|
Jivin’ with Java
Developer digs working from home
by Alyson Preston
Name: Hari Golla
Title: Software architect/programmer
Location: Cary, N.C.
Years as an Independent Contractor: Three and a half years
[Editor’s note: Hari Golla was the winner of a Volkswagen New Beetle, through the Monster Talent Market’s Success Stories contest.]
What kind of independent contractor are you?
I do Java development in telecommunications and Web-related areas. I do server side Java and servlets. My background is in C++, Java, databases and proprietary telecommunication languages. But I don't like the proprietary stuff, which is why I learned Java.
How long have you been working in Java?
I did my first Java project in school in 1996. I was working in C++ for a while before I jumped onto Java.
What job did you get through Monster Talent Market?
I was working full time for a consulting company as a contractor, and I was looking for a job doing part-time telecommuting work. Basically I wanted more work in advanced fields, and I wanted more exposure to the Web.
What pushed you to go solo? At what point did you realize you could actually make a living on your own?
When the company I was working for tried to put me in fields that I wasn't interested in. I thought it would help my career if I learned more programs, so I started looking for freelance work. It was an easy transition.
There is obviously a great need for Java programmers today, but how do you differentiate yourself from other people doing it?
Java is hard, and there are always new technologies coming out. Enterprise JavaBeans and Java Message Service are the newest things. I learn by doing small projects. It helps me stay ahead of the game.
How do you keep up with the technology?
One way is by doing freelance jobs. When I started working on my present project, I was given work that is more advanced than what I had been doing. I picked up the skills by reading books and by just doing the job.
What has going solo meant for you personally?
I have extra money, which has definitely helped me. Also, I won the car!
But the main advantage is that if you work as a contractor, you can jump on at one company, and if they try to put you in field that you don't like you can jump on to another client. I think it's great because you get a chance to work on what you like, and you can pick projects. That's why I keep up with the technology. I don't want to be left behind.
Do you prefer working at home or in the office? What appeals to you about working at home?
This particular job is my first time working at home. I work about 10 or 15 hours a week on it in addition to my other job. I decided that since I don’t commute very long -- only 15 minutes -- that I could use that time and make some extra money.
I think that after working at home, I realize that I may be looking for work-at-home jobs in the future. I can work at any time at home, and I like that because I'm a night person. Also, I get more work done at home. There are fewer distractions. If you spend four hours working continuously, you get a lot of work done. You don't get as much work done in the office because of interruptions and people socializing.
What is it like to work as a programmer at home? How do you handle the team aspect of working with several other programmers on a large project?
The companies that hire you are prepared for that and have a piece or module they want you to get done in a certain number of weeks. We meet on weekdays or on weekends, depending on everyone's schedule, and then we divide things into three or four parts and assign them.
Do you have any advice for someone thinking about going out on his or her own?
You need to know the latest technology. As an independent contractor, you really need to work hard on building up your career and staying ahead of the technology.
I would also recommend keeping your present job and at the same time taking on a few freelance projects. Start out small and then build up to being completely independent. Right now I have a good contacts in my present project, and when the company expands I will have a better opportunity to work for them full time in the future. 
|
