Re: AS/400 job market

["Evan Harris" <spanner@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dean,
<SNIP>
> IMO, consultants come in to perform a specified task (hopefully passing on
> relevant knowledge to in-house staff in the process) and leave when that
task
> is complete.  Contractors, on the other hand, accept a more amorphous
> assignment such as "maintain this system" or "support this system while
our
> staff learns and implements something else".  A consultants' job is
discrete,
> while a contractors' is open-ended.  A consultant is a specialist, while
the
> contractor is more of a generalist.  That said, you cannot generalize
> _either_ of the positions -- my quote reflects the market at general, but
not
> in its' entirety.  _MOST_ contractors _DO_ attempt to find another job at
the
> same client when their original assignment is over, while _MOST_
consultants
> are more than glad to move on to something else.
>
> If you wish to expound on what you found "narrow minded", I would be more
> than happy to reply...

What I found narrow-minded was the lumping of people into either parasite or
non-parasite type roles (my words) based on what I consider an arbitrary
classification (i.e. contractor vs consultant). I agree with your attitude
towards the individuals that employ these kinds of practises, but just find
it hard to swallow that the title "contractor" or "consultant" automatically
endows someone with the qualities you ascribe to these titles.

Having read your explanation I'll beg to differ but leave it at that as I'm
sure the list has had enough of terminology arguments. You can always email
me privately if you want a thesis on what I meant !

I will say that I appreciate your willingness to defend your viewpoint (and
not a flame in sight).

Regards
Evan Harris

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