Discussion
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post...but I'm looking for some Microsoft Excel work.
I have been working with MS Excel since the mid 90's and, without wishing to appear arrogant, would consider myself extremely proficient. There are relatively few Excel contracts available now, 10 years ago a job search would return 100's of roles! So I'm just looking to do small private/business work.
Below are a few links to instances where I have written code for PH members
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm not trying to put up a "Hey look at me" post....just genuinely looking for some excel contract work.
Hopefully I haven't broken any rules by posting here.
Jonty
I have been working with MS Excel since the mid 90's and, without wishing to appear arrogant, would consider myself extremely proficient. There are relatively few Excel contracts available now, 10 years ago a job search would return 100's of roles! So I'm just looking to do small private/business work.
Below are a few links to instances where I have written code for PH members
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm not trying to put up a "Hey look at me" post....just genuinely looking for some excel contract work.
Hopefully I haven't broken any rules by posting here.
Jonty
I think that there are many more people up to speed with PC software such as Excel. Most can do what they need on their own. I've never seen someone taken on simply for Excel skills, everyone I come across knows the product well enough themselves to service the requirements they have to perform their business.
Silver993tt said:
I think that there are many more people up to speed with PC software such as Excel. Most can do what they need on their own. I've never seen someone taken on simply for Excel skills, everyone I come across knows the product well enough themselves to service the requirements they have to perform their business.
You are very correct, people have more experience of MS products now. But what I offer is a proficiency in the VBA element of the business.Most people can format cells, create simple functions...even more complicated functions, create graphs etc. What I offer is the facility to pull in data from remote sites such as websites, ftp servers, sql databases. Interact with Word or powerpoint. Send emails etc
Silver993tt said:
I think that there are many more people up to speed with PC software such as Excel. Most can do what they need on their own. I've never seen someone taken on simply for Excel skills, everyone I come across knows the product well enough themselves to service the requirements they have to perform their business.
I have to disagree with that, I've just seen an example of what the Vba integration side of Excel can achieve from Jonty and it's bloody impressive.In the right situation the ability to pull in data from dissimilar data sources using vba techniques could come up with levels of business intelligence I wouldn't have previously thought possible.
Sure, many people can copy/paste formulae but that doesn't even begin to touch it's capabilities
The difference between people who use Excel and people who are good at Excel is vast.
OP, I can't really help I'm afraid but do you have experience of SAP? Plenty of jobs in the oil industry for people proficient in SAP and Excel...
Cost Eng contract rates are usually in the region of £350-500/day dependant on experience and what kind of job it is and whether client is an operator or provider.
OP, I can't really help I'm afraid but do you have experience of SAP? Plenty of jobs in the oil industry for people proficient in SAP and Excel...
Cost Eng contract rates are usually in the region of £350-500/day dependant on experience and what kind of job it is and whether client is an operator or provider.
BliarOut said:
Silver993tt said:
I think that there are many more people up to speed with PC software such as Excel. Most can do what they need on their own. I've never seen someone taken on simply for Excel skills, everyone I come across knows the product well enough themselves to service the requirements they have to perform their business.
I have to disagree with that, I've just seen an example of what the Vba integration side of Excel can achieve from Jonty and it's bloody impressive.In the right situation the ability to pull in data from dissimilar data sources using vba techniques could come up with levels of business intelligence I wouldn't have previously thought possible.
Sure, many people can copy/paste formulae but that doesn't even begin to touch it's capabilities
Thanks for the support
It is hard to get across how powerful Excel is for quick and easy programs, certainly when you consider the user interface in mind.
I am a member of the FSB so I might head along to a breakfast meeting and tout myself out for a bit of work. I have put together bids for projects on PeoplePerHour.com, and this has lead to 1 contract. I'm hopeful that it leads to further work with that client, as he gave me 100% feedback, but only time will tell!
Silver does have a point when it comes to companies wanting their own staff to do the work internally. But it is amazing how long they are prepared to waste achieving the simplest of programs. Plus the programs aren't modular so they almost require a complete rewrite when it comes to adapting them. Using someone that has code libraries and has the experience to think around problems is in my experience far quicker and more than likely cheaper to the business.
It is hard to get across how powerful Excel is for quick and easy programs, certainly when you consider the user interface in mind.
I am a member of the FSB so I might head along to a breakfast meeting and tout myself out for a bit of work. I have put together bids for projects on PeoplePerHour.com, and this has lead to 1 contract. I'm hopeful that it leads to further work with that client, as he gave me 100% feedback, but only time will tell!
Silver does have a point when it comes to companies wanting their own staff to do the work internally. But it is amazing how long they are prepared to waste achieving the simplest of programs. Plus the programs aren't modular so they almost require a complete rewrite when it comes to adapting them. Using someone that has code libraries and has the experience to think around problems is in my experience far quicker and more than likely cheaper to the business.
Do you have some example programs you can use to help your touting? Something along the lines of a before and after example with messy data beforehand and clearly presented results afterwards? Perhaps a cut down example of work you've done before (obviously with any proprietry data removed)?
That sort of thing might help convince businesses that you offer much more than some VLOOKUPS and a Pivot Table or two
Also, offering to help train up a permy employee in VBA while doing the contract might help you get the initial work (but possibly restricts follow-on work).
That sort of thing might help convince businesses that you offer much more than some VLOOKUPS and a Pivot Table or two
Also, offering to help train up a permy employee in VBA while doing the contract might help you get the initial work (but possibly restricts follow-on work).
ewenm said:
Do you have some example programs you can use to help your touting? Something along the lines of a before and after example with messy data beforehand and clearly presented results afterwards? Perhaps a cut down example of work you've done before (obviously with any proprietry data removed)?
That sort of thing might help convince businesses that you offer much more than some VLOOKUPS and a Pivot Table or two
Also, offering to help train up a permy employee in VBA while doing the contract might help you get the initial work (but possibly restricts follow-on work).
I personally hate Vlookups, major waste of resources!! I'm much more in favour of Index and Match. Certainly when it comes to multiple lookups you can use the match to find the row, and then use the index to pick up the various columns based against that row.That sort of thing might help convince businesses that you offer much more than some VLOOKUPS and a Pivot Table or two
Also, offering to help train up a permy employee in VBA while doing the contract might help you get the initial work (but possibly restricts follow-on work).
As for examples:
I have written a vast array of programs:
Pick up emails and pull out attachments based against user criteria. These were then sorted, the data applied into a SQL database and then run a Stored proc, with the resulting CSV file emailed back to the client.
The client was manually opening a CSV file, copying in the data and manipulating based against a series of criteria. This was leading to errors, but since there were no formal checks in place, they weren't being picked up instantly. I wrote a program to open the CSV, program in the criteria, and display the report data. This took 4-5 hours to write, and meant the customer then only took the time to press a couple of buttons, rather than cut and paste etc.
Pulled data from an SQL database into a number of excel sheets to perform calculations, the data from the calculations was then inputed into a Word Document with the graphs etc and then put them into a print routine.
Do you know how hard it is to make Excel work appear sexy?
There are plenty of others....
Hi, I work in the same field as you. I would say the two hot markets for Excel VBA are telecoms and banking. Sadly they are fairly closed shops esp banks if you don't already have banking experience. I got mine by entering after an M.Sc. on the grad scheme and did C++ and gravitated towards RAD Development in VB / Excel / VBA. Now I work entirely on complex spreadsheets for the trading desks. It pays very well but it super competitive. i.e. £400 - £800 per day.
If you really feel you are a master of Excel / VBA and don't mind a perm job then you might luck out esp in places like RBS / Lloyds FM and asset managers where the work is less sexy and obv less pay but is a great route in.
I blog and if you feel comfy with all of:
Excel VBA Interview Questions (aka Things every *good* Excel VBA developer should know)
http://financialraddeveloper.wordpress.com/2010/06...
You should start to be ok. I need to update it with a lot more varied and harder stuff but I have been a bit slack recently.
My housemate is doing v well out of Data Anaylsis and Data Cleansing roles where they don't need a full system to fix data just a custom solution and so leads to nice 6 months project chunks etc. These are more £150 - £300 pday.
I hope this helps!
If you really feel you are a master of Excel / VBA and don't mind a perm job then you might luck out esp in places like RBS / Lloyds FM and asset managers where the work is less sexy and obv less pay but is a great route in.
I blog and if you feel comfy with all of:
Excel VBA Interview Questions (aka Things every *good* Excel VBA developer should know)
http://financialraddeveloper.wordpress.com/2010/06...
You should start to be ok. I need to update it with a lot more varied and harder stuff but I have been a bit slack recently.
My housemate is doing v well out of Data Anaylsis and Data Cleansing roles where they don't need a full system to fix data just a custom solution and so leads to nice 6 months project chunks etc. These are more £150 - £300 pday.
I hope this helps!
Edited by BluePurpleRed on Thursday 3rd March 14:14
JontyR said:
I personally hate Vlookups, major waste of resources!! I'm much more in favour of Index and Match. Certainly when it comes to multiple lookups you can use the match to find the row, and then use the index to pick up the various columns based against that row.
As for examples:
I have written a vast array of programs:
Pick up emails and pull out attachments based against user criteria. These were then sorted, the data applied into a SQL database and then run a Stored proc, with the resulting CSV file emailed back to the client.
The client was manually opening a CSV file, copying in the data and manipulating based against a series of criteria. This was leading to errors, but since there were no formal checks in place, they weren't being picked up instantly. I wrote a program to open the CSV, program in the criteria, and display the report data. This took 4-5 hours to write, and meant the customer then only took the time to press a couple of buttons, rather than cut and paste etc.
Pulled data from an SQL database into a number of excel sheets to perform calculations, the data from the calculations was then inputed into a Word Document with the graphs etc and then put them into a print routine.
Do you know how hard it is to make Excel work appear sexy?
There are plenty of others....
So what may help is pulling together a portfolio of this work that you can use when you tout yourself around. A picture speaks 1000 words etc etc. A sample application would do the same.As for examples:
I have written a vast array of programs:
Pick up emails and pull out attachments based against user criteria. These were then sorted, the data applied into a SQL database and then run a Stored proc, with the resulting CSV file emailed back to the client.
The client was manually opening a CSV file, copying in the data and manipulating based against a series of criteria. This was leading to errors, but since there were no formal checks in place, they weren't being picked up instantly. I wrote a program to open the CSV, program in the criteria, and display the report data. This took 4-5 hours to write, and meant the customer then only took the time to press a couple of buttons, rather than cut and paste etc.
Pulled data from an SQL database into a number of excel sheets to perform calculations, the data from the calculations was then inputed into a Word Document with the graphs etc and then put them into a print routine.
Do you know how hard it is to make Excel work appear sexy?
There are plenty of others....
I suspect many small businesses are genuinely unaware of the power of Excel so without a demonstration of what you can do may struggle to see the benefits of what you offer. There is a widespread idea that Excel is limited to what the PA does to make the data look pretty.
BluePurpleRed said:
Hi, I work in the same field as you. I would say the two hot markets for Excel VBA are telecoms and banking. Sadly they are fairly closed shops esp banks if you don't already have banking experience. I got mine by entering after an M.Sc. on the grad scheme and did C++ and gravitated towards RAD Development in VB / Excel / VBA. Now I work entirely on complex spreadsheets for the trading desks. It pays very well but it super competitive. i.e. £400 - £800 per day.
If you really feel you are a master of Excel / VBA and don't mind a perm job then you might luck out esp in places like RBS / Lloyds FM and asset managers where the work is less sexy and obv less pay but is a great route in.
I blog and if you feel comfy with all of:
Excel VBA Interview Questions (aka Things every *good* Excel VBA developer should know)
http://financialraddeveloper.wordpress.com/2010/06...
You should start to be ok. I need to update it with a lot more varied and harder stuff but I have been a bit slack recently.
My housemate is doing v well out of Data Anaylsis and Data Cleansing roles where they don't need a full system to fix data just a custom solution and so leads to nice 6 months project chunks etc. These are more £150 - £300 pday.
I hope this helps!
Good questions.....thankfully I got the right answers If you really feel you are a master of Excel / VBA and don't mind a perm job then you might luck out esp in places like RBS / Lloyds FM and asset managers where the work is less sexy and obv less pay but is a great route in.
I blog and if you feel comfy with all of:
Excel VBA Interview Questions (aka Things every *good* Excel VBA developer should know)
http://financialraddeveloper.wordpress.com/2010/06...
You should start to be ok. I need to update it with a lot more varied and harder stuff but I have been a bit slack recently.
My housemate is doing v well out of Data Anaylsis and Data Cleansing roles where they don't need a full system to fix data just a custom solution and so leads to nice 6 months project chunks etc. These are more £150 - £300 pday.
I hope this helps!
Edited by BluePurpleRed on Thursday 3rd March 14:14
One I like to ask....sort of follows on about your array question....but how to take an array and put it directly into a sheet. Should be 1 line!
ewenm said:
So what may help is pulling together a portfolio of this work that you can use when you tout yourself around. A picture speaks 1000 words etc etc. A sample application would do the same.
I suspect many small businesses are genuinely unaware of the power of Excel so without a demonstration of what you can do may struggle to see the benefits of what you offer. There is a widespread idea that Excel is limited to what the PA does to make the data look pretty.
There are a few quick links for some small pieces above.I suspect many small businesses are genuinely unaware of the power of Excel so without a demonstration of what you can do may struggle to see the benefits of what you offer. There is a widespread idea that Excel is limited to what the PA does to make the data look pretty.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and IP lookups
This is one I put together for Rob
I think you need to pitch at the time/cost saving element in this day and age.
Everything that goes on in my dept has to make reference to administration time saved etc...
Is it possible to knock up a few examples (without giving the game away) of how you can automate processes and try approaching HR departments? Remember to quote in money/time currencies in your gambit.
Slightly OT I do tend to find the job descriptions for excel use slightly misleading. Advanced these days seems to cover pivot tables and a vlookup. That's the basics in my book...
Everything that goes on in my dept has to make reference to administration time saved etc...
Is it possible to knock up a few examples (without giving the game away) of how you can automate processes and try approaching HR departments? Remember to quote in money/time currencies in your gambit.
Slightly OT I do tend to find the job descriptions for excel use slightly misleading. Advanced these days seems to cover pivot tables and a vlookup. That's the basics in my book...
Do you have a contact number at all?
Would like to discuss the possibility of some work regarding spreadsheets for our transport company.
I can do basic excel so some extent, used to be fairly proficient, but for what I need it to do for me now, I am total out of my depth and I know we could save a lot of time and resources if we had a transport sheet written correctly.
Mail me at coxy914@me.com with a contact number if you like.
Would like to discuss the possibility of some work regarding spreadsheets for our transport company.
I can do basic excel so some extent, used to be fairly proficient, but for what I need it to do for me now, I am total out of my depth and I know we could save a lot of time and resources if we had a transport sheet written correctly.
Mail me at coxy914@me.com with a contact number if you like.
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