Questions Frequently Asked by Java Developers.

Table of Contents

1. Do I have to pay eJobShop any fees?
2. Why should I register NOW?
3. After I register, then what?
4. When and How will I be paid?
5. Can I do this work part-time while I have another job?
6. Does eJobShop provide me with training or employment benefits?
7. Do I need to incorporate?
8. How do I increase the rates I can charge?
9. Why the name - Is this some kind of body shop or sweat shop?
   

Do I have to pay eJobShop any fees?

No. Like any car dealership or Amazon.com, eJobShop makes money by taking a commission on successful sales of your services.  In exchange for that commission,  eJobShop will assists with communications and expectations during your jobs, and also find new customers for your services.

The benefits of eJobShop to the Customer are providing a broad array of resources to satisfy their needs, providing a consistent set of practices and policies (legal, financial, etc.), and helping to keep communication lines open during the jobs.

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Why should I register NOW?

There's no obligation after you register.  You will periodically have job descriptions emailed to you based on your areas of expertise, which you can review and bid on if interested.  Some may be quite small -- jobs you can do in a weekend or over a few evenings. Even if you're currently not available for these types of jobs, you'll get a chance to see what types of jobs we offer.  And you can unregister anytime via an email request.

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After I register, then what?

When jobs come in from customers that require your type of services, a summary of the project will be sent to you by email. If you like the project and are available, submit a bid for the job.  (Note: This is when your references are useful: if you have several good references that can be verified by eJobShop, your quality rating goes up and your bid looks better to customers concerned about risk.)  If you are awarded the job, contracts are signed and your work begins.

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When and How will I be paid?

This depends on whether the job is paid by the hour or on a project basis. For hourly projects you will usually bill eJobShop biweekly. For project-based jobs, you will bill eJobShop for a percentage of the job after each agreed-upon milestone is achieved (i.e. draft spec delivered, Beta code accepted, etc.).  You will be paid as an independent contractor (in the US using a 1099 form, not a W2).

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Can I do this work part-time while I have another job?

Absolutely!  Of course, you must NOT work on eJobShop projects while at that other job, or use any of your employer's equipment, or use any "intellectual property" (code, methods, techniques, etc.) that belongs to your employer.  Also, when you provide the name of your EMPLOYER when you register, any jobs obtained from that same company will not be sent to you.

Please note that while California's applicable laws limit companies from having any claim on work done by employees while not on the job, your local laws may differ, so it's up to you to check with either your employer or your local law.

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Does eJobShop provide me with training or employment benefits?

Sorry, but the answer is no.  Your relationship with eJobShop is that of an Independent Contractor, so you are responsible for your own skill development, methods, taxes, insurance, etc.  If you need training related to Java, you might try Sun's Java Web Site.  If you need more information about your rights and responsibilities as an Independent Contractor (and why eJobShop does not offer training), you might want to review the book  "Hiring Independent Contractors" by the Nolo Press.  It provides an excellent overview of the issues involved, and is very easy to understand.

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Do I need to incorporate?

While it's generally a good idea for Independent Consultants in the software industry, it is not required by eJobShop.

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How do I increase the rates I can charge?

Most Customers care more about "risk" than cost.  The only way for a customer to evaluate risk is to review a consultant's track record of success.  So the more on-time, high-quality jobs you have completed, the higher the rate you can charge.   If you have completed many such jobs in the past, provide the appropriate references to eJobShop when you register.  If not, be careful about each job you bid on so that you can build your track record as quickly as possible; keep in mind that one bad performance (or unsatisfied customer) can have a negative impact on your record equal to five to ten good jobs.

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Why the name - Is this some kind of "body shop" or "sweat shop"?

The term "job shop" refers to a place to go when looking for a small, specialized job to be done quickly and efficiently by experts.  The term has been most commonly used in manufacturing industries, where specialized metal workers produce custom dies, forms, fixtures or metal components at job shops.

We are not a body shop. A "body shop" provides low-skilled labor for onsite generic positions (receptionists, clerks, even IC layout designers!).  eJobShop works only with highly skilled Java developers, matching specific jobs with specific areas of expertise. Unlike a body shop, at eJobShop your specific set of talents and past experience is our biggest selling point.

We are not a sweat shop. A "sweat shop" violates one or more local labor laws and pays workers below minimum wage.  We don't violate any labor laws, and pay developers at a rate defined by them -- always significantly above minimum wages!

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Revised: July 30, 1999.