[CLUE-Talk] Linux programmer needed with Kernel 2.6

[William]

I can't help it... I just have to throw my opinion onto the stack.

I work for an IT consulting company.  I am a software engineer and/or a database administrator
and/or a network administrator (or I lecture or give seminars), depending on the contract.  My
resume stands for my aptitude in all of these roles, but that's not related to this discussion,
so...

My employer charges customers over $200/hour whenver I'm on the job.  Of that -- in total honesty
-- I keep just $22/hour.  I am one of those unfortunate IT guys who will take whatever we can get,
whenever we can, so I accepted this rate when this particular consulting firm approached me (with
the promise of regular work).  Just where does the rest of that money go?  I'll tell you.

I work under a Project Manager that is responsible for the results of my work, and who serves as
liason between me and the client whenever I'm not standing in front of them or on the phone.  This
person does all the negotiating work for me, including needs assessment and 2-way iterative
development feedback.

That person works under a Manager who oversees all IT operations for this consulting firm.  This
Manager is responsible for going out into the field blind, and coming back with potential work
that is passed down to the appropriate Project Manager.  Not much goes back up the chain at this
level except status reports.

That person has one superior:  The firm owner.  This person is responsible for ensuring that the
overall firm has the presence it needs to win contracts over competitors.  This includes acquiring
firm-wide certifications and doing whatever it takes to establish a brand (so more people become
familiar with our name).

Frankly, I often feel that there is too much overhead on my hourly labor or I feel that I should
be getting more of the cut because -- in the end -- I'm really the person down in the trenches
doing the grunt work.  However, if you look at how many people have to get paid to do their work
so that I'm not burdened with ALL the other responsibilities and duties, I realize that it works
itself out.  You have to realize that the company also has to pay its own fixed and variable
costs, like phone bills and advertising fees.  It adds up, and we're all really just doing our own
part to keep everyone else employed.

Is what I've said for or against this kind of payment system?  You decide.  In my private and
humble opinion, I'd rather not be working for a consulting firm at all.  I very much prefer
full-time and regular employment, with benefits and the same faces every day.

Hope this helps in some way.

--- Susan Hausman <SHausman at jbcharles.com> wrote:
> I do want to put my 2 cents into this discussion.  I don't believe that
> $50/hr is unreasonable for most positions (plus we can go higher if you are
> looking to work on a 1099 basis).  I am really just looking for some
> qualified people that I can network with to assist my client.  They let us
> know what they are willing to pay and we are not close to billing $125/hr
> for this position. We will reveal our bill rates to the consultants we work
> with to let them know that we are reasonable with our rates.
> 
> Please let me know if you are aware of Kernel Programmers who are available
> to work a contract.  I would love to help someone who is currently off
> contract.
> 
> Susan Hausman
> Senior Technical Recruiter
> JB Charles, Inc. - IT Resource Solutions
> 303-390-4567
> shausman at jbcharles.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: clue-talk-admin at clue.denver.co.us
> [mailto:clue-talk-admin at clue.denver.co.us]On Behalf Of Angelo Bertolli
> Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 2:48 PM
> To: clue-talk at clue.denver.co.us
> Subject: Re: [CLUE-Talk] Linux programmer needed with Kernal 2.6
> 
> 
> > I agree with that...it's hard to feel underpaid at $50 an hour. But is
> > $50 an hour really unreasonable for a "senior-level" kernel programmer?
> > Particularly for a short-term project where they're getting no benefits,
> > job security or anything?
> 
> When we contract out, we get charged $125/hr for ANYTHING (or more).  Do
> the companies really take that much of a cut off the top?
> 
> I think the rule during regular times, at least in the engineering fields,
> was that if you were going to be a contractor, you could be expected to be
> employed 1/3 of the time.
> 
> > So... I guess I don't see the $50 per hour figure for kernel developers
> > being out of line since I see kernel development as being much harder
> > than what I do. (At least, I can do what I do, and I haven't a clue
> > about coding for the Linux kernel...) It's executive salaries that I've
> > always seen as being out of line. Folks who have no specialized
> > knowledge at all (other than who they know...) that pull down six and
> > seven-figure salaries for laying people off...that always seemed rather
> > unreasonable to me.
> >
> 
> Yes, this is my sentiment too.  It's not so much that $50 is low (actually
> if it was a 4-month contract, that wouldn't be so bad), but that it's
> always better to make money using other people's skills instead of having
> some of your own.
> 
> Angelo
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=====
William Kimball, Jr.
"Programming is an art form that fights back!"  =)


	
		
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