Ryan Kinal
100 E. St. Clair St.
Warren, PA 16365
716.581.1000
ryan.kinal@gmail.com

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One of Those Weeks

This was one of those weeks.

One of those weeks where every deal falls apart.

That kind of week.

Here's the story. At the end of last week, and the beginning of this week, I was talking with people about various projects that need done. The Skinny Water site needs maintenance. There may be a new project coming up with Ivory Tower Group/InternU. There are two site designs that need converted from PSD to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. And there's the internal software for R.K. Hite & Co., Inc.

That's quite a bit of work, right there. I was excited. I haven't had that much work at one time in a long time. Sure, it was going to be stressful, but things were happening, and happening in my favor. So, I updated and sent my resume, I talked about which JavaScript libraries to use, I brushed up on various technologies and best practices, and I sent in a maintenance proposal (more on that at the end of the post).

The week started, and I was ready to get things going. Then it starts.

"We're just waiting on approval."
"They're dragging their feet a little."
"We've had some delays. I'll keep you updated."

The week continued, I was told I got approval for the maintenance, and I started on it. About an hour in, I was informed that I wasn't actually approved, but they'll tell me when I am. Ugh. The PSD to HTML conversions got pushed off until next week, for who knows why. The ITG/InternU project has been in the works for months - literally.

And so I'm left with one project. The RKH internal software. I'm doing the front-end, interface-type stuff, and a friend of mine is doing the back end. Sounds like a good gig, huh? I like front end work, sure, but in this case I'm also advising and pseudo-managing my co-worker, who is more than a little inexperienced in the ways of web development.

We have very little direction, but I'm trying to push us to where I think we should be. I've asked for a workflow document - a description of how the business works - but haven't gotten it yet. I was worried about the interface prototype I put up based on the database structure he gave me, as I really have no idea of the process the data goes through. And I'm thinking I may have to do some security overhauls on the back end - maybe. It might be fine, if I guide him through it a bit more.

The moral of the story is, I suppose, "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched." But I have to have something to count, right?

February is too short.

On Rates

Freelancing rates are, to put it lightly, fucked up. Rates vary greatly depending on where you're getting the work, who's hiring you, and where you're located. Another friend of mine and I were discussing rates, and we seem to think 18 to 20 dollars per hour is a solid rate. Enough to live off of, if you can get consisent work, and not a terrible expense to the client.

Of course, that depends on the buyer. I've been denied interviews on oDesk because my $18/hr. rate was too high, and yet, when I sent a rate and time proposal for a recent assignment (with a company I've already worked with), I was advised to increase my rate to $30/hr.

To say the least, I'm thoroughly confused. When you're freelancing, you have to take into account downtime, searching for jobs, etc. But you also have to be competetive in a field where there are people outside the United States working for one-fourth to one-sixth what I feel is livable here.

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