Product Description
Drawing on data from The Real Rate Survey and on contributions from successful computer contractors, computer consulting expert Janet Ruhl shows you: – What it takes to be eligible for big money contracts
– The differences between W-2, 1099, and corp-to-corp contracting
– What rates contractors are really earning and for what kinds of work
– How consulting firms operate and how they exploit the unwary
– How to find contracts through consulting… More >>
#1 by Anonymous on March 30, 2010 - 2:34 am
This book is good as far as providing lots of useful information, but I can’t use its advice just yet as I am just getting into the computer field. In other words, its too advanced for me right now. I am going to order another book listed here, The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches…” It seems to be perfect for those who want to start from scratch in the computer industry.
But, I will keep this Janet Ruhl book for reference when I am more ready to make the move into contracting.
Rating: 4 / 5
#2 by Mohammad Rashid on March 30, 2010 - 5:14 am
just what one needs to know about consulting in IT.fantastic
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Michael on March 30, 2010 - 6:19 am
In my first book, “The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches”, I chose Janet Ruhl’s earlier book, “The Computer Consultant’s Guide”, as required reading for an overview of the ins & outs of the consulting lifestyle, because it was the ideal complement to the highly specific and technical instruction for the raw beginners targeted in my book.
“Janet Ruhl’s Answers for Computer Contractors” will now replace it, as required reading in the next edition of my book, for many reasons:
1) It gives promising contractors everything they need to maximize and maintain a contracting career.
2) It reveals the absolutely important insiders’ tips on working with consulting firms, contract brokers and recruiting firms – I’ve been contracting for over ten years, and I’ve seen some really wonderful brokers and some really shady brokers. Read this book and put yourself a step ahead of them all.
3) It has answers to practically every important contracting question one can imagine.
4) It helps you decide if the contracting lifestyle is right for you and helps eliminate fears about moving into contracting.
5) By design, it is much more specific to contractors than her earlier book.
Bottom Line
If you are already a salaried computer professional or want an in-depth look at the contracting profession and have an itch for a more flexible, potentially more rewarding and higher-paying career, then I have no doubt that this book will be worth its weight in gold to your career! Now that we have this beneficial guide, I see no reason for anyone to have any unanswered questions about the contracting profession.
~ Michael Nigohosian, Author – “The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches”
Rating: 5 / 5
#4 by Mitch Paioff on March 30, 2010 - 9:04 am
This is Janet Ruhl’s companion book to her “The Computer Consultant’s Workbook”. Both were published in 1999, but the content of each is as relevant today as it was back then.
Janet poses some of the most commonly asked questions of computer contractors – 1) W-2 or 1099?, 2) How much should I charge?, 3) What should I look for in a consulting contract?, and many others. She then offers her expert advice on how to address specific issues that affect computer contractors. She backs up her advice with numerous charts and graphs.
I hope that Janet updates both of these books soon. As is, they contain valuable information and are well worth the money.
Mitch Paioff, Author, Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant
Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by William Sargent on March 30, 2010 - 11:33 am
This book is absolutely solid, especially in its explanation of how consulting firms work. It has a number of helpful tips for what to look out for and what “smells funny” in a contract, and is good value for money just for that alone.
The salary information in it may be a little out of date, and the sample size of salaries is so small and spread out that it’s difficult to know what the statistical significance is.
Rating: 5 / 5