I got a contract!

[unix]

Good news.
Are you going to get a chance to  learn some new technology?  I always think in terms of what I can add to my resume.

[Carrie Cobol]

Yes, I think that way too.  Always how it will benefit my upwards career growth, but that doesn't necessarily mean up to management.  Just how I can learn more, have more responsibility, etc.

The majority of my current job is programming on VMS, and the new gig has no VMS, so I will be learning lots of new stuff.  They didn't identify the backend server platforms or technology, but they do have them.  Also web front-ends.  There was also some mention of requirements tools like Remedy although they weren't a requirement for the job.  They said that the job will be primarily documentation, although they also emphasized pretty strongly that this was NOT a business analyst job.  So it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

[DG9]

So are you documenting a new system or an existing one?  Is this a technical writer/analyst type position?

[Carrie Cobol]

It's a system analyst position.  Documenting new systems and helping to design new systems.  It's pretty cool.

[TechTalk]

They said that the job will be primarily documentation, although they also emphasized pretty strongly that this was NOT a business analyst job.  So it will be interesting to see how it pans out....

...It's a system analyst position.  Documenting new systems and helping to design new systems.  It's pretty cool.

Hmmm...  Are you sure that you will actually be helping to design new software systems?

It sounds to me like your task on this project will be mainly creating and maintaining documentation.  These project positions have many names, such as, Project Librarian or Technical Editor/Writer.  If you don't have to interview with the firm's employees who are working on this project or with someone from the client before starting then my guess on what you will ACTUALLY be doing on this project is probably correct.  The upside of taking such a position is that if they actually need someone to do this type of work it usually means that the project will be lasting at least a year or more.  Also, it may be a job that doesn't come with a lot of stress.  The downside is that once the project ends it may mean that you are unemployable if there isn't a demand for the type of work that you have been doing.

[Carrie Cobol]

Actually I did interview with the client's manager, not with the contracting agency.  They are staffing up this project, but the manager said that most of her people are contractors.  Sounds to me like one of those situations that are common in the DC area where they staff up with 98% contractors to complete a specific project.  When the project ends, of course then they can easily drop the contractors.  Although I'm looking at it like sort of a temp job:  maybe while I'm there I can impress the managers and swing it into a FTE or another contract assignment.  Also the place is sort of in "phoenix" mode.... trying to rise from the ashes of the financial meltdown, so if they're successful there could be more work or more permanent staffing needs.

I take your comment seriously, but this makes me chuckle:  "...may mean that you are unemployable if there isn't a demand for the type of work that you have been doing."  Hello, I'm a VMS programmer.  I'm *already* unemployable.   

[Peter Gibbons]

Carrie,

Just don't fall for the most common agency trick:

"Carrie the client really liked you but they can only pay $50/hour ... blah ... blah"
( Instead of the $55/hour you discussed with them originally. )

I have to really think when a recruiter didn't pull out this trick.

[Richardk]

And that's enough of a bump that Carrie's extra $8K just evaporated and took a bit more on the way out.

You need to decide ahead of time how much can the terms change before it's a "no go".

[Carrie Cobol]

I agree totally.  I'm firm on that rate and I hope they know it.  The recruiter verified it with me several times at each stage of the game so far, and the client was notified that that was my rate.  Which of course makes me think that it's lower than I *could* have asked for, but oh well.  I'm in a tricky spot where my niche legacy skills make salary estimation kind of fuzzy.  Maybe I'm being too girly about it but I'm really just happy that I didn't get too much of a pay cut.  (Realizing that no paid vacation or 401K reduces my overall compensation, of course.)

[Richardk]

I'd say you did well since typical broker rates here are around the mid to low $40's. Though again it's a much smaller market while the big city pays more but you'll do about 3 hours of driving every day.

[Peter Gibbons]

Yep - to get better rates I have commuted on average close to 4 hours over the years.

[Carrie Cobol]

Just signed the offer letter.  $55/hour, no sweat.  This firm seems to be on the up and up, haven't tried playing any games with me so far.  DH nitpicked the language pertaining to the health bennies.  It says "eligible to enroll in our Carefirst BCBS", which he thinks might mean that I can sign up for their group but still have to pay all of it myself.  I'm pretty sure it's half and half just like I have now as a FTE.  I forgot to tell him that when we first discussed the pay rate, it was something like $60/hour no bennies, $55 with health care, or $50 with all the benefits.

Did I mention the 5 minute commute?  I don't bowl, but I think this seems like a strike.     But I just have to hold out for minimal commute because I won't leave my dogs alone all day, every day.  I wanted a job close enough that I can come home for lunch, so it worked out.

Oh, and I mentioned to DH that there's no 401K so I'll have to shovel my own money into a retirement account, and he didn't get upset.  (We're saving aggressively for retirement.)  Start date, September 27th.  Yay!  Virtual beers all around?

[The Gorn]

I will lift a beer that I have tonight in a virtual toast to your success.

[Rastus P Shagnasty]

Here's to you CC.  Congrats and good luck!

[TechTalk]

Hello, I'm a VMS programmer.  I'm *already* unemployable.

Yeah, you are probably right.  I remember reading several Dice forum posts around the 2006-2007 time frame where a bunch of mainframe programmers were bemoaning the lack of calls/jobs.  Note: this was a period of time when the "official unemployment" rate was around 5%.  Of course, it wasn't just the mainframers who were (and still are) having a difficult time finding work.

Just signed the offer letter.  $55/hour, no sweat.

Okay, now I can say it ....  Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bet management at your current employer is going to freak out when you give them your notice.  My guess is that they will try to talk you into staying.  While they may be able to find a COBOL programmer to replace you, I believe what your current employer will miss the most from your departure is your extensive knowledge of whatever products/services that they happen to sell.

Did I mention the 5 minute commute?

Sweet!