February 4, 2009 at 7:41 am
If you are bored with your current job, there is nothing to learn and you are doing a lot of administrative work instead of technical work, will you consider changing job, even it is a contracting job?
What I mean about administrative work is working with the vendor to install the software, making sure all the custom changes are in place, testing the vendor software, producing process flow chart.
February 4, 2009 at 8:11 am
Sounds like what I'm doing right now. 🙂
But I've always felt that it's the people you work with who make a job good, bad or boring. So I'm in no hurry at the moment.
February 4, 2009 at 8:12 am
It's much better to look for a job when you already have one, than when you're unemployed. It allows you to be much more selective and find the best fit.
I actually just changed jobs about 6 months ago and within two months of starting my search, I had a couple of offers to choose from. Your reason for considering changing jobs is definitely a valid one. It's no fun being in a position with no chance of growth. In my situation, that was part of it. I'm doing database development almost exclusively instead of wearing lots of hats. I had other reasons though. I left a company that was struggling during this recession to one that is thriving. Plus, my commute went from 70 miles one way to 7. I had to take a little less money, but I'm much happier with what I'm doing and the shorter commute. 😀
Greg
February 4, 2009 at 8:18 am
I'm not sure I would switch to a contracting job, as I'm a big fan of job security, but that also depends on a) how long the contract is for, b) what company it is with and more importantly how that company is faring with the current economic climate(what has their stock done, was does D&B say about them etc.)
But like g2 said, less money and more happiness tend to balance each other out.
-Luke.
February 4, 2009 at 8:59 am
With kids in the picture, considering the state of the economy, no, I don't think I would move to consulting at this time. Shifting jobs... Yeah, if the offer was right and I felt that the company I was moving to was as, or more, stable as the one I'm leaving (hard to beat a 175 year old insurance company on that point).
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood"
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February 4, 2009 at 9:25 am
Having just started a consulting job, I would recommend that you have at least 4 months income (if not more) saved up before making the move. Work doesn't come instantly and clients don't pay instantly.
I moved to consulting back in Aug, and I'm still bringing in less than half what I was before the move. This is probably going to be the first month where income > expenses.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability
February 4, 2009 at 9:48 am
I'd be reluctent to change jobs right now. But then I work for a K12 Public School District, and it has some significant advantages. the first is that it is family friendly. Which helps since we don't get very big pay raises around here. No on-call nights and weekends, liberal vacation and holidays. Plus, the commute (13 miles one way) beats what I was doing (68 miles one way).
February 4, 2009 at 10:50 am
The company that hires contractors just layoff a whole bunch of their own employees. How ironic!!!!
February 4, 2009 at 11:07 am
You'd be surprised how often that happens...
The accountants think that they don't have to pay benes and such for contractors so they are "cheaper" even if they're paid a higher wage. They don't have to think about things like institutional knowledge and costs for retraining people and such.
Also sometimes it's just a matter of contractors and employees being 2 different line numbers in the budget and they have more money allocated to one over the other.
They're spending the same or more, but on paper it looks "better". I work in the public sector, where this type of nonsense goes on all the time.
-Luke.
February 5, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Well I've been working for the same company (in UK) for 8 1/2 years and although I wanted out I felt that it was dangerous right now and that if I were to go somewhere else and they had to let anyone go as the last in I would be in the firing line. So I hung on in there and yet when the redundanies came it was all of the most experienced staff (and highest paid presumably) that got the chop.
Isn't life great 🙂
Andy
February 9, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Andrew Reilly (2/5/2009)
yet when the redundanies came it was all of the most experienced staff (and highest paid presumably) that got the chop.
i've worked for 2 software houses now in the last 8 years and been made redundant from both and this is what i found generally.
My current contract ends in March so i have to start looking.
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"Ya can't make an omelette without breaking just a few eggs" 😉
February 9, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I'm with Grant, if the right opportunity came up then why not (not me, I couldn't ask for a better place and wouldn't consider looking....).
You do have to be careful though. You are currently employed which makes it easier to look and you can be selective as already mentioned. You just have to make sure that you choose the right position / company before you make the change.
If you are considering going solo, i.e. consulting, then make sure you don't have much debt to take care of so that you can handle those times where work is slim. Makes those times a whole lot less stressful. 🙂
Enjoy!
David
@SQLTentmaker“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot
February 9, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I'm not sure I'd be looking to leave right now, especially as many businesses might be fine today, but if they lose business, they'll change the way they structure their employees.
If I were to look at consulting, I'd want to work on a long term contract, preferably something where the company wanted me to work for them, not just count on there being "some" work.
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