Software Testing - User Acceptance

1. 2. 3. It depends where you live.
4. Have good clear contracts and good accounting practices.

Few things to be considered.

As a contract worker; you may have to manage your own accounts/ health insurance etc.

Have a good network of agencies/ friends circle/ network to help you landup into new contracts.

Ability to quickly pickup new skills and most important acquire new skills at your own cost.

Ready to relocate even for short assignments.

As contractor clients expectation will be very high; hope you are game for it; ready to put up long hours if reqd :(

Your total years of experience and in the insurance firm or wherever you have worked earlier; the kind of platform you worked or technology used makes an important criteria to land a job or fee you can expect to charge.

Apart from team size; other factors like volume of business transactions, software used, your location etc do count.

Contacts would be your current/ previous collegues, constant networking/ acquiring that new skills.

Finally you have to hook up with almost any agency which does help software testing related positions. browsing web for opporutunities including job sites, company sites etc.,

My best advice is that you should atleast have 4-6 months of back up money before you can start getting into contract position; evaluate if you can work short term assignments and best of all can you handle your own accounting

1. The best agencies are always the ones which have a good reputation in the market. Look on your local job search sites and see which ones advertise jobs in your field of expertise, note the turnover. If the jobs turnover quickly then they have a good base of expertise.

2. The best contacts are those whom you have worked for before. Contact them again and ask them for referalls. If you have done the right job word of mouth is the best form of advertising.
3. What are you worth? The fee that you cahrge is usually best based upon the type of jobs you do. Contracting agencies can give you a good idea of what the market will stand and also what the average is. Remember that they will charge the customer about 15 - 20% more than what they will pay you. So if not going through an agency charge the 10-15% more.!!

4. Contracts, contracts, contracts. I can't stress that enough. A well written contract will ensure that your hardwork and effort will be appreciated and valued for time to come. Also, go the extra mile for your customers, the word of mouth advertising is worth it. At the same time though, remember that you aren't a charity and you work hard for the money!

These rules have seen me through for the last 6 years and we will continue them into the future.