TimNiceBut

Now that I've got a tentative move date to the US , I'm starting to think how I go about the "finding work" part. Over here in the UK I worked as a contract/consultant programmer (prefer that to being employed) and while I'm pretty convinced that I should be able to find work either as a permie or a contractor - I've got some contacts from previous jobs so reasonably paid permiedom should be attainable. I'm just not sure if I want that or stay contracting...

For those who are doing this sort of work, how do you go about the setting yourself up for contracting?

My thinking was to set up an LLC in order to split business and personal assets. Nevada LLCs (wife lives in Vegas) seem to be pretty favourable for that. This would mirror my current setup in the UK (Ltd Co).

However given that programming jobs in Nevada are currently a bit in short supply, I expect that I might have to work in other states from time to time. If I get a, say, 3-month contract in another state (Illinois for example), does that mean that I suddenly become a resident there for the time of the contract, even though the consulting company supplying the services is in another state?

mayhemuk

Maybe no real help since I don't work in the IT field anymore but when I was considering remaining in it linkedin.com was a good networking site.
I still toy with the idea since I miss my UK salary but I do not miss the work!

If all else fails maybe the Poker Tour might be an option? ;-)

TimNiceBut

I've been on linkedin for a while, not that anything useful came out of it work-wise but my understanding is that it's far more popular in the US for that sort of thing.

I'll have to practise a lot for the World Poker tour given that the only money I've spent in casinos so far was for accommodation, food and drink when Ann & me were staying in one in Vegas because we wanted to see a show and make use of the "locals" discount .

penguinsix

dice.com
odesk.com
elance.com
craigslist (search in gigs or IT work)

Plenty of tech jobs on those.

TimNiceBut

Thanks for the links, they'll come in useful. Didn't find dice.com to useful the few times I looked at it. elance.com is looking good, even though some people appear to have funny ideas regarding the hourly rates they offer.

That said, anybody got any suggestions regarding a "how to set up yourself as a contractor for dummies" type link?

chartreuse

Unless you're at the top of your field, you'll struggle.

Everybody here wants the right bits of paper, before they'll even consider you.

You might do well to talk to BritishGuy36 - he has some experience in this area.

BritishGuy36

No. Your business' state of residence is based on your trading address. You're just working elsewhere on a contract. You'll charge and pay taxes based on your trading address.

Bob

guru.com
rentacoder.com


quite a few rent a coder knock offs out here tbh.

LinkedIn is handy though, even if your network is shit, it's a tool to get around HR morons. Find a company or sector your interested in, plonk company name into LinkedIn, search through current employees and find someone who would probably deal with you, art directors for me, but you get the idea....

Now you've got options, keep searching till you find someone who openly has their work email address posted, usually the HR person, now you've got company email structure, replace HR person with person your interested, contract directly...or google that persons name, usually can find it on some blog or twitter type site etc.

You've now got a slight chance as you've bypassed being dropped in the bin by HR because they don't like the looks of someone without US work history/education or thoughts of visas even if you don't need one.

chartreuse

Clever!

mayhemuk

Have now bookmarked this after Bob's advice!

Vicky88

Interestingly enough when DH started with his well-known tech company in Silicon Valley, he was advised by HR not to put his details out there on Linked In for the very reason that recruitment agencies search on Linked In to recruit applicants. DH was already on the silly site, but as he says it's seems to be a case of everyone trying to outwank each other with more contacts and recommendations than the next person. He keeps getting people contacting him to add them as a contact and he can barely remember who they are without some prompting.

Titchski

Shit, I really need to update my profile on there if thats a criteria

DeanUK2US

I'm already set up. I really should be working harder on this!

Bob

It is the pokemon of social networking...but you can make your profile private except to your contacts so it really isn't an issue.

anotherlimey

and try to outdo each other with more and more ridiculous job titles...