Off topic: IT freelance types

[Marshy]

I'd just been thinking about a quick straw poll about IT freelancing when I saw something in whatever-thread-it-was that wandered into IR35-land, which was bang on with my thinking.

There's a fair few of us IT freelance types on here, all skirting around the edges of IR35 I should think, and all (probably) chasing relatively small projects.

Question is... do we have synergies (sorry) that we could leverage (sorry) by combining skills and experience and chasing after some bigger work?

So, if you're freelance, getting bored of the routine, suffering from cabin fever, or whatever, why not post a quick hit-list of skills here and lets see if anything interesting falls out of it.

Me: Internet security consultant, skills:

• Firewalls (FireWall-1, Raptor, old Gauntlet (ITSEC evaluated for example), bit of PIX, Cisco IOS, Linux ipchains/tables)
  
• Secure internet-facing servers (Unix based)
  
• Web development (backend stuff in Perl/PHP, database driven)
  
• General solution architecture and integration
  
• Wireless network audit
  
• Training (own FireWall-1 course, have taught official FW-1 and Raptor courses, currently train techie parts of BSI CISMP course)
  
• Qaulifications: BSc CompSci, MSc Information Security, CISMP, various training courses
  

OK, over to you. Whoever you are

>>> Edited by Marshy on Thursday 9th May 23:25

[apache]

this was bound to happen....I know a few of us were made redundant recently, myself included, and I wondered about networking or suggesting a skills database, top man marshy, hope it takes off

[Bodo]

quote:... all skirting around the edges of IR35 ...

I have no exact idea what IR35 is, as I live on the continent.
But have you ever thought about the possibility to choose the country in which you're living, working, being employed, earning money, consuming, etc. ??

I understand EU law as this is your free choice, and you are not forced to do all this in just one country!
For everything economic you'll do, you should choose the best local terms!

Compare the local conditions, as this is the first time in history to get advantages; and maybe the last time as well, until EU law is more common.

[leehodges]

Funny you should mention this. Presently I am in Oz but I will shortly be coming back to finalise my IT business offering various services. I have a couple of clients over here already but am coming back to the UK to launch it proper. Let me know if you (anyone) are interested in doing any contracting work that I may be able to land - it would be mutually beneficial to all parties I am sure as I will do all the business chasing and winning and requirements capture ect ect as well as techy work. Let me know if you want any more info!




Lee

[plotloss]

Top idea Marshy, I'm looking for a new gig as it happens!

Databases would probably be my specialist subject.

AS/400 -

DB2 Specifiction and Build
Operations
Development using 4GL tools called Cool:Plex and Cool:2E

PC -

All flavours of Windows
SQL Server 2000

Handhelds -

Pocket PC 2002
eVB for Handhelds
AutoPC
Pocket SQL Server

On the whole Database Architect about sums it up.

Matt.

[samn01]

Marshy,

I would be happy to help you or anyone else find work. I am a recruitment consultant (Dirty words I know). I am happy to talk about payroll services if you and some other guys do land a big project.
I don't want to talk shop on PH (Sorry Ted)so feel free to email me if you think I can help.

Sam

[ATG]

Blimey ... imagine you lot turning up in convoy in the client's carpark

[philshort]

Good thread, I can legitimately claim to be working when her indoors catches me on PistonHeads

My skills are Pick (MultiValue) database (mainly Reality, some Unidata and Univision) including DataBasic and ALL 4GL, and WebWizard/HTML/Javascript web development linking said Pick databases to the 21st Century. Also [IBM] wIntegrate scripting. Experience of Aerospace MRO and financial applications. 20 years in IT, 15 in MultiValue, 11 contracting. Lots more (Windows, Solaris, networking, etc.) but MultiValue DB is my core skill set.

For anyone wondering what a MultiValue database is, take Oracle and factor cost and performance by 10. MultiValue 10 times faster for a tenth the cost.

I'm working on a couple of development projects at the moment but am open to any offers, preferably Midlands based.

PS IR35 sucks , but if you are in business in your own right, who gives a fk. Bring it on!

PPS Can't claim a BSc, Masters, MBA or even a Third. Always been too busy workin for all that new-fangled skoolin malarkey! Worked with enough grads to know I didn't miss much though!

>> Edited by philshort on Friday 10th May 13:30

[JonRB]

I've got 8 years commercial experience of Visual C++ and MFC, plus several years of STL / Standard Library, COM, ActiveX, Multi-Threading, Sockets, SQL, XML and Windows API / SDK. And (as they say on all the best adverts) "many, many more".
I've also got a Masters Degree in Software Engineering.

[Red rose]

SAP R3 Sales & Distribution consultant / contractor

[marki]

Hi fellow computer

i distribute IBM Compaq and HP hard ware options at well below normal dealer costs , drop me a mail if any one find this of interest

[JonRB]

Surprised we haven't heard from CarZee yet. Are you there, Aidan?

[CarZee]

Good Idea, Marshy - about time we got ourselves some value from all this loafing around on the internet

My rough credentials:

9 years in IT business during which I have worked in installations, desktop support, network support, field service, systems administration, 2nd/3rd line support, systems architecture, web development, internet facing solutions (web, db, mail, firewalls), consultancy & training.

Platforms:
In depth on all MS platforms, particularly NT4, Win2K, Exchange 5.5/2k, SQL6/7/2k, IIS4/5, ASP, WSH, MSProxy & IAS, SMS. The Microsoft systems stuff is my strongest suit, but I also have lots of other tricks up my sleeve:

Solaris 7/8, Linux, HP Openview/Managex, Content Technologies Mimesweeper, Firewall-1, IP-Chains, IPFilter.

Fairly indepth knowledge of networking - OSI layers, TCP/IP, subnetting, CIDR, routing tables, arp, icmp etc.. - suffice it to say that I understand exactly how a tool like traceroute works.

I can design & configure basic switched and routed environments with ethernet, fibre, ISDN etc but my eyes glaze over when you get to EIGRP, BGP etc... I also have ATM experience but again it's not my core speciality.

More details on my website www.fffnh.com

[JonRB]

CarZee is also really good at setting up ADSL routers.

And he only charges a sandwich, some Jaffa Cakes and a couple of bottles of Stella. Bargain.

[mondeoman]

I do Project Management/Planning - does that help?? hehehehe - you lot need someone to tell you when its time to head to the pub, right?? And confuse the hell out of the customer when he wonders why we're forecasting a late delivery because of something he hasn't done, whilst still claiming massive daily rates for attending site and sitting there surfing.... But as I'm an honest chap, I'd never condone such nefarious activities...

>> Edited by mondeoman on Friday 10th May 13:58

[JonRB]

Um, can we put "JOKE" disclaimers on admissions like that in case potential clients read PistonHeads please?

[whatever]

Real-time embedded software, usually in C. Have been specialising (if you can call it that ) in telecoms for the last 9 years. Worked on several RTOSs, at protocol layers 2 & 3 with some MMI work too, as well as other bits and bobs along the way.

[MikeyT]

Me? 12 years experience of DDS/MxP (3.2), C+++++, 25XXcTemp(1) DCD/LKK, Windoze3.334 (Foreign), ADSL/ISDN/LAN/FUN/BOLLOX

But better at the external design and construction of two-dimensional cold structures facilitating the habitation of homosapiens ie bricklayer.

Take comfort that we're all earning more than you IT boys now and so's my mate – he's a plumber!



Sorry, to humour JonRB, the above is all a joke.
Shouldn't all this be on ITanorak.com

>> Edited by MikeyT on Friday 10th May 13:58

[nevpugh308]

quote:
and ALL 4GL, and

Bloody hell, ALL .... that takes me back a bit ! Isn't it called PROIV now a days ?

[Twin Turbo]

Another Project Manager here (although with a technical/operational backround).

Been looking for either a contract or permie position for nearly 5mths without luck. Where HAS the market gone?