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My perspective is as a "full stack developer" who sells himself as a "consultant" to small businesses. My clients range from 1-man bands to maybe 30 - 50 staff. IT is an enabler for their business, and very often is actually a key component, but the business itself is not "IT". Management have little or no direct IT knowledge, but they know that they need IT-based solutions. They have minimal budget but know that with the right solution, their business can grow to bigger and better things. Because they have no in-house technical skills, they are unable to "interview" and also unable to provide any form of person specification. They don't know if they need a database, they don't know if they want a cloud-based solution, they don't know if Javascript is involved - because they don't know what any of these terms mean. But down the pub a mate of a mate said the key word to ask for is "full-stack developer". They genuinely do not care about the solution or the technology, so long as it helps their business and grows profits.
As developers, we may ridicule them, pity them, laugh about them or whatever - but at the end of the day, they are using IT in exactly the right way: a tool to help their business - and I respect that.
I tend to get called in when they've not even had a chat with their mate's mate; but "consultant" is a term they can relate to, and accept my advice almost unquestioningly. In return, I build them a system, from start to end, that boosts their business. In most cases, that means their company's budgets increase, and their requirements increase to meet the increased demand. At some point - 6 months, a couple of years, ten years - they outgrow the services I, as a single "consultant", can deliver to them, and they ask how they can grow further. At that point I can direct them to one or more organisations that can provide more specialist skills.
In short, it's not just about saving costs - although any business, of any size, is likely to want to do that. It's about using IT as a "black box" and not needing to know what the individual components of the stack are, or indeed even that there is a "stack".
If you want to work with such companies, sending a CV full of language and framework names and versions will get you nowhere. You need to either give examples of how you have helped the business of other clients / employers, OR (which I find works better) gently ask some questions about their business and the problems it faces, and describe in non-technical terms how you would solve those problems and what impact that will have on their business. Talk to them in terminology that is meaningful to them. Be ready to be their entire IT department. That doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself personally - you can always outsource aspects (especially if you are a contractor / consultant rather than employee) so be ready to do procurement / purchasing / management roles as well as development (unless you genuinely are a full-stack developer and can handle it comfortably yourself).
Personally, I love working this way. The flexibility is great, and no-one stops you from experimenting with new technology and learning new stuff. And when you see your clients' companies grow and thrive, you know it's as a direct consequence of your input. Depending on your financial needs, you can either take that satisfaction as a "top-up" to your fees, or you can negotiate a profits-related bonus or equity. Just make very sure you don't screw up.
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Thanks for the very interesting post. I am inspired by it. Maybe I can transition to being a consultant. ![Java | [Coffee]](https://codeproject.freetls.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/coffee.gif)
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Thanks. My company motto is almost identical to your sig: "The impossible we do today, miracles take a little longer".
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It usually means that they have some "genius" who can slop lousy code throughout the front and back end and think said developer is great.
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Most requests for full stack developers appear to be listed by individuals or severely limited groups. realistically, anyone whom could fulfill a full stack development position is most likely freelance and consultation operating at a premium contractual price point. Thus, the solicitation for full stack developers seems a bit misinformed and most likely based on a general classification trend.
For instance, a full stack web developer should know some form of: web markup (HTML), a scripting language such as Javascript, generally proficient with 1-3 Javascript frameworks, a server side language like PHP, Java or Python with the requirements listing most likely continuing for anywhere between 30-50K annually. Truthfully, the base starting salary would be around 50K not 30K and the posting for positions are more accurately described as leads at this level.
Job posting for full stack developers, based on what I've stated above amount to a waste of time; you're either going to get scammed (doing some work under the pretense of a testing or probationary period then let go), hook up with a startup that might mean well, but hasn't been thought through and will most likely fail within 1-2 years or you getting in with an indie group whom are green.
Full stack is full of it period. Positions such as what is generally stated as being full stack is Lead or technician level, recapping. I avoid anything throwing around full stack.
I was unaware of that...
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So sorry to learn that. ![Rose | [Rose]](https://codeproject.freetls.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/rose.gif)
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
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Sad
If you can't laugh at yourself - ask me and I will do it for you.
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Much respect to him for keeping it quiet and not courting publicity
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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You want something large, smelly and mean to come up and lick your face!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity -
RAH
I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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Ah! You've met Michelle then?
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Not to worry, I'm sure Marvel and the movie execs don't see the death of a lead actor as any sort of impediment for moving on and exploiting Black Panther after a quick recast job, and turning it into a franchise of its own with 18 sequels and prequels, and in the process make billions more until they run the whole thing into the ground. As long as they have the 5-second dedication banner at the end of the next installment, they're good. And they'll be wiping their tears with those billions, claiming they're "honoring his memory", and "that's how he would've wanted us to carry on".
Me, cynical? Never.
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Yesterday I went to a retirement party. It was a small, outdoor gathering of a few dozen people. It was at least a hundred degrees (38C ?) so I was wearing shorts.
One person jokingly remarked, "good heavens, your legs are white."
I replied, "I bet you didn't notice I'm wearing socks."
I supplied the downbeat. bah dum, tiss.
"They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"
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Rick York wrote: Yesterday I went to a retirement party. It was a small, outdoor gathering of a few dozen people.
Cement overshoes? Resting with the fishes? Or something more original?
I have lived with several Zen masters - all of them were cats.
His last invention was an evil Lasagna. It didn't kill anyone, and it actually tasted pretty good.
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Yes.
It's just you.
Me? I can find anything, provided it's where I put it.
Move it a couple of inches, and I'm lost ... and so is it. 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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For me, sometimes I put few important things way too nicely to not find them easily after few days. 
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I have reached the age where I only need one movie.
If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.
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It would be a bugger if you accidentally picked a real stinker ... 
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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 Now it's a age thing!
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theoldfool wrote: I have reached the age where I only need one movie.
The bucket list?  
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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third one. 
If you can keep your head while those about you are losing theirs, perhaps you don't understand the situation.
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This happens often enough with code that I often find it easier to regoogle a solution rather than trying to remember where I last used it.
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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True, I too have done this at times.
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The worst bit is when you google for a solution, find a CP article, read it, and think it's exactly what you wanted ... and then notice you wrote it. 
I've done that a couple of times now.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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