Access Development Freelance

[Cy]

Hi all,

I wanted to start a thread that might help many of us. I worked for a
company for 12 years, until this past Christmas when they let me go.
Getting rid of the higher dollar guys, in favor of more profit, was the
reasoning. Oh well.

Anyhow. I built this companies network from the ground up. Then about
8 years ago, I developed a MS Access 2.0 database. This database, much
like others, was supposed to just tiny bits. Over the course of time,
we converted to 97, then to 2000, then this past summer to 2003. The
database now runs almost every aspect of the company, from contract
management to payroll (outsourced) to contact management to sales to
production measurement and budgeting tools, except the Accounting end,
yet it interfaces and pulls data out for custom report in Access.
Towards the end of my tenor, say the past 3 years, I had 2 guys doing
the hardware/break fix, while I spent most of the time developing. The
company is about $50 million in size, with about 80 users access this
database daily. The back end is SQL, front end Access.

Ok, enough of the history lesson. What I would like to figure out,
since I feel I have become pretty good at creating, modifying/making
databases, is any suggestions on how to get into consulting/freelance
Access work. I know, that I have read other threads, that state there
aren't a number of truly qualified Access developers out there. I've
tried finding free lance sites, but that seems like a fruitless effort.

Any help for a guy in Cincinnati who is trying to make it in life,
would be appreciated. Would be good to hear everyone else's take on
this.

Thanks for looking and commenting.

[MGFoster]

Cy wrote:

Hi all,

I wanted to start a thread that might help many of us. I worked for a
company for 12 years, until this past Christmas when they let me go.
Getting rid of the higher dollar guys, in favor of more profit, was the
reasoning. Oh well.

Anyhow. I built this companies network from the ground up. Then about
8 years ago, I developed a MS Access 2.0 database. This database, much
like others, was supposed to just tiny bits. Over the course of time,
we converted to 97, then to 2000, then this past summer to 2003. The
database now runs almost every aspect of the company, from contract
management to payroll (outsourced) to contact management to sales to
production measurement and budgeting tools, except the Accounting end,
yet it interfaces and pulls data out for custom report in Access.
Towards the end of my tenor, say the past 3 years, I had 2 guys doing
the hardware/break fix, while I spent most of the time developing. The
company is about $50 million in size, with about 80 users access this
database daily. The back end is SQL, front end Access.

Ok, enough of the history lesson. What I would like to figure out,
since I feel I have become pretty good at creating, modifying/making
databases, is any suggestions on how to get into consulting/freelance
Access work. I know, that I have read other threads, that state there
aren't a number of truly qualified Access developers out there. I've
tried finding free lance sites, but that seems like a fruitless effort.

Any help for a guy in Cincinnati who is trying to make it in life,
would be appreciated. Would be good to hear everyone else's take on
this.

Thanks for looking and commenting.

Try these job sites:

http://www.dice.com/
http://www.flipdog.com/
http://justsqlserverjobs.com/
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/

Try a temp agency like Robert Half, etc.
--
MGFoster:::mgf0 0 <at> earthlink <decimal-point> net
Oakland, CA (USA)

[Cy]

Thanks. I wasn't looking to get back into a "job", but rather do
consulting/freelance. I appreciate your "job" sites. Was trying to
get a thread going to "network" with other developers who are doing
freelance type work.

Anyhow, thanks for your help.

[Larry Linson]

"MGFoster" <[e-mail] > wrote

Try these job sites:

http://www.dice.com/
http://www.flipdog.com/
http://justsqlserverjobs.com/
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/

Try a temp agency like Robert Half, etc.

Also, find a user group in your area. Two places to start looking are:
http://www.apcug.org and
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...sergroups.mspx. I am working on
two contracts right now, both of which originated because of my involvement
with a user group.

In my area, there are a lot of employment firms who "broker" contract
work -- you'd need to ask around in your area.

Volunteer and do DB work for non-profit, charitable organizations. Many
newspapers have a column about volunteer opportunities.

Do NOT advertise in the newsgroups, but provide good answers and include
(munged) contact information in your SIG and you might get some responses.
If you should advertise, you'll be disrespected by responsible participants,
as PC Datasheet is.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

[PC Datasheet]

Cy,

A note about Larry ---
For the past several years, I have gotten 6 to 10 requests for help each
week, sometimes more, from Access users seeing my signature line in the
newsgroups. A couple of years ago, Larry emailed me and said that he was
having trouble finding work and asked if I would subcontract some of the
work I was doing to him. I didn't because I already had assistance when I
needed it. Now he condemns me for providing help to anyone from the
newsgroups. You might have seen some of the libelous negativity about me in
the newsgroups but the fact is that the number of requests have increased
and I am passing on more work than previously.

--
PC Datasheet
Your Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word Applications
Over 1100 users have come to me from the newsgroups requesting help
re******@pcdata sheet.com

"Larry Linson" <bo*****@localh ost.not> wrote in message
news:nixCf.175$ Cf7.72@trnddc06 ...

"MGFoster" <[e-mail] > wrote

Try these job sites:

http://www.dice.com/
http://www.flipdog.com/
http://justsqlserverjobs.com/
http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/

Try a temp agency like Robert Half, etc.

Also, find a user group in your area. Two places to start looking are:
http://www.apcug.org and
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...sergroups.mspx. I am working
on two contracts right now, both of which originated because of my
involvement with a user group.

In my area, there are a lot of employment firms who "broker" contract
work -- you'd need to ask around in your area.

Volunteer and do DB work for non-profit, charitable organizations. Many
newspapers have a column about volunteer opportunities.

Do NOT advertise in the newsgroups, but provide good answers and include
(munged) contact information in your SIG and you might get some responses.
If you should advertise, you'll be disrespected by responsible
participants, as PC Datasheet is.

Larry Linson
Microsoft Access MVP

[John Marshall, MVP]

"PC Datasheet" <no****@nospam. spam> wrote in message
news:Ep******** *********@newsr ead3.news.atl.e arthlink.net...

I have gotten 6 to 10 requests for help
How many knew that there was a price attached to your "help". These
newsgroups are for free help, not for soliciting.
You might have seen some of the libelous negativity about me in the
newsgroups
You need a new dictionary. Check the definition of libel. Can you point out
what was false. Shall we persue you for your libelous statements?
but the fact is that the number of requests have increased and I am
passing on more work than previously.

No stevie, the fact is that these newsgroups are for free peer to peer help.
Just because you have been able to con some of
the new users, does not make it right.

John... Visio MVP

[Lyle Fairfield]

Access Developers die at 25 and are buried at 65. Why would you want to
become one?

[Lyle Fairfield]

I graduated from College just before Sputnik. I started to work at NASA
using Clipper and a 286 XT. I developed all their database software and
all their data was stored on three 5.25 inch floppies which were kept
in a briefcase chained to my wrist. Of course, I always had two armed
bodyguards accompanying me everywhere. When I joined the Triple Nine
Society the scientists got jealous and when I applied for the Mega
Society last Christmas that was too much and they let me go. Getting
rid of the higher IQ guys, in favour of more prestige, was the
reasoning.

[PC Datasheet]

Here's one of the biggest losers you will ever encounter. All he can do is
pollute the newsgroups with his negativity. He never makes any contribution
to the newsgroups. Some comments---

99% of the requests I get initially start with "What would your fees be to
....."

I provide help for a very reasonable price. Here are a few comments I have
gotten --

I like it a lot. It does exactly what I want, very good job. Thanky you and
I
repeat GOOD JOB

OK, Perfect, well done. See you when I need something more.

Your very helpful email speaks volumes about your level of professionalism .
I will definitely keep your contact information for anyone who needs these
types of services - we very frequently get local businesses
contacting us looking for exactly the type of service you provide.

One word: Wow. I had no clue it could be such an "aesthetica lly pleasing"
interface. I figured it'd just be a big chart. That's amazing. You've really
helped me cause out a lot, and you've done a tremendous job with this demo.
With this, I can more easily explain how a database could help us out.

Thanks for looking ahead. That is the reason I really feel safe working with
you. couple of the programmers who do work for me, need to be checked to
told to do every step of the way. With you, I just need to tell you what I
need to be done, and you will think ahead of all the problems that might
occur in the process.

And if there is any doubt, look back five posts previous to this one, "What
is the syntax for displaying ....."
Yep Thats the syntax
Thanks a bunch
Jerry

---
PC Datasheet
Your Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word Applications
Over 1100 users have come to me from the newsgroups requesting help
re******@pcdata sheet.com
"John Marshall, MVP" <la******@stone henge.ca> wrote in message
news:nq******** ************@ma gma.ca...

"PC Datasheet" <no****@nospam. spam> wrote in message
news:Ep******** *********@newsr ead3.news.atl.e arthlink.net...

I have gotten 6 to 10 requests for help

How many knew that there was a price attached to your "help". These
newsgroups are for free help, not for soliciting.

You might have seen some of the libelous negativity about me in the
newsgroups

You need a new dictionary. Check the definition of libel. Can you point
out what was false. Shall we persue you for your libelous statements?

but the fact is that the number of requests have increased and I am
passing on more work than previously.

No stevie, the fact is that these newsgroups are for free peer to peer
help. Just because you have been able to con some of
the new users, does not make it right.

John... Visio MVP

[Larry Linson]

"PC Datasheet" <no****@nospam. spam> wrote

99% of the requests I get initially start with
"What would your fees be to ...."

If Steve's memory about "helping people" for a fee is as faulty as his
memory about my asking him to throw some work my way, his quotes are not to
be trusted.

And, to think, _he_ tries to label John Marshall, selected by Microsoft to
be an MVP because of his contributions to the user community, as a
"loser" -- it is to laugh.

Poor Steve. There was a time when he, mostly, followed the rules and just
put contact information in his SIG line, but need or greed or something got
the best of him. He apparently can't read the FAQ at
http://www.mvps.org/access/netiquette.htm, or can't understand it, or (my
guess) just won't abide by it.

Larry Linson

who cast an approving vote for the creation
of this newsgroup back in 1993... you can
find the record of that if you Google