RE: Decision to make

If you are not happy in present position, no amount of money will make it
better.

If you improve your .net and SQL skills, it will make you more marketable
for future opps, including those on the Iseries. 

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-jobs-bounces+cvela=rrohio.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-jobs-bounces+cvela=rrohio.com@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
midrange-jobs-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 10:31 AM
To: midrange-jobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: MIDRANGE-JOBS Digest, Vol 5, Issue 61

Send MIDRANGE-JOBS mailing list submissions to
        midrange-jobs@xxxxxxxxxxxx

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
        http://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/midrange-jobs
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
        midrange-jobs-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx

You can reach the person managing the list at
        midrange-jobs-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxx

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of MIDRANGE-JOBS digest..."


*** NOTE: When replying to this digest message, PLEASE remove all text
unrelated to your reply and change the subject line so it is meaningful.

Today's Topics:

   1. Decision to make? (James Blunt)
   2. Re: Decision to make? (rob@xxxxxxxxx)
   3. Re: Decision to make? (DANIEL WARTHOLD)
   4. Re: Decision to make? (rob@xxxxxxxxx)
   5. BANKING AS400 PROG/ANALYST (frank thomas)
   6. AS400 SYSTEMS TESTER (frank thomas)
   7. JAVA J2EE DEVELOPER (frank thomas)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

message: 1
date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 03:11:49 -0600
from: "James Blunt" <bluntparallel@xxxxxxxxx>
subject: Decision to make?

I have been working in the iseries market for 10 years.  I have read the
discussion thread that happened a few weeks ago here and found it very
intersting, some insight from you guys would be appreciated.

What am I?  I am an average and yet enthusiastic programmer, not overly
aggressive, not great at office politics.  I cant get reimbursed for
training on the iseries or new skill sets so have taken classes/conferences
on my own.

My current position is at a good organizaiton in a support role with some
programming in RPG.  I have expanded my skill set with some knowledge of sql
server and .net.  I am very busy with my day to day activities and have not
had time to really get in depth in these new areas.  I applied for a
Sr.RPGposition at a different firm in the area and they did not want
to pay more
then what I am making, so I didnt take it.  Im not terribly happy at my
current position due to the politics and certain bosses are self-cenetered
and difficult.  I do seemingly have job stability/security.

A new opportunity has come up with a similar type of organization to my
current one that requires someone with sql server and .net plus service
skills.  They like me even though I do not have a full backgrand in the
specific skill set.  They claim they have not been able to find anyone they
like as much.  The offer will be around 5% more than what i make now,
similar benefits.

What would you do?  Do I leave the iseries behind?  Do I try to renegotiate
with my current employer to expand/change my day to day activities, possible
money adjustemnt from them?


------------------------------

message: 2
date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 14:15:33 -0500
from: rob@xxxxxxxxx
subject: Re: Decision to make?

- Money
- Job satisfaction
- Ratio of effort to money
Not necessarily in that order.

There's a balance between Money and Job Satisfaction.  Well, the first is 
that you have to be making enough for food, clothing and shelter.  But 
after that, if one job pays more and you look at it like it's just a job 
and you can get your satisfaction elsewhere, downhill skiing for example 
then you may pick between two jobs by the money involved.  Then again, if 
you then get offered a job as a pro at a downhill ski resort with only a 
minuscule cut in pay but free skiing for you and your family (and in a 
region with a comparable cost of living) then you may take that cut in 
pay.  Some people like to code like others like to ski.

Ratio of effort to money.  If you have to work 80 hours/week to make 10% 
more than what you'd make at a 40/hours week job, what do you do?  Do you 
still enjoy the job that much?  Do you need the 10% so bad that if you 
switch your kid's going to die from lack of medical treatment?

Renegotiation.  The headhunters will tell you that you can get by with 
that once, and only once, in your employment lifetime with a single 
company.  And they mainly mean that if you go to the boss and say "pay me 
x% more or I'll go to ... who has already offered me the position" then 
don't ever try that again with your same employer replacing ... with an 
offer of employment from yet another company.  Granted they may be biased 
because they just lost a commission but I still think there's some truth 
to that.
Didn't you already try to talk to them about changing duties?  What makes 
the ultimatum carry any more weight?  You gave them enough time to think 
if there is a possibility, right?  Granted, this may take months, after 
you planted the seed.

Does anyone know of anyone who went to the dark side (SQL Server and .NET) 
of employment, who was there long enough to have given it an honest try, 
and who has come back to the iSeries?

Rob Berendt