re: Midrange Jobs National Discussion

rgds,
Vinod


----Original Message Follows----
From: "Vinod P" <pvinodr@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: MIDRANGE-JOBS@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: re: Midrange Jobs National Discussion
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 09:08:03 -0500

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I was on the mid-range till 2000...saw the gigs were getting rare & far
flunged. As we do some testing on the AS/400, especially in a small shop, we
ran the queries besides unit testing & int testing. So, thought, testing
isn't bad...picked up a tool for test automation...moved onto testing...not
a bad decision in terms of employment/opportunities...every
platform/software needs testing. Regarding job satisfaction for a programmer
to move to testing...well, it was a matter of having the bread on the table.
And, if one works on it, there is room to grow.
Coming to laziness, yes, when I moved into testing...the idea was to have
this as a stop gap arrangement & pickup Java...well, did understand the OOP,
but, did not go further. Now, that I see the Java market doing
good...repenting a bit.

Some tips for anyone wanting to move on (my reading of the market):
1]Java.
2]Dot Net...rates may not be as much as Java, but the learning curve is less
too.
3]ERP: SAP, Oracle Apps, MS-Dynamics
4]Tools: BI, Data Mining, Load Testing, etc. These are good...not a huge
learning curve & the rates are decent enough.
Rgds,
Vinod


----Original Message Follows----
From: "Timothy A. Grove" <tagrove@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: MIDRANGE-JOBS@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: re: Midrange Jobs National Discussion
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:23:39 -0500

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I've tried to stay out of this argument, but I can't .

I was unemployed for nearly 2 years.  There were NO AS400 jobs for
the majority of that time.
There were a TON of MS .NET jobs.

2 things:

1. I started my own business when I was unemployed (which further
depleted my limited cash).  I am building this business, so that I
won't be at the mercy of an employer again.

2. I am learning .NET on my own (which is very slow and not very good
for learning HOW it is used in business).  This is so that when the
AS400 market totally dies (with the machine, since IBM doesn't market
it except through it's VARS), I'll have the ability to still work as a
coder.

My situation is this:

I DID find a permanent job a year and a half ago.  It is in
healthcare, and I am doing everything to please them so I won't get
fired.  I am making 10,000 less than I was when I was working last,
and 15,000 less than what I made at the top of my career. (50,000
less than what I was making as a consultant, but now, the going rate
for AS400 programmer is $25/hr instead of the $60/Hr I was charging
IF you can find a consulting gig)  The drop in rates for consulting
is DIRECTLY related to overseas outsourcing.  Also, the hypocrites
will not let an AMERICAN consultant work remotely, but freely give
that access to overseas programmers, but don't get me started on that.....

My business just moved into the black.  In only 3 years.  It is in no
way able to replace my income from my job, but in another 3 to 5
years?  That's my goal.

.NET is slow going, mainly because of my lack of time to devote to
it.  Once I am able to learn it, I can add .NET programming to my
company's services.  Also, I can create a program to sell, or a web
portal, etc.

So, what made me respond?  I wouldn't call myself lazy.  There were
NO opportunities for AS400 programmers.  I have read the writing on
the wall, and am moving on to other technologies, and positioning
myself to be independant someday.

At 11:50 AM 1/28/2007, you wrote:
 >*** Please pay close attention when replying to a message on this list!
 >*** If you want the reply to go to the list, use REPLY-TO-ALL
 >*** Recruiters may advertise only permanent employment positions in this
list.
 >
 >
 > > Sorry, but I find that to be the biggest bunch of bull I've heard in a
 > > long time.
 > >
 > > The lack of adequate employment is more based on the employees
 > > unwillingness to learn new things than the fact that jobs have been
 >
 >
 >
 >First, I do not think that laziness from applicants and the absence of
 >opportunities are the same thing, are they? So - I agree with you- we
 >have opportunities that Ken was not aware of!
 >I think Ken was speaking of volume/numbers and systemic declining
 >prosperity for folks in the industry he is in. Is my read on this
 >correct?
 >
 >Now, about the laziness: Simply - your correct - everyone has seen
 >this. As a nation we are bloody spoiled rotten. The wake-up call is
 >upon us.
 >
 >But is poor preperation the REASON for off-shoring - out-sourcing?
 >--
 >This is the Midrange Jobs: Postings & Discussion (MIDRANGE-JOBS) mailing
list
 >To post a message email: MIDRANGE-JOBS@xxxxxxxxxxxx
 >To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change list options,
 >visit: http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-jobs
 >or email: MIDRANGE-JOBS-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


Timothy A. Grove
Home:   574-233-2893
Cell:   574-286-5929
mailto:tagrove@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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