ra_pro has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I have some half-decent Perl experience and even though it's nothing special it's still my best technical skill.

I have tried to engage some local business with it but, alas, no takers. Can the masters help or recommend a more profitable way of getting some contract work?

I am not too keen on the contracting websites because of what looks like ridiculously low rates but since family is going hungry I am starting to reconsider.

Any advice would be appreciated.

  • Comment on Recommened website for Perl contracts, way to find customers on-line?

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Re: Recommened website for Perl contracts, way to find customers on-line?
by space_monk (Chaplain) on Mar 25, 2013 at 22:10 UTC

    It would help if you said what country you're in, and the level/length of your experience. Speaking on behalf of the UK, rates of around $500-600 (£350-400) per day are not uncommon for degree educated Perl contractors with say 5 years experience.

    A Monk aims to give answers to those who have none, and to learn from those who know more.
[reply]
      ...i'm flying in UK!!

      me too i'm very intersted on this topic. i live in italy and i'll very like some freelance Perl contract.
      if you have some info they will be welcome.
      Also i know nothing about softweare pricing: say for example for a 300 lines application with database GUI interface of, eg, 3 full days of developement, and 2 days of tests and tuning, what can be the price?

      I sold one software only in my life: a 400 lines of module (and two short scripts using it) doing: check db, generate things, send mails, update db, create logs, compress logs, notificate. i sold it for 600 neuros and i think it was a little price.

      L*
      there are no rules, there are no thumbs..
[reply]
[d/l]

      I am in Canada, the reason I haven't mentioned it is that it should be irrelevant when bidding on contracts on-line at least most of the time.

[reply]

        Location is not irrelevant. If it were, nobody in 1st world countries could afford to live where they do while working contract work.

        Anyway, as you've mentioned you're in Canada:

        If none of those are close enough or active enough, look for a local Unix, Linux, PHP, Python, Web Development, C++, Java, or whatever user's/support group. Meet the people there. Become known as the go-to guy for Perl, or for some aspect of development that you enjoy (where Perl might or might not be used). Getting involved in this way, at the local level, is better for finding work, IMHO, than throwing yourself upon the global freelance market. There is work out there that the global market cannot access because some people still prefer to shake hands, and it tends to pay better than the global lowest-common-denominator rate.


        Dave

[reply]
        > I am in Canada, the reason I haven't mentioned it is that it should be irrelevant when bidding on contracts on-line at least most of the time.

        So you wanna bid world-wide in all languages or is your world-view just restricted to English speaking NA?

        Cheers Rolf

        ( addicted to the Perl Programming Language)

[reply]

        There's a big difference between "on-line" contracting and contracting where you (normally) turn up to the office - your original post didn't specify.

        Since I work in the latter field, I simply look on sites such as Jobserve and various agency sites I have previously worked for. Personally I'm not convinced a good living can be had from pulling in jobs online, but others may disagree.

        A Monk aims to give answers to those who have none, and to learn from those who know more.
[reply]
Re: Recommened website for Perl contracts, way to find customers on-line?
by clueless newbie (Curate) on Mar 26, 2013 at 12:13 UTC
[reply]
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