contracting in perl and programming = be flexible.

[hackmare]

I'm working as a application developer in a 100% perl shop. This means that I do 50% CGI algprithm massaging, 25% cool perl, and 25% sql troubleshooting. All the programmers are contractors.

I've been contracting for 3 years, mostly in Europe. I have not had any trouble finding scripting work, but I've had to do mixes of html/perl, php, and cgi/sql to get contracts. I've noticed, however, that over the last 6 months, there's been about 20% downwards pressure on the contracting rate.

I got all my jobs on jobserve and on monster.com. Jobserve seems to be the best place, but that's mostly for the European market.

I seem to tend to get my jobs by highlighting the heavy-duty non-programming capabilities I have as well as by pushing task-specific programming bits. I've found that selling myelf on a case-study basis has worekd pretty well. Fyi, here's the link to my cv page that I've used to land my recent contracts. THe html page(s) are not that impressive but the word documents are fairly well recieved by clients.

I think you'll have no problem finding new work. You might have to show more flexibility than you used to need to to get the same contract. No matter what, though, if you're bright, flexible, and know perl, there's plenty of work out there. Just give it a bit of time and keep sending the cvs out. And make sure to call the posters to follow up on the email. Contracting houses are staffed by lazy people who don't know how to pick up the phone.