Job market

[Zippy]

I last posted a year ago and my Notes admin contract has now been running for 4 years and looks certain to finish in Feb 07.
Does anyone have any idea what the Notes/Domino contract market is looking like? I cant face a 35k to 40k permie role - this would be a 50% pay cut!!!

Feeling very worried, should I be????

Is that kind of pay cut so bad? Remember sick days, holidays, bonuses, training and pensions? Don't know about the market for Notes nowadays but I still get the occasional (optimistic!) call about jobs at a well-known confectionary/petfood/other manufacturer based in Slough and I also believe some of the banks are still using it. I got out of Notes a few years ago but think there's still jobs available.


Having said that I'd suggest getting in somewhere perm where you can get some more up-to-date/fashionable/lucrative skills then go back to contract in 12-ish months time - you'd have the advantage of a guaranteed wage in the meantime. Frankly, the ability to learn new skills is why I'm staying where I am for the moment.

Good luck anyway

[Francko]

Having said that I'd suggest getting in somewhere perm where you can get some more up-to-date/fashionable/lucrative skills then go back to contract in 12-ish months time - you'd have the advantage of a guaranteed wage in the meantime. Frankly, the ability to learn new skills is why I'm staying where I am for the moment.

Good luck anyway

That's a bit worrying I must say, as many are in the same position (me included). You go contracting, then after 3-4 years your skills become a bit obsolete (or not as strongly requested - and therefore rates drop down - or else you get bored of it), then go permie for another 2-3 years and then contract again for 3-4 years and so on. Isn't that a bit tiring if you think of a 20-30 years term? I guess the only options are that you go for plan B (open your own company) or get a cushy manager job.

[sasguru]

... get a cushy manager job.

Not an option for you. You need to be skilled for that....

[Zippy]

That's a bit worrying I must say, as many are in the same position (me included). You go contracting, then after 3-4 years your skills become a bit obsolete (or not as strongly requested - and therefore rates drop down - or else you get bored of it), then go permie for another 2-3 years and then contract again for 3-4 years and so on. Isn't that a bit tiring if you think of a 20-30 years term? I guess the only options are that you go for plan B (open your own company) or get a cushy manager job.

Hi Franko. Yep it is a bit worrying but it's what we have to accept to do the job. You talk about being bored - hey that happens anyway(at least to me ) and with contracting you get a change every now and then - and some nasty jobs to boot. How long does the average permie stay in his/her job anyway? As you go along you find clients want you for the odd week here and there on top of your existing contract so you get the chance to build something.

I went down the management route as a permie and actually it wasn't cushy BUT I did learn things that are useful to a contractor (you want me to manage the project? - no probs.Do I take any cr@p? - no ******* way). It's not all about money, it's about being confident in yourself and being able to see the opportunity of short term pain for long term gain. Use permie employers in the same way they'd use you - company loyalty is so 70's now - and build something you want.

[lukemg]

Defo agree with this, market is still changing very quickly. Yes, you get the odd legacy app/technology ticking over and a tale of a contractor cashing in but the reality is you can go from hero to zero in the space of a contract.
I was way too complacent and got turned over as the IT world moved on, everyone should be looking to keep up to date and be ready to change/train/seek safe harbour. You are likely to get bitten by the supply and demand beast otherwise.
HTH

[tim123]

That's a bit worrying I must say, as many are in the same position (me included). You go contracting, then after 3-4 years your skills become a bit obsolete (or not as strongly requested - and therefore rates drop down - or else you get bored of it), then go permie for another 2-3 years and then contract again for 3-4 years and so on. Isn't that a bit tiring if you think of a 20-30 years term? I guess the only options are that you go for plan B (open your own company) or get a cushy manager job.

What you really need to do is improve your skills on each contract to get you the next.

This used to be fairly easy. In the current market for what I do, I'm finding it impossible.

tim

[notescontractor]

Legacy systems

Would Notes quailify as being a legacy system yet?

[Bagpuss]

Surely a 4 year contract is effectively a permie job

[Francko]

Surely a 4 year contract is effectively a permie job

I didn't mean a 4 year contract. I meant contracting for 3-4 years.

[Paddy]

There is a vacancy for the someone to setup dominos in a tea shop on the outskirts of Tehran