[ale] the truth about contracting?

[Transam]

I've been contracting for 12 years in Atlanta and Bawston.

> I received a call from a recruiter last night regarding a contract position
> she has with a large corporation here in Atlanta.  While I'm typically wary
> of contract work, she assured me that all the contractors she's placed there
> are always renewed...in her words "long-term" contractors.

She was lying through her teeth (wich most headhunters do all the time).
In Atlanta (a few years ago) you were lucky if your contract required them
to give you a week or two of notice.  On my last "full time" contract, even
though they were required to give two weeks notice, they didn't and basically
said screw you.

That's the reality.  If they don't offer you at least 1.5 times your full
time salary walk away.  In my opinion, don't use Atlanta Technical Services
ever no matter what.  You've been warned.  Some agents and companies are
far more honest than ohters.

> Anyway, the contract is for a year, but she keeps guaranteeing it will be
> renewed.  The pay is a bit higher than what I'm making now, which makes it
> sort of attractive, but I'm not completely sold.  It was my opinion that
> contractors are typically the first to go in a layoff, but she says this
> company actually wants to keep contractors and layoff employees in that
> case...

BS!

> Wanted to hear what the group thought.  What have your experiences been?
> Have you been made these sorts of claims/promises before only to see them
> fall through?  What are the caveats of contract work?

In the current times, the worst, I've seen in 25 years of paid programming
work, if you have any security where you are, stay there!  If it looks like
it's gonna fold then find another job.  If you get a bad review then that's
a strong hint that your number is up so start looking.

It's FAR easier to get a job if you already have one.  Why?  Because the
interviewers will assume that the less desirable people get laid off first.
Thus, if you got laid off ...

If your employer closed their doors you're in a slightly better position
but there are virtually no openings anywhere in Atlanta.  Elsewhere in the
country is even worse.  I follow this stuff and it's BAD BAD BAD!!!

> As always, thanks for the info.

> John

Bob Toxen
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