Getting a tech Job....?

[Code One]

Hey,
I am about to do one of two things, frelance web develop or apply with a small local company. But, I am kind of wondering somethings.
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1. When I present the employeer with my resemue and portfolio, do I:
a. give him the portfolio and resemue to keep and leave.
b. give him the portfolio to look at and to give back before I leave, but he keeps my resemue.
c. give him both resemue and portfolio, leave, but then I'll recieve my portfolio back threw the mail.

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I'm wondering this because it cost me some loot to make my portfolio, plus I have alot of work in which I feel is innovative and I really wouldn't feel right just leaving that in someone's hands for keep, so I would preffer to get it back before I leave, is this how it works or what?

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2nd question:
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Now let's say I say screw working for someone else, and I go pro solo. Easy enough right? O.k. So lets say I met a client looking for a web site for his buisness, and we come to terms by word of mouth and we want to put it to writting. Is it:

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a. YOUR responsibility to set up the contract with YOUR lawyer and for you to pay 100% of the fee.
b. THIER responsibilty to set up the contract with THIER lawyer and for them to pay 100% of the fee.
c. BOTH are responsible for setting up the contract with BOTH of your lawyers and you would both split the fee 50/50.

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I'm wondering this because it seems to me that the Client should pay for that, considering he is taking the most risk. Trusting you with trademarks and copyrights, company secrets, etc. You as the deveolper is only risking his time and effort which can be compensated due to the oral agreement in a court of law. So what is it mine, his, or our problem to solve?

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Thank you,

Code One

[daed17]

Always make copies for the employer let them keep it.

Always use your attorney and include the fee into the price. If you usually charge $25/hr you might want to price the job at $35/hr to cover the fee. If they don't like the proposal ask them to submit one and take it back to your attorney for a rewrite, just make sure you have the edge.

But no matter what! ALWAYS be knowledgable, professional, and courteous.

[Code One]

Thanks alot! This sounds like good advice. Using your own lawyer plus adding the fee into the hrly wage would definently give me the edge. The rest is just good ethics, and I try real hard. :(

Thanks again,

Code One

[Compguy Pete]

For most websites one general contract should do fine.

And this coming part is strictly my 2 cents for dealing with local clients, take it or leave it....just a small disclaimer :p

Don't bother with a contract... If you lock in a company that turns out to be a pain in the rear dump them! Keeping a bad client bound by a contract is going to suck all of the life out of you!

If you keep with the good ethics and get good referrals you will get good clients.

Don't jump on every site that comes along do some digging on what others think of a particular company... doing your due diligence will pay off!

You should really spend more time developing a good marketing plan.

….Rant over….

Some clients like being locked into a contract where others will appreciate your handshake contract style.

[AdamBrill]

It is a good idea to require a non-refundable down payment on any jobs that you do. That way if they back out on you, at least you got some money from them... ;) It would suck to work for a week making a site for a client and then have them say they decided that they don't want it at the end. :) Basically you would be out however much time you spent on the site and there would be nothing you could do about it...

[Code One]

I agree with both of you totally. I actually "debuted" about two months ago for a clothing line called R.E.A.L Apparel, based out of covington KY. They wanted me to do a huge boat load of crap for pennies. I made no contract, just verbal, I took no down payment, or anything. I strictly trusted their word, and worked really hard to please them. I even re did the entire site to fit their "new" persona. I have to say it was one of the worse experiences I've ever had. It only took me 80 hrs, to piece it all together, which consisted of:
1. forum
2. shop cart
3. V-shop (virtual shopping)
4. Flash intro
5. Bio page (flash)
6. Email page (Flash)
7. Main page

Don't laugh but I only charged them 6 an hr. plus 20 for each custom graphic. I didnt charge for the forum, the intro, the shop cart, the V-shop, or any of the flash stuff. I made 600 dollars in the end. I think I did alot of things wrong. But, now that I went and asked and you all told me the way, I wont be losing so much and struggling anymore with grippy clients, who dont understand the difficulties it takes to change an entire site, plus to make everything from scratch.

It was my first gig, what can I say,

Code One

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

600 bucks is still nice=P course you woulda made more working at starbucks/steak and shake/red lobster

[Code One]

I work at a car rental place right now since I'm poor and still in school. I make like 8 dollars an hour and I made more in 2 weeks with the website than I do at my regular job. So putting up with "I gotta have it my way" payed off.

Thanks

Code One