- the level of Chrome 8, released December 2010
  - the level of Firefox 8, released November 2011
  - the level of Opera 11.50, released June 2011
  - the level of Safari 5.1, released July 2011

and thus

  - internet explorer 10, released December 2012

Mod parent up.

I have hired freelancers for reasons of specific experience and being able to start from 0-100 in no time.

In order to do this you need to have some years of job experience under your belt.

After some 15 years of IT experience I made the switch to freelance and with the experience I had it was very easy.

I am sure that if you set your mind to it and work in a regular job with the aim of going freelance you can do this much quicker.

Having a fulltime job will enable you to start freelancing slowly.

Also start doing open source kind of work / projects for free - as this will give you different insights that you will never get from working in a company / freelance.

Enough said... http://www.makeyougohmm.com/20050524/1914/

Here is the question list I have built up over the years:

Function

What is the responsibility of the function? Why is this position available? New function or replacement? How long has this position existed? Previous person? How many people have held this position in the last two years?
Who would be my supervisor? To whom would I report? Whom will I supervise? With whom will I be working most closely? Organigram?
What are the current problems facing the company/my department?
What are the top 3 priorities in the next 6 months and what would my role be in realizing this? And the top priorities in the next 2 years?
What hours do you (really) expect me to work.
What are the most challenging aspects of the position?
Describe the opportunities for training and professional development. Will I receive any formal training?

Organisation

What is the philosophy of the company? What is the mission statement?
What do you consider to be the companies strengths and weaknesses?
What are the companyâ(TM)s short terms and mid terms (2 yr, 5 yr) plans and goals? Acquisition plans?
What is the history of the company? How has the growth been, organically, by acquisitions?
What is this company's culture?
Office tour, check out the infrastructure, the people?

Financials

Yearly, Quarterly budget to make, history of budget â" always made?
How is the business running, how are the financials, how is the current funding, how is the company run financially?
What are the current plans for expansion or cutbacks?
Extra benefits need to be explained adequately?

Product

Explain product portfolio? History of the products, what are strong products, what are weak products? Plans for new products, new versions â" when, what, targeting who, which market?
What are the target groups, target clients (sample names)? Sales cycle time? Implementation time?

The Joel Test

Do you use source control?
Can you make a build in one step?
Do you make daily builds?
Do you have a bug database?
Do you fix bugs before writing new code?
Do you have an up-to-date schedule?
Do you have a spec?
Do programmers have quiet working conditions? ïfY Office tour
Do you use the best tools money can buy?
Do you have testers?

Or

Change jobs. There are companies actually encouraging the use of Facebook et al. Google Facebook Friday (Sun, Serena) and I cannot imagine that those employees had to sign away their rignts.