I'm a former software engineer turned medical student. I've been looking for part-time work, and due to hospital commitments can't do anything in the 9-5, Monday-Friday bracket.

Has anyone been in the position before where they could only work these sorts of hours, and are there any roles you're aware of?

I've looked at rent-a-coder type websites, but they seem a bit risky. Has anyone had any experience with them in the past?

I've never actually bid on a project from any free lancer coder site, because I felt I could never compete with what was already there.

Having said that, my current employer has no problem with me working part time whenever I get a chance (I'm a grad student, so my hours are complicated sometimes). If I wanted to work all night three days a week and on weekends they wouldn't really care (in fact, my manager does this frequently).

This was all after I'd been working there for some time during regular hours though, so I imagine they're a bit more open to the idea since I've proven I'm competent and work well with them. They probably wouldn't be so open to the idea if I was applying for the job with those sort of requirements.

You could possibly do contractual work in your area, that was another option for me when I applied at my current job. You might be able to get away with working whatever hours you want if you're doing contract work for an individual or another company.

I'm a former software engineer turned medical student. I've been looking for part-time work, and due to hospital commitments can't do anything in the 9-5, Monday-Friday bracket.

Medical students get time off? What happened to 300 hr/month workloads?

[quote name='Winegums' timestamp='1313415365' post='4849371']
I'm a former software engineer turned medical student. I've been looking for part-time work, and due to hospital commitments can't do anything in the 9-5, Monday-Friday bracket.

Medical students get time off? What happened to 300 hr/month workloads?
[/quote]

Depends on the year/university/country/etc. Our first clinical year is pretty much 9-5 mon-fri, with the occasional bit of evening reading. I can't speak for later years, where it might get busier, although I think a lot of people exaggerate how often they're in at work. I guess it's like crunch time in the games industry - to some people it becomes a pissing contest.

I guess it's like crunch time in the games industry - to some people it becomes a pissing contest.

It probably depends on position/specialization more.

When there is only one surgeon position and it will free 10 years from now when existing one retires, the competition tends to be quite fierce.

Especially when one can switch to pharma or law right away for a few nice signing bonuses and a hefty salary right away, instead of a maybe-position in 10 years.

For whatever it's worth, I found it painfully hard to make a living as a full-time software consultant, and that was during one of the brighter times in our economic history.

How about just make some apps and sell it on the market with your free time? Thats kinda like part time, but obviously not. Its just a thought.

For whatever it's worth, I found it painfully hard to make a living as a full-time software consultant, and that was during one of the brighter times in our economic history.

Well what exactly was your market? Where did your clients come from and how did you extend your reach?

Because on the other hand, I'm finding it fairly easy to make a living (circa > 3k a month) as a part-time software consultant in the economic times of now. So I'm curious why you had trouble surviving. Especially since you are more than competent when it comes to software engineering.

[quote name='ApochPiQ' timestamp='1313471719' post='4849709']
For whatever it's worth, I found it painfully hard to make a living as a full-time software consultant, and that was during one of the brighter times in our economic history.

Well what exactly was your market? Where did your clients come from and how did you extend your reach?

Because on the other hand, I'm finding it fairly easy to make a living (circa > 3k a month) as a part-time software consultant in the economic times of now. So I'm curious why you had trouble surviving. Especially since you are more than competent when it comes to software engineering.
[/quote]

But as a full time consultant (having family, mortgage, etc) you would need to bring about 10x that amount a month. Rule of thumb for consulting fees is your salary * 2.5 or 3 times that.

But as a full time consultant (having family, mortgage, etc) you would need to bring about 10x that amount a month. Rule of thumb for consulting fees is your salary * 2.5 or 3 times that.

$360,000? That's more than a fine living where I'm from. I realize as a full-time consultant you would have to increase your earnings in order to make a living, but to me $60,000 is an average standard of living; if I couldn't live off of that then I would consider myself living above my means. That would be a matter of priorities. But it all depends on what you define as a "living." Currently, the amount of time I dedicate to my consulting projects is limited by my class obligations, but I don't foresee any income problems if I were to switch to full-time consulting.

Yes, I've heard that "rule of thumb" numerous times and it simply doesn't make sense to me. The price should be determined by a number of factors. I absolutely despise "computer consultants/technicians" that charge ~$100 to install a Windows operating system. That's ludicrous! Instead, I believe in pricing dependent upon the magnitude of work, the financial situation of the customer, and whether the stream of income will be continuous or one-time. Those are just some of the factors that should be taken into consideration, in my honest opinion.