STEP-BY-STEP: FINDING AND HIRING A PROFESSIONAL HACKER

 It’s important that you future-proof not only your technical skills but also your soft skills. We gain more work with our hard skills, but we could easily lose opportunities if we lack some basic soft skills. Below are the most critical soft skills to own.

 Whether you’re going part-time or full-time, working as a freelancer can truly feel like you’re in the jungle. From knowing how to set your rate to working with clients from different parts of the world, you’ll have to learn how to work hard during every stage.

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 There is a lot of advice I can share on how to become a successful freelancer, however, I’d like to focus on the first step, in miniature, what you need before you approach your first client.

 Your internet presence is crucial to winning new clients. Clients will Google potential freelancers before we hire their services. At the very least, you need a basic website but you can also use any spare time you have to build up your presence across the web.

 Your website doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, unless, of course, your skills are web development and design. It simply needs to highlight your skills and contact details while being optimised for the right keywords, for search engine optimisation, to ensure people find you through Google or Bing.

 Choose the social media you use the most and are the most familiar with. Don’t forget to separate your personal and professional profiles online. Your friends will be useful for spreading the word, but your professional persona needs to centre around your work, not the family roast on a Sunday.

 There are many websites that allow you to add your business profile to their database. Some act as a marketplace and will charge if you win work through their site. Others are simply informative for clients seeking out your skills. A business profile on sites such as TechCrunch ensures you’re searchable in all the right places.

 Your next step is to build a portfolio, this may involve offering your services for a lower cost or for free. This may sound counter productive but the benefits are far reaching. For instance, when I started out as a copywriter and marketing consultant many years ago, I wrote articles for a dollar each. I was over the moon to be paid anything for doing a job I loved. It took just a few months of building my portfolio before I was offered 100x that for my articles. Last year I was shortlisted as the Best Role Model in IT, and I won the Working Mother of the Year Award in 2014 (excuse the trumpet blowing, it’s unavoidable sometimes!) I would never have achieved any of that if I didn’t start out understanding the need for clients to see my work before they invested in me.

 You can also use examples of work you’ve carried out for family and friends, previous employers and through courses. Even now, I still offer my services for free, as I offer a free initial consultation, as when you have professional skills in tech, it can be a big investment for a client to make, they need to discover if you will gel.

 When freelancers come to me for advice on gaining their first client, one of the biggest obstacles they face is being able to blow their own trumpet. Let’s face it, we’re proud geeks, we’re not necessarily sales people and it can feel strange to constantly promote our skills to potential clients. Unfortunately, this is a skill you do need to hone in order to win work, you need to be completely confident in your own ability and believe you can do the job better than anyone else (or cheaper, or quicker, or you can provide more value for money). Your portfolio will help with this as it proves what you can do, while it’s also a great idea to gather testimonials, references and positive feedback from anyone you’ve ever offered your services to.

 As females, we’re fortunate, as most of us love to help a fellow woman in tech get her feet on the ladder of professional success. There are also many groups and platforms we can join to spread the word about our services, while receiving support and advice from members. Seek out the groups that speak to you and connect with influential people over Twitter and LinkedIn. Trade favours with friends and offer others an incentive for recommending your services.

 As there are so few women in tech, you’ll find that once you have your first client your list will snowball. Word of mouth is still the most effective form of advertising, and as long as you’re good at what you do, the clients will come to you. Don’t forget to take advantage of all the help on offer from websites like this, and remember there are a lot of women in business who will happily help you to succeed. All you need is the ambition, determination and passion for hard work.

 IT Graduate Jobs Search Schedule What should I be doing in order to get the IT Graduate job I’m after? Many graduates find themselves in their final year having not considered what they want to do when their time at

 The most important skills for IT graduates So you’re fresh out of university with your computer science degree under your belt. But what now? Many graduates don’t know which area of IT they want to explore, or even which skills

 Are you a freelance computer worker hoping to work in the United Arab Emirates and broaden your horizons? Fortunately for you, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide that not only illuminates the route to realising your desire but also provides you with useful, doable actions. Now let’s get started!

 The UAE is a burgeoning hotspot for digital talent in addition to being a tourism destination with futuristic cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Due to its tax-free income policy and dedication to technology advancement, the nation attracts freelance IT workers from around the globe. However, how can one enter this profitable market?

 You should familiarise yourself with the local regulations and visa procedures before packing your baggage. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled the ‘Freelancer Visa,’ which is designed to draw in foreign talent in a range of fields, including technology. You can live and work as a freelancer in the United Arab Emirates with this visa. Nevertheless, there are a number of requirements to obtain this visa, such as a business plan, evidence of your freelance employment, and occasionally a local sponsor.

 Getting a freelancing licence is the next step after the visa is dealt up. Although the procedures vary throughout emirates, in general, you would apply through a Free Zone. This licence is your key to operating a lawful business in the United Arab Emirates.

Hire a Hacker

 Remember, your network is your net worth, especially in a new market! Attend tech meetups, seminars, and workshops. The UAE is host to numerous tech events like GITEX Technology Week, where you can rub shoulders with industry insiders and potential clients.

 Understanding local business etiquette is crucial. Emiratis value personal relationships and trust in business dealings. A formal, respectful approach, paired with patience, is key to building long-lasting client relationships. Also, adapting your marketing strategies to suit local preferences can set you apart from the competition.

 While the lure of tax-free income is strong, effective financial planning is essential. Consider hiring a local financial advisor to help navigate the UAE’s financial landscape. Also, familiarize yourself with the cost of living to set your rates competitively yet sustainably.

 The UAE is a melting pot of cultures, but it deeply cherishes its traditions and values. Understanding and respecting these cultural nuances can enrich your personal and professional life. Simple gestures like learning a few phrases in Arabic can go a long way.

 Transitioning to the UAE as a tech freelancer is more than just a career move; it’s a life-changing journey that offers vast opportunities and experiences. With the proper preparation, legal groundwork, and cultural awareness, you can make a successful transition and thrive in the UAE’s vibrant tech scene.

 Vadim Kouznetsov is a distinguished entrepreneur and the visionary founder and CEO of JobXDubai.com, the UAE’s rapidly expanding job board. Renowned for his expertise in bridging the gap between job seekers and employment opportunities, Vadim has become a leading authority in the recruitment and job market of Dubai. His innovative approach to matching candidates with their ideal roles has propelled JobXDubai.com to the forefront of the industry, making a significant impact on the region’s employment landscape. Through his work, Vadim Kouznetsov has demonstrated a profound commitment to enhancing the job search experience, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in the field of recruitment. Follow Vadim on X http://x.com/vadimk_77

 If you’re launching a startup, cash is absolutely key. No matter the amount of investment you may have, you have to spend it wisely. A common teething problem is the hiring strategy; staff, ultimately, are expensive. Ask any entrepreneur how to bootstrap a startup and they’re likely to cite this as one of their steepest learning curves.

 Some founders have tried to circumvent this issue by offering equity instead of a salary. The problem with this, however, is that you will have landed yourself a partner rather than an employee. If you have no prior experience working with them, this can be a challenge.

 A very attractive alternative is the freelance market. With these professionals, you can source the expertise you need on a shoestring. Here, we make the case for freelance talent and suggest some of the profiles startups should consider.

 As already touched on, financial stability is critical to new startups. The ecosystem is, by nature, fast-paced. Businesses need a sustainable financial model, so soliciting freelancers is an economical, agile way of accessing the best talent to bootstrap a startup. Contractors or consultants simultaneously save time and money, delivering on briefs within set timescales and budgets.

 Equally, opting for a freelancer over a full-time hire mitigates a certain amount of risk. At the end of the day, taking someone on as a permanent employee is a gamble. It’s difficult to fully assess someone’s capabilities in just one or two interviews. This gives companies the comfort of something akin to a “try-before-you-buy” scheme; if you don’t gel, you have no future obligation.

 It also makes sense for discrete, one-time projects associated with setting up. Web design, UX, or app development are often best outsourced. Equally, business planning and financial modelling are better executed by experienced consultants. The freelance market gives companies access to the best minds in these niches; after all, freelancing is very dynamic, and these experts tend to incorporate this dynamism into their approach.

 Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a first-time company founder, it’s amazing what a business consultant can bring to the table. For example, if you’re a new business owner, a consultant can mould your business plan into something truly effective to bootstrap a startup.

 Or, for those with more experience, seeking out an expert like a financial modeller could take your strategy to the next level. Gone are the days when these profiles were only for M&A; now, this expertise is accessible to startups. With these tools, they can weather some of the volatility that comes with being new to the game.

 There are certain projects a business has to undertake when it’s just starting out. Many of these are some of the organisation’s most important operational tools. Take the website for instance; and now, having an AppStore presence is often just as important. Data architecture is also key. The company needs tools to harvest, organise, and analyse data mined from marketing efforts or any other source.

 Although these tools need maintenance, the lion’s share of the work is done at the outset. This is one of the areas within which freelancers are most useful. As the project has a finite timeline and deliverables, it makes a lot of sense to hire short-term contractors. Then, if the relationship is productive, you can re-engage later down the line. It gives you access to top talent with no risky commitments.