atw: Re: Fields of Tech Communication
- From: Peter Rule <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 09:06:19 +1100
Actually Nigel, I'm sure you'll find that contractors have exactly the same
commitments as anyone else.
Obviously, its not for everyone and I know alot of people would agree with you
about the security aspect of a permanent job.
However, I think that actually it is a bit of a myth to think that permanent
jobs offer greater security than contract jobs. They may do; but I doubt
whether its by your own actions or efforts that the security is guaranteed. No
matter how good you may be at the job, it is essentially external reasons
related to the industry and the organisation that guarantee longevity in that
job; organisations shrink and expand, jobs disappear and re-appear somewhere
else, or indeed things may stay the same. This is all something that most of
us have little control over. And in this sense, contract jobs can be just as
secure: and just as insecure.
More to the
> point though, I really enjoy the relationships and
> intimacy that are forged during a long period of
> working with the same people.
Certainly I agree with this: but its a double edged sword!
Cheers,
Pete
-----Original message-----
From: "nigeldawes" nigel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 08:06:49 +1100
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: Fields of Tech Communication
> Hi Gang
>
> I'm wondering how many contractors out there have a
> mortgage and/or own a nice car? If you've got no
> financial commitments, then contracting sounds great.
> But, security and stability are for me... More to the
> point though, I really enjoy the relationships and
> intimacy that are forged during a long period of
> working with the same people.
>
> Merry Christmas!
> Nigel
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
> Fiona Currie
> Sent: Thursday, 16 December 2004 5:42 PM
> To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: atw: Re: Fields of Tech Communication
>
>
> But doesn't the 85000 include danger money? ;o
> Peter Rule wrote:Hi Ilana,
> Remember: the grass is always greener on the other
> side.
>
> Contracting can be difficult to get used to and it
> takes time to develop the contacts that you need to
> provide reasonably constant work; and you are always
> managing those contacts as they change constantly. And
> luck and timing seem to always have a lot to do with
> it.
>
> I've been contracting for the 3 yrs or so since we
> worked together and certainly the first year was the
> hardest in terms of the amount of work picked up. But
> since then I've never really felt like going back to a
> permanent job. You get much more attuned to selling
> your services as a business; and this is how I treat
> it. You can certainly make a decent living out of it
> (In the last two years I have easilly earned twice the
> salary I was on 3yrs ago). Although I suspect the
> disparity between contract rates and salaried jobs is
> diminishing (my current position - as a contractor -
> has just been advertised as a full time job at 85000
> for example) and contract rates haven't really moved in
> 3 yrs.
>
> I don't find the constant looking for work a drag. In
> my experience this aspect is actually much less
> stressful than job seeking when a permanent. Two
> reasons: a) you do it alot, so you get good at it (you
> have to!) and, b) you do it alot so you know that your
> whole world is not reliant on you getting that
> "specific" job and that another "possible" is just
> around the corner. You accept rejection much more
> happily and move on quickly (like about 3 seconds).
>
> I know many people on this list have had the experience
> of suddenly being out of work whether they had a
> permanent or a contract job. And certainly, contractors
> are universally better equipped to handled those times
> when they do occur (simply because of their constant
> experience of applying for work).
>
> Of course you really need to be set up financially to
> cover the down times as well as the possible extended
> down times. But is this really any different to having
> a permanent job?
>
> Pete
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original message-----
> From: Ilana Cohney Ilana.Cohney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2004 09:58:58 +1100
> To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: atw: Re: Fields of Tech Communication
>
> > Hi all,
> > Not exactly the same topic but I also am considering
> a work change.
> > Over the years I have been mainly working in a series
> of permanent
> > positions for both IT and non-IT orgnisations. I have
> been in my
> > current position for two years. I seems that after a
> couple of years in
> > an orgnisation, the profile and worth of the
> technical writer is much
> > less than it was at the beginning. When I commence a
> new job there is
> > usually much appreciation that at last there is
> someone who can actually
> > write to take over all those pesky documents and Help
> projects. After a
> > year or two the core system, online and procedure
> documents have been
> > written and (in my experience) the writer goes into
> "maintenance" mode.
> > This means that you are no longer seen as an
> important asset to the
> > company. As was so innocently put to me by my boss
> last week, "In our
> > experience, no-one actually uses the online Help
> anyway!" After all
> > documentation does not actually generate revenue for
> the business like
> > programming or project management does!
> >
> > My question actually is, how difficult is it to
> actually make a decent
> > living out of contract work? At the moment, it
> certainly looks more
> > appealing to me than dealing with another lot of
> patronising,
> > unappreciative ....need I say more... set of bosses.
> My problem is
> > that when I am looking for work, I panic and accept a
> permanent job and
> > its security because the thought of starving does not
> appeal much
> > either. Those of you contractors, do you find the
> constant job search a
> > real grind or do the benefits outweigh the negatives
> of a permanent
> > position?
> > Ilana
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