Job Timesheets

[budafist]

I just keep a scribbled tally of how many hours spent per job so that when the guys ask me how long a job took I can tell them accurately enough.

I know that some companies have quite elaborate timesheets - noting down start and end times, dates, what was done etc.

What do you do at your work?

[urstwile]

We have to fill out timesheets, although they're hardly elaborate, just a record of time spent working on different projects by job number. I keep a pad on my desk that I jot down my start and end times on, since I get interrupted a fair amount, so this helps me tally up the total at the end of the day.

[budafist]

I account for interruptions on a guesstimation basis :D

[urstwile]

Yup, I used to do that, but I've found the notepad helps me keep track, so I don't end up billing a job for 2 hours when it was only 15 minutes. :)

[Ned]

I just keep it in my head. :D

[budafist]

Is that safe Ned? :D

[Kinkaid]

A previous job I had used a great Excel timesheet. This was because we jumped from around from client to client within a day and we billed differently for different tasks and turnaround times. It was really helpful to be so meticulous and precise because it trained me how to accurately estimate how long something is going to take. I actually want to find one of those Excel timesheets in my files and use it for my personal practice. If I find it, I'll post it on GDF.

[Ned]

Is that safe Ned? :D

Well, I have lots of space for storage, anyways. :D

[hewligan]

We use WebTimesheet - http://www.replicon.com/products/webtimesheet.asp

It's, frankly, awful, and everyone here seems to hate it. It doesn't help that I can't seem to keep track of which projects different jobs are supposed to be billed to, mind.

[captain spanky]

I'm in-house at the mo so never had to use one... :(

[PrintDriver]

Believe it or not, a timeclock.

[Danger_Mouse]

At work we created a plug in for Illustrator that records time as you work on file. Its stops after 5 seconds of inactivity or when you close/minimizes window. If you have to close and reopen later, the counter continues on remembering where it left off. Its a great tool which we use in conjunction with another plugin that records the type of files we are working on etc etc .....that is all printable as a report later. We have 9 other designers and it keeps track of time spent on projects, number of orders, number of units, the customer names, order number, records revisions etc.

As a supervisor it's all printable as a one page report showing the status, amount of work, and types of orders we are creating.

To upper managment, this information is invaluable and helps illustrates trends etc.
Proud to say this was all developed internally on our Art Departments own initiative.

[Sphinx]

I use a program called Youmehub. Takes care of everything.

[Virgo Nightingale]

We keep track of the time on the project sheet. I get interrupted and distracted a lot (I'm really starting to think I have adult ADD), so when it comes to jotting down how much time I've spent on the given round of changes, I just think to myself, 'Hmmm, how long would this have taken me to do if I hadn't gotten interrupted or distracted?'

[Danger_Mouse]

We had the same distraction problem Virgo, but the plugin fixed all that. I am going to install it at home and apply to my freelancing.

[budafist]

Plug in sounds like magic DM!

[Danger_Mouse]

Well we no longer need time sheets and no one has to add up all the numbers. I and Art director would get like 17 time sheets a day and would spend alot of time just inputting into other time sheets, adding numbers etc. Now the plug in with our other internal software does all that for us, frees alot of time on my end with adding and calculating timesheets.

[Skyler]

Check out toggl:

http://www.toggl.com

Very nice time tracking application. For paper timesheets I'm a huge fan of the Blue Flavor timesheets:

http://www.blueflavor.com/ed/tips_tricks/paper_timesheets.php

[LeftBrain Artist]

I charge by the square inch, multiplied by the number of programs used, multiplied again by the number of total layers used in all programs. Plus a filter fee for each effect/filter used. Then, I turn the keyboard upside down and shake out the crumbs. The client then gets a discount per gram of foreign material that shakes loose.

Time is irrelevant, because time is an illusion.

[budafist]

lol @ LBA

Oh wait...you're serious? :D

[TheBluePanda]

We use WebTimesheet - http://www.replicon.com/products/webtimesheet.asp

It's, frankly, awful, and everyone here seems to hate it. It doesn't help that I can't seem to keep track of which projects different jobs are supposed to be billed to, mind.

We use Replicon also. Its definately not the best time tracker web application I've used, especially when viewed on a Mac. Every Friday we have to submit them to the project managers.