[CLUE-Talk] Re: Marketing Your Linux Skills

[Chris Schock]

Comments below.

> This guy gets two strikes for:
>
> 1. Not knowing how to open a PDF file, and
>
> 2. Not possessing even basic communications skills.

Amen. I agree with you, to have a job recruiting technical people you
should have some basic knowledge. After all, you wouldn't hire a broker
that had no knowledge of the market, and you wouldn't hire a publisher
that couldn't read. Someone (like a recruiter) interacting with people all
day should also have a good measure of tact.

> Now, things seemed to have turned the corner. Maybe. Hard to say. I've had
> a
> few calls (unsolicited, mind you) from recruiters testing the waters. Do
> you
> think potential employees will turn the screws even harder this time
> around,
> and the next downturn, you think HR/recruiters will be even more nasty?

It seems like the market has some significant differences this time
around. As you mentioned, everyone seems eager to outsource. There are
also definitely more people looking for technical jobs now (but not
necessarily more technical people). Even with the extra competition, I
feel there will always be jobs for those who do good work.

Even with the recent upturn I'm not sure how far into a recovery the IT
field is. I hadn't had any recruiter calls up until two weeks ago, and now
I get one about every other day. I've also gotten a couple emails about
opportunities.

These jobs are almost all contract to hire. This seems to be the trend. I
don't know if it's so that an employer can let someone go easier if they
don't work out, or if it's just bait to get the people wanting permanent
jobs interested. Anyone care to make a stab?

> I
> was never a hardass on my salary negotiation. I did leave one perm
> position
> and told them frankly on the exit interview that I was leaving for more
> pay,
> but that was it. And it was REALLY low pay, even for the low cost of
> living
> in that area.

Employers in my experience have been pretty understanding when you leave a
job for a substantial salary increase. While money isn't everything, it
helps. If someone is willing to give you a huge pay increase then I don't
think it looks bad. If you leave for $1k/yr increase then maybe you'd look
like a grubber. :)