I was informed today that I start a new Job on Tuesday (...after the Civic Holiday ).
It's contract work via a recruiting firm, and the pay's not great (... $65K/yr [no benefits] ), but it's with a Government department (Public Works) , and like everybody tells me, ...once you get your foot in the door, the possibilities for full-time hiring open right up.
Both the contracting firm and the Government folks know I'm grossly underpaid for my qualifications so they know things will have to improve when they'll want to renew the contract. (... and I'm told renewal is assured... )
So I'm happy I'll be getting a paycheck again, but the speed at which this happened (... I applied for the job last Friday... ) kinda screws-up my summer plans... (.. we had day-trips planned for the kids and I had a pile of home projects I wanted to work on... )
My wife is now freaking out at having to manage the 3 boys all day by herself !
It's amazing how quickly everyone got use to me being home all day !
So sorry Donnie, I'll now have to "withdraw" my request for work on your "set" ...
Congrats Steph! That's low wages compared to Nortel, but if you can ever get a full-time position I doubt the government will reneg on pensions and benefits!
It's contract work via a recruiting firm, and the pay's not great (... $65K/yr [no benefits] ),
Well it's still the double of what the average Canadian make in a year... it could have been worst
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...But... pay's not great at 65K? Crap... that is what I make... mind you I have OK benefits... but still.
Yes, I realized after I posted that that it seemed pretty crass to belittle that salary.
It is indeed nothing to complain about (...and I really have no right to...), and I realize it's WELL above the national average, but I was told that for the job description that I will be doing, the usual going rate was quite a bit more (...I know people doing similar work for 2.5x the pay... ) and that the reason I got the job so quickly (...with only a 15 minute phone interview) is that they had no-one with the required qualifications willing to work for that salary.
Even the recruiter I spoke to last week said "are you sure you want to work for this rate ? ".
Basically, anything is better than EI, and with this economy, any job is golden. Besides, the big thing is that I get into the Government circles and from there I can find a full-time job with good benefits.
I realize my original post "almost" sounded like a complaint, but the reality is that it's a HUGE relief to get any kind of income coming into the household. (...my RRSPs were starting to thin out... ! )
Yes, I realized after I posted that that it seemed pretty crass to belittle that salary.
It is indeed nothing to complain about (...and I really have no right to...), and I realize it's WELL above the national average, but I was told that for the job description that I will be doing, the usual going rate was quite a bit more (...I know people doing similar work for 2.5x the pay... ) and that the reason I got the job so quickly (...with only a 15 minute phone interview) is that they had no-one with the required qualifications willing to work for that salary.
Even the recruiter I spoke to last week said "are you sure you want to work for this rate ? ".
Basically, anything is better than EI, and with this economy, any job is golden. Besides, the big thing is that I get into the Government circles and from there I can find a full-time job with good benefits.
I realize my original post "almost" sounded like a complaint, but the reality is that it's a HUGE relief to get any kind of income coming into the household. (...my RRSPs were starting to thin out... ! )
So no, I'm not complaining !
Steph
Good... now that you have apologized, I want to play Joust for the first time.
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Congrats Steph. Life IS wierd. Unions are striking while unemployment grows. I was offered a permanent management job in the educational sector with benefits, pension and a decent salary (close to what I was making about 5 years ago SOHO - which is a h*ll of a lot more than I make now...). I had my pinball purchases plotted out. And yet, in the end, I turned it down. Why? Because we just adopted and I am currently enjoying the role of primary caregiver (and head basement finisher). We're very, very lucky to have another full-time income and a benevolent Aunt - but are by no means in the black - I wonder, come September when the kids are back in school, whether I'll regret my decision. For now, back to eating Mac & Cheese.
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Basically, anything is better than EI, and with this economy
Sorry for sticking my nose in. Just wanted to say at the very least it BUYS TIME until things improve. So, if the govt. doesn`t require your skill level in the long run, you will have survived in time to rejoin the private sector. Financial, energy, health care...those are the sectors that will probably have the cash for the right people in the long term for IT.
Anyway congratulation! Good idea think this job as an opening for a better one and not just a default job.
I got a new job last month too, I had to budget now because of the salary drop but I'm really happy with this job hope you like it... if not, people with qualification always find a job
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Working on: Gorgar, Tri-Zone, Agent 777 Next project: F14- Tomcat, Taxi, Strange World, Genesis
Gone: Triple Strike, Jacks to Open x2, Star Pool x2, Hi-Lo Ace, Spy Hunter, Stargate and... a lot of projects!Wants: Sport theme machine: Bobby Orr, Ice Fever, MNF, Royal Rumble... EM or SS...
MPL 2009-2010 Iron Man and Royal Flush: Best effort awards!
Pretty standard route to for starting with the public sector. They should be able to roughly specify how long you will be on before they offer you the real deal. It's a progression and your foots in the door. Salary's are typically set based on the prevailing private sector pay for your qualifications. You won't get the wildcard pay and bonuses that high flying companies like Nortel once offered but then again look where that ended up. In the long haul you'll find probably find it less stressful and come out the same or possibly better without all the ups and downs.
Good to hear you've managed to land a job in a really tough job market. I've been out of work since March, and there are *no* jobs in my field right now
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Sorry for sticking my nose in. Just wanted to say at the very least it BUYS TIME until things improve.
Absolutely !
I'm not turning my nose up at EI as it certainly did help to cushion the blow of being laid-off with no compensation whatsover, but my point was that almost any job opportunity would pay more than EI, so I should accept whatever job came my way. (...short of asking if you wanted fries with that... )
And truth be told, I was actually extremely impressed with the help and services available via EI for un-employed workers.
I was amazed to discover a huge network of resources that offered MANY free courses and seminars to help find jobs. I probably attended 6 or 7 free training seminars (how to write CVs, how to take an interview, how to apply for Govm't jobs, how to look for the next IT trends and work, etc... ), not to mention a wealth of free computer-based training. I did Cisco certification , ITIL, JAVA training, and was currently working on Microsoft certification. (...the course-ware is all free, but you have to pay for the certification exams... ).
Although, I'm not entirely out of the woods yet, I can see light at the end of the tunnel, and this whole experience has been very "humbling" with respect to what's important in life.
I'll stop short of turning this into a sappy rant, but I'd say, so far..., more good than bad has come out of this whole experience.
The benefit of working in Ottawa, you get layed off in the private sector, go work in the public sector. They seem to be yin and yang, as one starts to lay off, the other hires.
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Anyway, you have the right attitude Steph, just about anything with the government job wise is a good decision. It may lead to bigger things down the road, and if it doesn't, it'll look great on a resume.
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I'm not turning my nose up at EI
I didnt mean that EI buys time (hell, it barely buys groceries). I meant that the public sector will buy you time if you were at a higher pay scale previously, so that when the economy recovers more you might be able to ease back into the private sector if you choose to. Nobody wants to step back in their carreer, and if you wre in the cutting edge before you no doubt will want to be again.
so that when the economy recovers more you might be able to ease back into the private sector if you choose to. Nobody wants to step back in their career, and if you were in the cutting edge before you no doubt will want to be again.
Interesting observation...
Although to be honest, after seeing a Titan like Nortel collapse into nothing, I'd actually be quite happy with an un-eventful career in Government.
15 years ago would have been burning in hell to go to the Public sector, but now, 3 kids and a mortgage later, there is alot to be said about a [reasonably] secure job with good benefits...
Of course, I'm still hoping http://www.Hobbyroms.com will turn into a $1M/yr business, but I'm still about $998,000/yr off from that, so I should still be thinking of a good day job...
15 years ago would have been burning in hell to go to the Public sector, but now, 3 kids and a mortgage later, there is alot to be said about a [reasonably] secure job with good benefits...
Thanks, you just convinced me to get fixed
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lol $65k / year is hardly close to a "kick to the head",
Agreed, my sense of income was likely warped by Nortel... (...and my two brother-in-law-doctors who both make $400K+/yr )
And although I'm taking a 40% cut in pay from Nortel (...with no benefits ), this thread has opened my eyes to the fact that I should be EXTREMELY happy to have this work opportunity...
...although I'll have to start bathing and shaving again...
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Umm...you should bathe and shave regardless, unless you trying to emulate Pigpen. Actually, the guy who probably earns the most in my office seldom bathes, shaves or changes his clothes. He is a prime example of extreme concern for money and nothing else... Did I mention he won't even spend for a coffee? I wish him huge luck in his marriage next month.
I am glad for you. Not easy to find new jobs out there these days. Hopefully the economy will soon rebound.
...Please do not drop the great hobbyroms business though, your EPROM programming service is always very appreciated here.
Sincerely, - Sylvain.
Looking for 1966 Bally Capersville, 1967 Bally The Wiggler, 1981 Stern Viper, 1986 Pinstar Gamatron, 1986 Williams Grand Lizard, 1991 Williams Bride of Pinbot, and a few others. Cash or some trades available. Could also repair a machine of yours +/-$ if needed, in exchange for one machine on my want list, non-working/unshopped welcome!