3 - Ping! Zine Web Tech Magazine

Y mitch keeler
10Reminders for
Web Hosting
Remotes
So you want to start working as an independent contractor
to a web hosting company, or you just started your
first job. Before you switch to working remotely as an
independent contractor for a web host, here are a few
things you should remember:
1
Most independent contractors do
not get vacation time. So, if you
need to take time off, either forget
about it or expect to not be paid for the
time you ask off.
2
Make sure you read the contract
from head to toe before you
sign up to work for any major or
small time web hosting company as a
contracted worker.
3Look into getting multiple
monitors. Sometimes you will
need to keep an eye on or do
several different tasks, so like with any
job, be sure you show up with the tools
you need to succeed.
4
In the contract, make sure they
give you a set number of hours
per week, and a shift each day.
Don’t let them fool you into being “oncall”
in any hour of the day.
5You have to have the patience of
Ghandi to work tech support at
times. No matter how big of a jerk
the customer is, you need to smile and
do what is best for the company you
are working for, and not yourself.
6Be sure you feel at home
with working by yourself at
home. While you might have
the occasional phone call from your
employer, much of the time you are
your only company.
8You’ll need to educate yourself at
times to extend the types of jobs
you can cover. Want to help with
web design or development? Start
putting together web sites in your free
time. Experience is the best training
out there.
9Get a comfortable chair for
your computer desk. Nothing is
worse than being uncomfortable
all day long.
10
Treat it like a real job. Since
you no longer go to an office,
you never have that separation
of home time and work time. You have
to be able to mix the two together,
responsibly.
7
Get ready for an overly-complicated tax season.
When taxes are due, be sure you get your
taxes done by somebody who knows what your
independent contractor job is about.
If you keep these ten tips in mind, I am sure you
will be a very successful independent contractor,
and any web host around the world would be
more than happy to have you. P!
Writer’s Bio: Self proclaimed “media rockstar” of the hosting world, author and broadcaster, Mitch Keeler works at helping both hosting clients and owners
get the most out of the web hosting industry. Mitch is the executive producer and host of the “one and only voice of the web hosting world”, the Web Hosting
Show which can be found at WebHostingShow.com
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