Ok here is my question. And Anita, this doesn't quite fit into Cory's thread.

I am a computer consultant in client server technologies and have been one for too many years. The most I have every been off of work between contracts is 2 weeks. Now that unemployment is down to low single digits and the economy supposedly booming, I can't find a job and have been off for 2 months now with no real prospects. I live in Iowa and am willing to travel the state to get to work. I have checked Omaha, Minneapolis, parts of Illinois and Kansas City. What is going on????

The recruiters are telling me that companies are done with Y2k and don't want to do any new development or the other excuse is that the companies are saying that they will fix things when and if they break. When I talk to employees of companies that I have consulted at, they are overworked and there is more new development on the boards than they can handle. Is management that out of touch?? (I really do know the answer to that one).

Is anyone else having this problem or know of anyone??

Thanks for all of the support.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), September 03, 1999

Answers

Beckie, I would say that most larger companies are putting a freeze on systems that have been Y2K remediated and that further enhancements will not be scheduled until after the rollover. That of course doesn't rule out new projects, but maybe the money isn't there for new hires on new products at this time. Looking at Monster.com recently, I saw quite a few postings for positions in the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids areas.

-- Lurker (eye@spy.net), September 03, 1999.

* * * 19990903 Friday

Becky:

I know what you mean.

I've heard the "excuses" you have and more.

With more than 33 years experience, you'd think I could be placed almost anywhere, doing almost anything. [ Download my resume ( Word 97 format )from < http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/rmangus1?c&.flabel=fld4 >, to see the depth and scope of my experience. ]

I'm down to bare bones debt ( i.e., mortgage and monthly utilities ) so I don't "need" a huge salary. [ A nice position to be in, BTW! ]

I'll keep plugging away! I have several irons in the fire as I write. Probably won't see any further activity until after Labor Day.

Someone said, and I agree, that the Y2K "recession" has started.

The only good that may be forthcoming from all the terminations of contractors and employees from Y2K projects, may be whistleblowers willing to blow the whistle on the failures under way and imminent-- non-disclosure agreements notwithstanding!

Hang in there, Beckie!

Regards, Bob Mangus

* * *

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus1@yahoo.com), September 03, 1999.

I don't know if this is meaningful to you, Becky, but Autodesk has announced a 10% staff cut, and a hiring freeze for 6 months. I know that that do this every few years, but why right now? They have a couple great new products they are rolling out this month and in October.

-- b (b@b.b), September 03, 1999.

Y2K is of course on everyone's "radar", but there is also a trend to importing 3rd-world & East European labor. They work CHEAP.

Unlike the auto & steel industries, the computer jobs aren't leaving - they just increasingly aren't being given to (native) Americans.

But don't worry. Global commerce is fun! The DOW is close to 11,000!

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), September 03, 1999.

Hi, Beckie.

It's okay with me if you want to start a new thread about this. You said:

"Ok here is my question. And Anita, this doesn't quite fit into Cory's thread."

It REALLY wasn't Cory's thread. 'a' likes to post a lot of stuff from csy2k that Cory and Milne posted....but I agree with you...NOTHING really fits into those threads.

You're client-server, and I'm big iron, and YES...there's a LOT of new development pending, as well as maintenance work that's been postponed by Y2k work. We're hearing the same stuff you are....FREEZE. Some folks are saying that November will be better, but I wouldn't count on it. January and February (unlike other years) may just open up opportunities for us.

It's already the time of year where budgets have been almost exhausted (if not HAVE been exhausted). Y2k remediation didn't help there. It's for THIS reason that I suspect we'll get more work when the FOF folks come forward. I realize that statement puts me into the "enemy" camp on this forum, but programmers have to eat also, right?

-- Anita (spoonera@msn.com), September 03, 1999.

Try www.computerjobs.com. You'll find something there.

-- Codejockey (-@-.-), September 03, 1999.

Let me start by saying this is not a flame! I am a believer in the issues that have been posted on this board regarding the worst case scenarios of Y2K as I have been exposed to numerous shops in various industries and can see where the problems will begin, first hand.
My suggestion to you is to apply your talents inwardly. Begin your own business. I do consulting work also, and by no means am I counting on that business to survive the first quarter of 1999. I know what will happen as do you. The first victims of any recession are consultants and temporary agencies (and recruiting companies do take a bath also). Upgrade and diversify your skills and begin looking at creating software programs that will be viable in the new enviroment after TSHTF. I'm still a 9.0 and won't change, but I believe the new economy which emerges will have greater rewards for entepreneurs as the government will be too busy repairing itself to interfere in the free market.
My .02 worth for the day.
John

-- John Galt (jgaltfla@hotmail.com), September 03, 1999.

Infrastructure guys in the DFW, Texas area are having the same problem. Buisiness is still solid BUT it could be better. We are now taking contracts that are still good but would have otherwise been done by newly hired consultants.

There is a hiring freeze pretty much for infrastructure consultants.

However if you know of someone with ASP/VB or Site/Commerce Server Developer experience let me know. Just post here with a way of me getting in touch with you. WE NEED THOSE PEOPLE BAD!...

-- STFrancis (STFrancis@heaven.com), September 03, 1999.

Yup. I'm on the beach effective Oct 1st. Made over 25 calls today. Nada. Zip. We're running scared.

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), September 03, 1999.

Becky,

I hire consultants (and companies and employees).

You've got a problem. Companies and governments which use your service, and are completing fixing their problems have over spent their budgets, and freezing baselines till after rollover. They aren't hiring. (The stupider ones are downsizing their IT staff.)

The Fix on Failure idiots aren't hiring. They won't hire till failure, and then they won't make it for very long IMHO.

You've got 3 choices IMHO. 1. Find a good outfit which you did excellent work for in the past and take whatever they can give you. 2. Go back to school and update your skills. 3. Find one of the Y2K operations centers being set up in governments and businesses, and sell yourself as dual-use Y2K operations center and technical skills for fixing unexpected failures.

Talk about the laws of unintended consequences. The people who can prevent and mitigate technology failure are getting unemployed right before the failure by the management that is causing it.

-- ng (cantprovideemail@none.com), September 03, 1999.

Beckie,

As you know, in the consulting biz you have to keep your skills up to date. It's always the latest and greatest fad that gets the big bucks. These days that means anything Web related. I started doing Java in summer 1996 and ASP in late 1997. Not a week goes by that I don't hear from at least 1 or 2 recruiters looking to place me on projects (I'm in the NYC area).

Take advantage of the downtime and pick up some new skills. If you don't, no matter how talented you are, you'll find your career in a downward spiral (along with your billable rate).

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), September 03, 1999.

Amen to all the above. I'm on the bench anyday now, just don't know which day...probably next week. Thought it was yesterday & have packed my office. Foreign concern buying us before doors closed but then laid off majority of company to work at barebones.

Same story from recruiters...this last time agency that placed me here is actually sounded scared themselves...said they were starting to layoff recruiters themselves...

I'm client/server but see the end of the product cycle with my current rice bowl (Notes/Domino). I plan to brush up on Oracle (great demand & pay) & ASP/VB. I think RDBMS (they'll have to replace old iron), web development, and online apps will be in great demand after first of year but until then...

-- texan (bullsyeye@ranch.com), September 03, 1999.

I answered this one Cory's thread. Out 14 weeks because of project cancellations and freezes. Here is a contract that is available, maybe better than Middle East, then again maybe not. http://www.dice.com/DandL/o/oak.OAK4495.html

-- curtis schalek (cschalek@earthlink.net), September 03, 1999.

Unlike the auto & steel industries, the computer jobs aren't leaving - they just increasingly aren't being given to (native) Americans.

But don't worry. Global commerce is fun! The DOW is close to 11,000!

Yep you are probably right...

Native Anerican Indians are probably not getting the jobs. -- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), September 03, 1999.

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), September 04, 1999.

Beckie, try Minneapolis for jobs some more. The place I work has begun hiring underqualified people because they cannot get the sort the job requires. (These types are usually fired in < 1 month, but that's another story).

Cherri, I did not read all of the above thoroughly, but will make these comments about American aborigines: 1) my ancestors did not evolve here, but neither did theirs. 2) I was born here of parents who also were born here, same as them. 3) I do not accept credit OR blame for what my ancestors did; there are heroes and human debris in every family tree if you trace it back even 5 generations. 4) My right to be here (in the U.S.) is precisely as strong as theirs. I think that covers that issue.

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), September 04, 1999.

MinnesotaSmith

You're just a plain onery old coot aintcha? I done gone and ruffled your feathers and so now your gonna have a bone ta pick with anything I say.

I suppose you think "green-red orange-black white green brown" makes me old HUH?

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), September 04, 1999.

This tread of 'Where are the Jobs' reminds me of my experiences in the 90-93 years. I had the experience and references but no company offers - seems there was a recession on and I was over fifty. The recruiters even told me it was my age. Hella of a feeling. Took several low paying contract jobs where I was older than most of my peer's fathers. I even sold cars (Lincoln/Mercury) to pay the bills. Kept sinking. In 1996, filed for Chapter 7 to save our home. After bankruptcy, we sold out and moved to the country. Had my last, low paying computer job over two years ago. Work part-time at a country store now. I do miss the fast pace of big company computers at times but I darn sure do NOT miss the lousy feeling of looking at a screen all day. From my experience, my un-ask for advice is don't let your bills get you down mentally or physically. As long as you have your health, your are still in the ball game so take care of your self first. Bills are just paper and with the world such an interesting place, paper may not be all that important soon.

My wife says I look like a thirty year old from the shoulders down. Don't have any money now but I feel good and I am thinking and looking forward to the future. The is more to life than the chickens. Guess I will go out and check to see if that old hen is still nesting those eggs.

-- Way over Fifty But Still a Kid a Heart (Chicken@FarmNow.com), September 04, 1999.