacomputerprogrammer.com. Invest in developing strong technical skills and it will definitely pay off in your client referrals and testimonials.

Next, begin to work on building up your customer list. Your goal should be to have enough to keep you busy and fed at anytime and have some new projects in the pipeline to work on when the current projects are completed. You can begin your search for work on websites like guru.com, elance.com and rentacoder.com. These websites do not pay market rate for contract programmers, but they can give the opportunity to build up a portfolio to present to corporate clients.

In the end, is it better to work as a freelance programmer? The answer is that it really depends on you. If you seek security (real or imagined), and don't like the idea of keeping your own books, paying for your own benefits, or working in an office, then a career as a freelance programmer probably isn't for you. But if you like flexibility, the potential for high compensation, and the opportunity to do your own thing and build your own business, then you should seriously consider working as a freelance programmer.

Ken Dancek recommends "The Faster, Easier, Less Expensive Way To Learn Programming" for more information on how to improve your programming skills.
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How To Become A Computer Programmer