Programming Jobs at RentACoder
A review of one of the best places to land a lucrative contract.
Feb 15, 2007
Introduction
Working online has never been easier. However, it is a minefield for those just starting out. So, if you are just getting started in programming, and want to know where the contract programming jobs are, we are here to help.
The RentACoder service offers a free marketplace for buyers to place project descriptions and request bids from coders. Coders use the site as a way to obtain contract programming jobs that pay realistically.
Coder Guarantees
First off, do not be put off by the fact that RaC goes to great lengths to verify each coder. The site was stung by around $5,000 of fraud, and rather than let it continue, or pass the costs on to the users of the site, RaC decided to put in place a system of verifications:
- Verification of credit card/PayPal status;
- Telephone verification.
These are there to guarantee that the coder can receive payment. On the other side, RaC expects the buyer to put the money for the project into escrow. This is what they call the Safe Escrow system, and it is, to the best available knowledge, unique.
Once the buyer agrees that the contract has been serviced, RaC releases the money (less a project fee). In cases where the buyer and coder cannot agree that the project has been concluded in line with the bid requirements, RaC provides an independent arbitration system.
Buyer Guarantees
The buyers are subject to the same verifications as coders, and for the same reasons : fraud reduction. On top of which, the buyers have the guarantee that, should a coder fail to deliver, RaC will return the funds. It really is that simple.
However, the buyer needs to make sure that the bid request that they post covers them to the extent that they require. If there are shortcomings in the bid request, then the arbitration may not go entirely according to plan.
Either way, to obtain a top class coder to service the contract programming job, there is a built-in rating system. The RaC rating system is complex, but the concept is easily grasped.
The Rating System
Each project that is successfully completed gives the Coder and Buyer a chance to blind rate each other. The rating is a combination of:
- Flexibility on price / requirements;
- Quality of work;
- Communication.
Blind rating ensures that there are no retaliatory ratings given - the credibility of buyers and coders alike is based on the impartiality of the rating at the time it is given. In this way it is a true reflection of the opinion of the party giving the rating.
In addition, Buyers are subject to a non-action ratio, which indicates the number of cancelled projects. This ensures that a coder knows the chances of the project being cancelled at the time they place their bid.
To enable the buyer to choose a coder, they are classified in the RentACoder TopCoder chart. This gives a reading which is based on the success of the Coder when measured against their peers. At the time of writing, the author has a rating that is better than 99.29% of their peers.
User Interface
The Browsing Interface is flexible enough for the Coder to filter projects based on a variety of criteria:
- Project size (value);
- Project area (industry/expertise/platform);
- Economy / Language Type.
The last two of these enable the Coder to exclude bids designed for emerging economies, where they cannot compete if their cost base is higher. In other words, it helps Coders reduce the chances of being undercut by rivals with a smaller cost base due to their economy size.
On some occasions, buyers posting contract programming and/or writing jobs require a certain language proficiency. This setting enables them to be sure that only those Coders with a high proficiency in a language (i.e. English) are likely to bid.
Other Services
The main advantage over other services is the fact that RentACoder never asks for a penny until the work has been done. In other words, there is no up-front fee to either service contracts or post projects. This, coupled with the 'safe escrow' concept makes it far and away a better place to conduct business than the competitors.
Summary
Over the past five years, RentACoder has proven to be the only source of contract work where it has been possible to browse, post, service and receive payment without fail, every single time. However, as a service provider (contract coder, writer, HTML designer etc.), there is the responsibility to treat the buyer as one would wish to be treated.
The consequences of not providing a good account of oneself are self-evident. It takes time to earn back the position in the Top Coder competition that commands respect. Those that do, can expect a lucrative source of jobs.
One final word - it might take a while to land a job. This is mainly because undercutting is at work. From a programming point of view, there are things that can be done to make a stronger bid:
- Provide a demo version;
- Break down the bid clearly;
- Offer a sliding scale of possibilities;
- Ask questions before making the bid.
