How To Be A Freelance DataBase Developer

Freelance DB Developer

Databases are one of the most important information dumps for many organisations. From small-scale organisations to the Fortune 500s, every organisation maintains some form of database. In such a world, it is not tough to find the need or inclination to study these impossibly huge entities, as many of you may attest.

The demand for people who develop databases is high and if you are thinking about becoming a DB developer, it is a good decision, one that can help you make a lot of money and give you a respectable life.

There are many opportunities for you freelancers as well. The ones who wish to take up freelancing for reasons like: Extra income, work from home, ability to take on multiple tasks, independence; the list continues. Whatever your preferences, you can be assured it is a good career option.

Freelance DataBase Developer Jobs 

DB developers are usually the first and last word on data in organisations. As a DB developer, there will be many duties assigned to you in a work environment. However, for freelancers like you and me, are some of the duties include:

  • Checking project requirements, like objective, inputs needed and output requirements.
  • Preparing a workflow chart using subject matter, programming languages and logic.
  • Encoding workflow information to computer language.
  • Creating, executing and testing the coded program
  • Prototype new applications to refine requirements.
  • Analyze, define and document system requirements for data, workflow, logical processes, interfaces with other systems, auditing, reporting requirements and production configuration.
  • Write and maintain functional and technical specifications.
  • Create test plans, test data sets and automated testing to ensure all components of the system meet specifications.
  • Analyze code for problem resolution and performance optimizations.
  • Provide technical consulting and respond to error reports, problems or questions.
  • Analyze, install and test commercial software for internal use. Provide technical support for third party systems integrated with the ICAT website applications

Skills

You can either love it, or be irked by it. However, DataBase development is no walk in the park. To be a moderately successful DB developer, you need to have these skills.

  • Experience developing relational database applications with complex MS SQL or Oracle
  • Experience creating scripts, testing in QA and implementing large data updates into production databases
  • Experience using a change management system such as VSS, StarTeam or Clear Case.
  • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business documentation, professional journals, technical specifications and project management documentation.
  • Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
  • Demonstrate ability to develop formal application specifications and project plans using common documentation tools such as Visio, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Project.
  • Demonstrate ability to work as part of a remote application development team; create structured code for integration into larger systems, document work for maintenance in a production environment, create task lists, timelines and deliverables, work to meet project schedules determined by others.
  • Demonstrate ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
  • Experience in application development with Cold Fusion, ASP or VB

These are but some of the major skillsets that recruiters look for while signing on potential DB developers. You can learn many of the skills needed online. Some of the popular choices to learn these skills remainW3Schools, SQLcourse, DB Learning, Sourcecodester and Database Journal.

How To Be Successful As A DB Developer

A DB developer’s success is measured by the DB functionality, the quality of the code, how the DB finally performs, and its importance to the information. However, employers usually measure a freelance DB developer’s success in ratings and reviews.

There are many other aspects to being successful than simply a review and a rating. Some of the ways you can get on the path to success as a programmer include:

  • Knowing one programming language intimately
  • Being an algorithmic, analytical thinker
  • Knowing the hardware and the programming environment
  • Writing large programs from scratch
  • Be able to work on deadlines
  • Be able to work on remote teams and independently deliver on commitments
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Ability to work under pressure, and to strict deadlines

Database Developer Salary

DB development is an important job, with databases forming a huge chunk of information and acting as efficient Knowledge bases, the need for programs that can convenience the analytics and functionality of a database has increased.

In such a world, the future of DB developers like you is like the German football team, bright and assured. You may wonder how much will you earn as a developer.

Usually freelance portals offer all three generic kinds of payment models to programmers. Fixed-price, where the price is usually pre-determined, an hourly model where the employer decides on an hourly pay, and finally the budget payment, where a budget is provided and you are only paid within the budget.

Usually a fixed price model may range from $20- 2000 and upwards, while you have to pitch for hourly projects, and budget payments, which usually range from $5-35 an hour, with average remunerations at $23 per hour.

Finding Work

Finding work as a freelance DB developer is not difficult and there are many portals where you can advertise your services. It is a reasonably well paid job and there are thousands of opportunities for prospective work-at-home programmers like you.

DB development is a coveted skill and is essential in the digital market, and there is no shortage of websites offering work. Websites like Odesk, Peopleperhour, GetACoder, Elance and Guru offer many job listings for freelance DB developers.

Resources:

As DB developers, you can hone your skills through many resources. Many websites that offer online training videos and others offer interactive training sessions on most type of coding exercises. Some of the popular ones include: