jobs.perl.org

[DJ Stunks]

Hey all,

Earlier this week I counselled a poster here in clpm to visit
jobs.perl.org in order to find a Perl developer/consultant willing to
take on his specific, if simple, task.
(http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.perl.misc/msg/7aade7d5b89ab749)

I thought I ought to investigate jobs.perl.org myself as I think I
could start addressing simple script requirements such as the one
above. I assumed it would be a simple transaction - perl code in
return for PayPal or something similar. However, after visiting the
site, most of the posts (almost all that I saw) were for permanent or
semi-permanent positions. Is this the right site for one-off script
requests like the one above? If so, any tips on finding those needles
in the haystacks of "real" jobs?

I know many of you have you have your own websites advertising your
Perl consulting skills and this may be another route, but I really
didn't want to get that serious.

Anyway, any tips or ideas would be appreciated.

TIA,
-jp

 

[Uri Guttman]

DS> I thought I ought to investigate jobs.perl.org myself as I think I
DS> could start addressing simple script requirements such as the one
DS> above. I assumed it would be a simple transaction - perl code in
DS> return for PayPal or something similar. However, after visiting the
DS> site, most of the posts (almost all that I saw) were for permanent or
DS> semi-permanent positions. Is this the right site for one-off script
DS> requests like the one above? If so, any tips on finding those needles
DS> in the haystacks of "real" jobs?

there are some of those one off jobs posted there but not a large
number. my problem with small jobs like that is that they are usually
poorly specified and also for very low pay. unless you can whip out
functioning code in no time and somehow make it do something like what
they want, these jobs become exercises in pain and slavery. they often
have moving targets due to the poor specs and they can sometimes be hard
to get paid upon delivery. note that this not an indictment of the jobs
list (which i founded many years ago) but of small one off projects in
general.

and there are sites/lists for those sorts of jobs and i stopped going to
them. site names like rentacoder or guru etc. you bid on poorly written
specs (e.g. i want a site like google.com in 1 week for $200) against
others who specialize in whipping out those dinky projects. you spend
more time bidding then developing. some even have requests for perl but
once you read typical job requirements you will be scared away too
(unless you have the mentality to hack those projects and make a
living).

uri