How do you find senior contracting/consulting positions
Posted by socialist-viking@reddit | ExperiencedDevs | View on Reddit | 13 comments
I have 30 years of experience with IT work. I've been the CTO/chief architect of a number of startups, including successful self-funded, series A and early-stage. I've started a consulting firm doing training applications that did work for larger companies like Roche, Cisco, Kaiser, Schwab, Sun. For the last 10 years, I've been working for that training company I started, doing web application development, but I don't get enough hours and I haven't been the one who has the inside track to the big companies.
I generally get paid $150/hr. What I hear from other devs is that number is too low, but that's what I've been able to get. I have reached out to all of my college alumni and all the people who aren't retired who I've worked with, but not gotten anywhere. I've bid on a number of local government contracts, but that process is like trying to get struck by lighting. I almost clinched a deal, but then trump killed the funding. I have reached out to non-profits and built some things for them at below cost, hoping to grow my network, but the pipeline there is SLOW and bureaucratic.
None of it is working. I don't have the in-house relationships that I need to get work with big companies. I'd love to hear ideas or stories about how you got contracting work, what sort of pay you think is fair, and any ideas for how to get more business as an experienced dev.
Cyclic404@reddit
Consulting and contacting seems to be all about who you know, and how you present. I know some great people who have to turn away work - they're not terribly technical, but they network really well and are excellent communicators. And they dress the part.
I'm doing some of that now after a layoff, but I'm not turning anyone away. People have told me I'm a great communicator, I'm well recognized for leadership and architecture across teams, but I don't think I'm an amazing networker - and yet that's how I found my main gig right now - networking.
It's also just not a great market right now.
socialist-viking@reddit (OP)
Yeah, unfortunately my network is tapped out. There's no-one who has worked with me who wouldn't recommend me, but all of my past managers are retired or dead, and I've gone through all my other options. At this point, it has to either be friends of friends of friends or cold calling.
I do present very well, and am really good at communicating. After all, I've always been the link between the product side and the tech side, and I've managed a lot of small teams. When I interview, I generally make it through all of the rounds, but then they realize they don't want to hire someone my age and the job is no longer available, or I get ghosted or some other dodgy practice. I very rarely get outright rejected.
ummicantthinkof1@reddit
Do you have anyone younger to check in with? Folks you mentored or lead? If your former managers are retiring, it might be younger developers who looked up to you hiring now.
socialist-viking@reddit (OP)
Yeah, I've gotten some intros to full-time jobs from previous reports, but none of them have panned out. They weren't contract / consulting work either, which is the area I'm trying to brainstorm about.
Cyclic404@reddit
Any networking events you can go to in person is what I’d look for. My whole network I’ve built over the past decade got laid off with USAID being gutted, so branching out has been critical.
socialist-viking@reddit (OP)
That's a good idea. Years ago, I'd go to some meetups, and there were always people recruiting.
LeadingPokemon@reddit
You want to move down to the $60-70 W2 range if you’re desperate for work. That $150 is for folks who are employed.
socialist-viking@reddit (OP)
In SF?
LeadingPokemon@reddit
No, this is in a secondary area (Medium Cost). But you have to note the rate of unpaid wages into your calculation.
socialist-viking@reddit (OP)
I made $60/hr working w2 in 1994. What I'm looking for here are insights into finding more contract work. I don't think my rate is unreasonable, but I also haven't gotten an offer for less. I'd consider such an offer if I got it, and I do work for less when I work for non-profits. My wife is employed and makes a lot of money, but I'd like to contribute more to our family than I can currently.
LeadingPokemon@reddit
How much is that in June 2024?
socialist-viking@reddit (OP)
That's in 2025 dollars. In San Francisco. I've never made any of that really sweet tech money, but I've stayed around $120-$150 in 2025 dollars for the last 20 years. If I work more than 1000 hours in a year, it's totally fine. The trick is getting those 1000 hours.
DootDootWootWoot@reddit
Or you need some niche specialization