The Lady Programmer

Filipinos still prefer to carry cash rather than using their debit cards to make a purchase. For the few (like me) who insist on paying using debit, credit or even cellphone wallet at the counter, here are tips that are helpful to manage such transactions:

photo credit: craiova (SXC)

1. Register for online banking systems. Almost all major banks provide online banking systems for free. After opening an account, register with these banks immediately so that you can easily access your account without waiting for the monthly bank statement.
2. Be wary of phishing sites. Phishing sites are sites that pose as the real one. There are already banking sites that are not real and looks very similar to the real one. Of course, the primary intention of these sites is to steal your username and password.
3. Install firewall software and anti-spyware. Many antivirus programs come bundled with these features. With the age of fast internet and almost online access, this is now a must even in home PCs.
4. If you are a Windows user, turn your Windows updates on. I would recommend setting it to automatic updates so that the download runs in the background.
5. Use the latest browsers. Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer are still good ones to use with Windows. If your connection is fast enough, turning on phishing settings helps a lot.
6. Use different passwords for your online accounts. Keeping the same username and password for several accounts that contains money is a great risk.
7. Use a difficult password for money accounts. As said, combination of letters and casing would be of help. Never use words that are used in the language: for example chairman vs. l9hkTMl4j. Difficult passwords are often difficult to crack.
8. Never give out your password to others. I believe this is the greatest risk of all – to give out password to others. People tend to use the same username across other sites and even the same password and this compromises security.

These are the tips that I often practice and with the ever-changing internet, there will always be new ways of protecting oneself from such fraudulent acts. Be vigilant and keep yourself informed from time to time.

photo credit: scataudo (SXC)

A freelancer in the job marketplace has to think of himself as a product or service: he should be able to package himself in such a way that he is easily noticed by the potential clients. There are more and more people getting into freelance jobs full time or part time and getting noticed is also something that is not easily done.

We are also well aware of the products and services that we have seen around, and many of these started with humble beginnings. We have also seen too many businesses that failed after their launch. We have also read success stories of business empires who had truly started from scratch and had made through despite such adversities that they encounter. Freelance is not in any way different from establishing such name branding that the entrepreneurs behind these business had been able to do.

As a new freelancer, he should be able to know this early on: he has to build a name for himself. As he gets opportunities, he should be wise in establishing a name for himself – I believe this tip does not apply to outsourcing sites but as a freelancer to his local community as well.

So how do you establish yourself with such name brand:

1. Seek a niche opportunity and be really good at it through trainings and self-learning.
2. Prove that you are good with your niche skills by earning certifications, related job experience or sample work.
3. Know what to specialize by knowing the skill demand of the market.
4. Speak to the world about the services that you offer through websites.
5. Know when to specialize and when to move on to other skills.
6. Build solid experience and place it into the portfolio in and out.
7. Learn how to network and market yourself.
8. Strive to always improve your profile to make it attractive to prospective clients.
9. Always improve communication skills.
10. Learn from mistakes and never look back.

If people started noticing you, then you must realize such blessing that you have. Establishing such name brand is a long term duty that must be always be practiced.

Freelancing is similar to a corporate job which is geared to climbing up the ladder towards management. If you have tried your hands in being the rank-and-file employee, then being a supervisor, then being a manager – freelancing jobs is very much similar in that degree. Freelancing starts with competing with a big crowd of applicants, then doing well for the first job and as your job experience and reputation grows, you price yourself a bit higher when you feel experienced enough.

photo credit: coniferine (SXC)

The sad thing is that there are so many freelancers out there who are also starting out just like you. If you are marketing yourself in a global marketplace then you will soon realize that competition can be very tough as there are so many people who can do the job. The client would always prefer the one who is well experienced to do a particular job to those who are still out to get their feet wet.

If you are a new freelancer, then how would you make yourself stand out?

1. Identify the strongest skills that you can use in freelancing.
2. Polish your profile and write down relevant experiences.
3. Speak to the client with a custom cover letter.
4. Always learn new things through continuous trainings and self-learning.
5. Give yourself a good market price for your skill.
6. Do not sell yourself cheap.
7. Do not overprice yourself either.
8. Follow up with clients who expressed interest.
9. Write thank you letters after an interview.
10. Respond promptly through interview invitations.
11. Create a profile around your special skills.
12. Put some effort in creating a professional-looking profile.
13. Be prepared for possible questions that the client may ask during an interview.
14. Have several means of communicating through the client – voice, chat, email.
15. Compose a tag line or title that you think will catch the client’s eye.
16. Be focused on the needs of the client, rather than your own.
17. Find jobs that really fits your skill.
18. Put something in your portfolio. If necessary, do some sample work to fill in something for that portfolio.
19. Prove your skills by taking online tests and listing down acquired certifications.
20. As much as possible, be one of the earliest applicants for the job.

My list here is not limited to this. If you have something to share, then let the world know through the comments below.

photo credit: DaleEu (SXC)

I have tried my hands learning Java, Visual Basic, Perl, C, C++ and other programming languages but I still consider Visual Basic as the fastest way for me to develop databases. If you are in a corporate setting who needs databases written out, then Visual Basic is the way to go. When I was learning that language, the first database that I had connected with it was with MS Access. Not long I was learning how to create and secure databases in MS SQL Server as well.

However, if you are considering smaller databases instead, do away with Visual Basic and just create the entire thing in MS Access – if you do not need so much network connectivity with other users.

I believe each language or technology has its own strengths: comparing Java applets and ActiveX technologies, many would go on developing Java applets instead. But with Java applets versus Flash, there are so many developers who would choose the latter. With so many technologies that are used in creating web pages, then there are so many options that would make it easier for an IT developer to create applications within the specified deadline.

Too often programmers would like to get their hands dirty in writing code. Oftentimes though, the project manager still overseas and controls how the IT personnel is able to meet deadlines and come up with superb work that will truly make an accomplishment for the IT department. This makes it a truly challenging feat for a developer to create such programs in the nick of time.

Unlike an employed job, freelance is more like having a batch of jobs to juggle and then nothingness. It is like a roller coaster ride to the top – where you earn a great deal and to the bottom – where you get all the time to sleep and eat and earn nothing.

photo credit: hopee (SXC)

If you are stuck with nothing to do for a longer time, then this is probably the time that you can be able to do other things that may be related to your job interest. Consider the following:

1. Get additional relevant trainings. You can learn by yourself or get some training to further upgrade your skills. If you like to learn Java then you might want to get interested in their free online courses.
2. Take new tests and certifications and retake old ones. Online tests offered by sites like Brainbench is an easier way for you to prove your skills.
3. Spice up your profile. Take a long hard look at your existing profile. Rewrite parts that need to be reworded. Update your profile so that it reflects your accomplishments. I have written some tips on this. Do not forget to update your portfolio.
4. Apply to jobs. There are several freelance sites to look around. This strategy can keep you busy with work rather than keeping a single site around.
5. Learn new skills, or monetize your hobby. With the internet around, this is at all possible. There are too many hobbyists who have turned themselves entrepreneurs because of their hobbies. Remember that freelancing makes you an entrepreneur in many ways and one of the main formula for a successful business is a deep liking for the product or service that you offer.
6. Keep up with friends. Networking skills is a must for successful freelancing because this opens up more potential opportunities and fruitful contacts. In my case, I always find opportunities from friends of my friends.
7. Rest. This is very important. If you know you will be having nothing to do for quite a while and have enough money to go around, then traveling may help you gain fresh insights and even put more important contacts on your list. If you are a homebody, then lots of sleep will do.

There are truly more possibilities to this. Freelancing need not to be confined to simply finding the next job, or catching some sleep. This kind of lifestyle needs a lot more creativity to be successful in this endeavor.