Some general questions about working as a PHP coder
Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 12:04 pm
Hello. I'm quite new to the board, so I'll explain a little about my situation. I'm currently working (full-time) as a SAP Sales & Distribution specialist in Italy. I also manage a large Oracle database that interfaces with SAP, which has an ASP front-end. I used to work as a Domino Developer for my old company, where I helped design and implement their intranet. At home, I have been messing with PHP for a few months, and I'm picking it up very quickly due to my background in programming for Web, and my current work with Oracle/ASP. I'm currently bored out of my skull with my job, and want a change.
Here's my questions:
1) How many of you are full-time employed as PHP (or indeed "General Web") coders?
2) To those of you who take contract work, do you ever find yourself in a "between contracts" phase? If so, how long do these phases usually last? Also, what's the average length of a contract?
3) What's the job market like at the moment for PHP/Web programmers? Up/down? Easy to find new work?
4) How much experience have you got with PHP? What's the minimum experience you feel is necessary before a potential employer takes you seriously?
5) Is it a good idea to do small free projects to build a portfolio?
6) How much do you use other skills during your work (management, marketing, sales etc.)
7) Do you specialise in a particular business area?
8) Do you work to a pre-written spec, or do you contribute actively to the specification from the conception to the end?
9) What sort of money is in it?
10) Currently PHP is a hobby, which means I do it for pleasure. Do you think that doing it full time would turn it into a bloody nightmare, like my current work is?
Thanks for your time,
GM
Note to the moderators - I don't think that I've put this in the wrong place, but if you think differently, feel free to move it.
Here's my questions:
1) How many of you are full-time employed as PHP (or indeed "General Web") coders?
2) To those of you who take contract work, do you ever find yourself in a "between contracts" phase? If so, how long do these phases usually last? Also, what's the average length of a contract?
3) What's the job market like at the moment for PHP/Web programmers? Up/down? Easy to find new work?
4) How much experience have you got with PHP? What's the minimum experience you feel is necessary before a potential employer takes you seriously?
5) Is it a good idea to do small free projects to build a portfolio?
6) How much do you use other skills during your work (management, marketing, sales etc.)
7) Do you specialise in a particular business area?
8) Do you work to a pre-written spec, or do you contribute actively to the specification from the conception to the end?
9) What sort of money is in it?
10) Currently PHP is a hobby, which means I do it for pleasure. Do you think that doing it full time would turn it into a bloody nightmare, like my current work is?
Thanks for your time,
GM
Note to the moderators - I don't think that I've put this in the wrong place, but if you think differently, feel free to move it.