How do I work multiple jobs in software development?
August 19, 2021 1:12 PM Subscribe
Bolstered by the post on two jobs, one thing that's always vexed me is that I'm often hired for 3, 6 or 9-month engagements doing 1099 (corp-to-corp) work. I normally go through recruiters and the expectation is that I'm treated as a full-time employee even though I have no PTO, hourly and am contractually a vendor. I can easily take on multiple contracts and even manage meeting conflicts if I were transparent about it. I find employers do not like this. Are there recruiting firms or companies that want a true consultancy without the agency overhead? How do I navigate around this?
I could easily do two or more jobs with the same high quality output if I didn't need to pretend to be on Teams or Slack all day. That includes responses nearly instantaneously. I'd even be willing to give significant discounts to move to this model. For whatever reason employers and recruiters look at me funny even though in discussions it is clear I'm not getting any benefits, I'm legally a contract non-W2 employee and I'm often not even given company equipment.
I've always been remote with several on-site visits during the course of the project but those are really a week or two on-site in a 9-month engagement. I'm really tired of the stick and carrot being "contract to hire" where in reality they're hiring me for a specific project they cannot do internally, they cannot afford a large consultancy and don't need me after the contract. That's fine I just wish to be treated as a true consultant.
Since I don't often engage in the company until after the recruiting phase, and there's a huge stigma against hiring someone who isn't 40 hours a week, how do I transition into a consulting arrangement? Again, a lot of these companies aren't looking for long-term competency in what I do, they're just looking to get a specific project done. If they do want to hire me on as a "generalist" or something it is in reality so far below my salary that I'm making that it is not a serious offer. We are talking $50-60k below what I'm making contracting.
I'm looking to move to this model not to get rich like the people in the article but to simply work less hours and give myself more stability so there's no in-between time between contracts. I feel like I'm running my own business anyway, and I'd like the freedoms that come with that. Specifically looking for people who have successfully transferred to this model and how they have done it.
I could easily do two or more jobs with the same high quality output if I didn't need to pretend to be on Teams or Slack all day. That includes responses nearly instantaneously. I'd even be willing to give significant discounts to move to this model. For whatever reason employers and recruiters look at me funny even though in discussions it is clear I'm not getting any benefits, I'm legally a contract non-W2 employee and I'm often not even given company equipment.
I've always been remote with several on-site visits during the course of the project but those are really a week or two on-site in a 9-month engagement. I'm really tired of the stick and carrot being "contract to hire" where in reality they're hiring me for a specific project they cannot do internally, they cannot afford a large consultancy and don't need me after the contract. That's fine I just wish to be treated as a true consultant.
Since I don't often engage in the company until after the recruiting phase, and there's a huge stigma against hiring someone who isn't 40 hours a week, how do I transition into a consulting arrangement? Again, a lot of these companies aren't looking for long-term competency in what I do, they're just looking to get a specific project done. If they do want to hire me on as a "generalist" or something it is in reality so far below my salary that I'm making that it is not a serious offer. We are talking $50-60k below what I'm making contracting.
I'm looking to move to this model not to get rich like the people in the article but to simply work less hours and give myself more stability so there's no in-between time between contracts. I feel like I'm running my own business anyway, and I'd like the freedoms that come with that. Specifically looking for people who have successfully transferred to this model and how they have done it.
I have worked with agencies for the last 14 years and in that time I've been part of facilitating relationships with freelancers doing 1099 work.
If the contract is hit these milestones and deliver this product for a budget of $XX,XXX over Z timeline, get the milestone dates, hit your deliveries, and rock climb in whatever free time you create, for all we cared.
posted by Medieval Maven at 2:36 PM on August 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
If the contract is hit these milestones and deliver this product for a budget of $XX,XXX over Z timeline, get the milestone dates, hit your deliveries, and rock climb in whatever free time you create, for all we cared.
posted by Medieval Maven at 2:36 PM on August 19, 2021 [2 favorites]
What do your contracts say? Is there anything in them saying you can't do what you're asking to do?
A company cannot just say "work like an employee but sign this that says your an independent contractor." That's a no-no in the eyes of the IRS. You must have independence in how you perform the work.
I would just start doing it. Don't tell them, it's none of their business.
posted by justkevin at 5:18 PM on August 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
A company cannot just say "work like an employee but sign this that says your an independent contractor." That's a no-no in the eyes of the IRS. You must have independence in how you perform the work.
I would just start doing it. Don't tell them, it's none of their business.
posted by justkevin at 5:18 PM on August 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
These contracts already sound like a recipe for disaster (for the employer, not for you) to me. I have worked in tech my entire career, and rule number one of working with contractors has been to make SURE you do not treat them like employees (at least, ever since Microsoft lost a big lawsuit over it). It's surprising to me that these companies are ok with this, and I wonder if the main issue here is just finding contract clients who understand how to work with contractors....
posted by primethyme at 6:56 PM on August 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by primethyme at 6:56 PM on August 19, 2021 [1 favorite]
It sounds like they are treading dangerously in illegally treating a contractor as an employee- something that employment and tax law is all over (and for good reason).
Independent contractors are just that- independent- and free to set the when's and how's of their work as long as they are meeting the basic standards of the contract.
I am surprised that you are finding so many companies that are willing to do so, considering how stuff the penalties can be for it. While they may prefer to have you as an employee, you are not obligated to act as one when you are not being afforded all the benefits of being one. I would remind them of the differences if they start to get overly touchy about wanting you to be working at specific times and so on- nicely, but nevertheless.
posted by shesaysgo at 9:26 PM on August 19, 2021
Independent contractors are just that- independent- and free to set the when's and how's of their work as long as they are meeting the basic standards of the contract.
I am surprised that you are finding so many companies that are willing to do so, considering how stuff the penalties can be for it. While they may prefer to have you as an employee, you are not obligated to act as one when you are not being afforded all the benefits of being one. I would remind them of the differences if they start to get overly touchy about wanting you to be working at specific times and so on- nicely, but nevertheless.
posted by shesaysgo at 9:26 PM on August 19, 2021
Best answer: I would say just do it. I work in tech as a contractor consultant (part of a big company that pays, not 1099) and I know what you mean by “employee”. There’s expectation that you bill 40 hrs a week no matter what. They have budgeted that amount and are thrilled people take vacation.
Someone told me “if the client can’t find you 40 hours a week, well that’s just the client” after billing less than 40 one time.
posted by sandmanwv at 4:22 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
Someone told me “if the client can’t find you 40 hours a week, well that’s just the client” after billing less than 40 one time.
posted by sandmanwv at 4:22 AM on August 20, 2021 [3 favorites]
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This did not work out and I was told by many companies they did not want to work with an agency, they wanted someone dedicated 40 hours. I get a lot of solicitations for this. The problem is that they do not need or want someone for 40 hours and I wonder if this is to get around being on a vendor list and/or the sole proprietorship. This is definitely not a one-off and I've been working on these arrangements for the last 5-7 years with some high profile national recruiting firms (Nigel Frank, etc). Some recruiting firms have been significantly smaller.
The bottom line is that these companies always have a specific project and a budget and I don't need to be online 40 hours a week for the duration of the contract. You might say that's easy work and I'd agree but not having anything to do but wiggle a mouse is actually worse. I'd much rather charge what I'm actually working and take on multiple contracts.
posted by geoff. at 2:28 PM on August 19, 2021