Re: interesting contradiction about needing H1B workers

Michael,

when you say you've been a consultant most of your carreer, do you mean as
an independent, a independent sub or employee of an oursourcing firm?
There's a subtle distinction - I've been all three (as well as a custom
software shop employee, which is a little different than an outsourcing
body shop)

I've been SO on the fence over this whole h1b/offshore thing.  I have
visceral feelings both ways.  I've always been a firm free-trader.  It's in
my bones.  I've always felt that companys have every right to shop thier
business around to whomever is going to give them the best value for thier
dollar.  On the other hand, I see very disturbing trends that could very
well kill my bottom line.  Not to mention the fact that it's a reversal of
the promise made to all of the laid-off workers of the past several decades
- 'retrain in computers!  it's the future!'   What do we tell them to do
now that they're being priced out of thier jobs again?

I understand the distinctions you're trying to make.  And I agree, that if
you want specific and highly developed skill sets, then you bring in
consultants - but again, this is typically for short term projects.

I contend that a large portion of the consultants who currently fill the
body shops here in the states are no better qualified than a lot of the
in-house type folks (currently employed or not).  Amorphous goals are nice,
but they don't directly effect profits and stock prices.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that permenant contracting at the
rates we in the US have been used to getting doesn't offer the value it
once might have.

We do have to change.  We have to buckle down and expand our skill set, and
we have to accept that we won't get to charge the rates we used to.  Unless
the body shops lower thier margins, the consultants therein start going
independent or in-house - and we all start delivering more value for our
services - we're going to see a lot more offshoring.

And it'll be as much our fault as it is the 'greedy executives'.

Rick

-----original message--------
Hi Rick -

I've pretty much always been a consultant in my career and have always
billed more than the equivalent amount for an FTE P/A. Of course, a
consultant should bring skills to the table that an FTE P/A wouldn't
have. If the consultant has the same skill set as a P/A, then the
employer should find an FTE. That's basic business stuff.

The outsourcing thing is a different animal I think, but I think it
depends on perspective and the balance between tactical and strategic
goals. If the tactical goal is getting code written at the lowest
practical price, then outsourcing to India (or Eastern Europe or China or
wherever) makes sense. If the strategic goal is more along the lines of
local resource development, security, and more amorphous goals like that,
then outsourcing is not the way to go.