The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work. Suddenly, millions of people were forced to stay at home, make a space devoted to working and get familiar with tools to do what they do for a living from a desk in the living room. Now that cities are re-reopening, many employees are quitting their 9-to-5 office mandate jobs because they fully embrace this lifestyle and become independent contractors.
Remote work is nothing new in the programming world. For years, the needs of a specific project have required the skills of people that are hundreds or thousands of miles away from the corporate headquarters of companies devoted to developing software solutions. With the so-called “gig economy” on the rise, it may be good to know if you have the right mindset to become an independent contractor.
CAN YOU DO THE JOB?
Becoming an independent contractor has a lot to do with having the right mindset. We all know by now some of the benefits of working from home after a year of doing so: having control of our time and balancing life and work, being more involved with our families and loved ones, and even getting a second job because, frankly, you don’t need to spend time commuting or stuck in traffic.
Usually, independent contractors don’t receive on-the-job training, as companies expect them to have the skills and knowledge to do the job they signed for. People with experience in their field have the upper hand while working from home. Programmers are usually experts in one or two languages since their college days, and online education now has the tools to provide regular updates to keep the pace with new releases.
Equipment is essential, too. Having the right tools to do the job is as important as being a seasoned veteran. Fortunately for programmers, computers and additional equipment are cheaper than ever, with multiple choices available worldwide.
Finally, independent contractors must develop two vital soft skills: assertive communication and active listening. Working on remote scrum teams stresses the need to establish solid communication strategies for the workflow to be smooth. It also requires not being afraid to ask when instructions and protocols are not clear enough to do an efficient job. And yes, listening to the team is important for syncing tasks, helping out, and, most importantly, having a clear understanding of what you are asked to do.
THE MAHISOFT WAY
Mahisoft has been building remote teams for years, as we provide top developer talent from all over Latin America to US companies through nearshoring services. Our experience in software development and recruitment allows us to find the best talent in the region. We know how to manage remote and geographically dispersed teams, perfect for this new working environment.
If you are looking for a nearshoring partner, you can contact us at sales@mahisoft.com.
For developers, if you are interested in working for us, please visit our careers page https://mahisoft.com/carreers#vacancies or send your cv to careers@mahisoft.com.
