Meetings

Computer Jobs Survival Guide:
An Independent Contractor Approach

Howard Fosdick

Tuesday Sept 23rd 2003 at 7:00pm
College of DuPage, SRC 2800

Abstract

In today's tough job market, you need to know everything you can about how to get (and keep) your job. Whether we call ourselves "employees", "contractors" or "consultants", we are all effectively "independent agents" in today's job market. This presentation tells you what you need to know to be the most effective independent agent you can. Told from the perspective of a long-time independent contractor, it helps you better understand the IT job market by seeing how independent contractors view it.

What you'll learn:

The different types of independent consultants

How you're like a contractor, even if they call you "employee"

How to get the kind of job you want

Ways to market yourself

How to identify potential employers

The basics of what you need out of employment and how to set them up for yourself (insurance, retirement, training, benefits, etc)

Speaker Bio

Howard Fosdick has been a successful independent contractor for fifteen years. He works as a hands-on DBA specializing in Oracle and DB2. He's written several technical books, published over 150 technical articles, and founded user groups like the International DB2 Users Group and the Midwest Database Users Group.

Getting to the meeting

The next general meeting of UniForum Chicago will be:

        Sept 23rd, 2003
	7:00pm to 9:00pm
        College of DuPage
        Building SRC, Rm 2800
        22nd and Lambert
        Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-6599

Take 355 to Butterfield Rd (Rt 56).
Take Butterfield West to Lambert Rd, then Lambert Rd North to Fawell Blvd.
Turn right and look for Lot D on the right side of Fawell.
Walk to the SRC building, room 2800 is on the second floor of the west side of the building,
upstairs from the north doors facing Lot D.

All UniForum Chicago general meetings are open to the public free of charge.

Contact David Young at (630) 357-5963 or president@uniforum.chi.il.us for additional information.

For more information about UniForum Chicago contact info@uniforum.chi.il.us.