Ask HN: Where do you look for a remote part-time programming job? Do they exist? I'd asked to be moved to part-time at previous jobs but they would never let me. I've asked local recruiters about part-time work and they basically told me that it didn't exist. But I imagine there has to be part time work out there and probably even remote work. Do those jobs exist and if so how do you get them? |
However, remote part-time does exist! If you're a frontend developer looking to fill a few extra hours on contract feel free to reach out - my email is in my profile.
The next easiest way is negotiating at new job. You don't tell them upfront you want part-time job, you just get an offer and then negotiate for hours. If you tell them upfront they won't bother interviewing you, if you can negotiate once you have an offer you have much stronger position.
Here's someone who has been doing this for years: https://codewithoutrules.com/2018/01/08/part-time-programmer...
(Also don't use the phrase "part-time", "reduced hours" maybe, especially if it's 30 hours a week. Makes it sound bad.)
I wrote a book about the process, based on doing it myself multiple times, and a bunch of research and interviews like the one above: https://codewithoutrules.com/3dayweekend/
Happy to answer any questions!
Startups are a good place to look.
If you have good output, e.g. do more in an hour than many people do in a day, they're easy to negotiate part-time/remote.
Just send them a link to your github profile on linkedin.
1) I need something done.
2) I have a budget for the project/month/year/some period of time or work.
3) I think the project will take X time.
4) I need to find someone who will do the project for the budget and will do it in the amount of time I need. All based on 1-3 above.
5) I'll hire a full time person to do the project for this budget.
It's obviously slightly more complex than that (but not a lot). You have to change their mindset a bit and get what you want out of it. And YOU have to sell yourself into that different mindset.
Are you good at maintenance? Great! Can you do the same about of maintenance as a full time person in only 20 hours and are willing to take the same pay a full time person would take for that work? Great, sell that.
Are you good at getting projects done? Great! Can you do the same about of project work as a full time person in only 20 hours and are willing to take the same pay a full time person would take for that work? Great, sell that.
The point is, companies are used to doing things one way. If you can explain to them why you are a good fit but on a different schedule, they may very well give you what you want. But you have to sell it.
A note on recruiters. They aren't going to sell you as a part time person on a different schedule because that's not the product they sell. A company comes in and asks them for a full time person to fulfill a role. They and the company both understand what that looks like. Recruiters have a network of people they know who can fulfill that role. They find the best ones, submit them, and make the company happy, and get paid.
It's not that recruiters are bad or not progressive. They aren't selling what you are offering. And if you try to sell something different, you're their competition.
If you want what you've described, I suggest getting good at selling yourself.
It's not so much looking for part-time remote work, so much as looking for remote work and then seeing if they'll handle part time.
Independent contracting or consulting is also an option, but that has it's own caveats -- but might also be a better fit.
You can get a full time job and negotiate to go part time after proving yourself for a year or two.