My son is in Rapid City, SD. I could move there. While it certainly gets cold, it's not like you're socked in for months in the snow like upstate NY.
>>> Jonathan Link <[email protected]> 8/12/2009 12:28 PM >>> Being born and raised in North Dakota, I can see myself going back. Wife is convinced otherwise. Cold isn't as bad as you think it is. And 40 below keeps the riff-raff out. On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 3:21 PM, Kurt Buff <[email protected]> wrote: > North Dakota - unemployment rate is about 4%, and the State government > is running a surplus, according to NPR/Marketplace radio piece I heard > last night. > > Several thousand job openings, too. > > On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 12:12, Richard > Stovall<[email protected]> wrote: > > Canada? (If you're a Northern Hemisphere kinda person.) > > > > ----------------- > > From: Cameron Cooper [email protected] > > Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:29:22 -0500 > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: RE: OT: Salary rant > > > > > > So for someone who is looking to move up in the IT field, what do people > > recommend? > > > > > > > > _____________________________ > > > > Cameron Cooper > > > > IT Director - CompTIA A+ Certified > > > > Aurico Reports, Inc > > > > Phone: 847-890-4021 Fax: 847-255-1896 > > > > [email protected] > > > > > > > > From: Andrew S. Baker [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 12:26 PM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: Re: OT: Salary rant > > > > > > > > Remember that when you look at averages for the US on a whole, you have > > to take into account the higher salaries available in the metro areas. > > > > I find that most of the salaries in the more comprehensive surveys are > > low to average for the NYC metro area. It all depends on the sample > > demographics. > > > > -ASB > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 1:05 PM, Maglinger, Paul <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > How about those salary surveys in the trade rags? > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > From: Sherry Abercrombie [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 11:39 AM > > > > > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: Re: OT: Salary rant > > > > > > > > Yup, what Vicky said. I've read too many stories like yours Scott, so > > when I hear those radio ads, I KNOW it's not true and it just ticks me > > off actually that they are even doing it. But, like they are saying in > > their ad, stimulus money is available....and I don't want this to > > denigrate into a political discussion but it just makes me angry when an > > unscrupulous company is capitalizing on a government handout and preying > > on clueless people and they won't be able to make good on their promises > > of a great paying career in IT. > > > > On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:14 AM, Vicky Spelshaus > > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Ouch! just ouch. > > > > > > > > On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:03 AM, Scott Williamson > > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > At least everybody here has a job. I lost my job in March.. The > > recession hurt our online sales (50% drop in sales). The owner, who had > > no clue when it came to SEO/SEM, decided to make all these changes to > > get it in top of the search engines. He ignored the employees, including > > our marketing person. We said this would hurt us even more. Boom!... an > > 80% drop in sales. From over $40,000 a day in online sale to just over > > $8,000 in six months. The owner kept assuring us that the company has > > been through this before and we will weather is out. The company has > > over $2 millions in reserves (found out this was not true). > > > > The owner quietly sold the business under us. We came to work > > and it was closed. Your paychecks will be sent in the mail. It never > > came. Company filed for bankruptcy the same day it closed. I went from > > 115K a year as the IT Director to $450 a week on unemployment. If > > figured with 15 years IT experience, a Masters in Information Systems, a > > PMP, A+, Network+, MCP, and advanced ColdFusion certified, I could find > > a job. > > > > Nope... Over 200 positions I have applied or sent my resume to > > and I got only one interview for an System Administrator making $55,000. > > The only way I got the interview was because I has to dumb down my > > resume. Did not get the job. They found someone with more experience and > > the HR person said that over 300 people applied for the position.. Three > > years ago, they could barely get 5 to apply. Recruiters are no help. > > > > I do have family in the Dallas area, and got a couple hits from > > companies in Dalles. But the both stated that because I am out of town, > > they feel I will leave when things pick up. Not true. I am looking to > > get out of California! > > > > So.. it is now August. My savings is dried up and my wife makes > > $40,000 a year as a dental assistant.. Not enough in Southern > > California. Mortgage company will not do a forbearance so we have to > > move out of our house and live with my brother. But the rent wont cover > > the mortgage and we have already accepted the fact that we will lose our > > house. I have spent $3,000 on two attorneys to help us with the mortgage > > company.. no help. > > > > I get a kick reading that IT jobs are the hot jobs and they are > > hard to fill. Not enough skilled workers. I have not experienced that. > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > > > From: "Ziots, Edward" <[email protected]> > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > <[email protected]> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 3:34:23 AM > > Subject: RE: OT: Salary rant > > > > I agree, right now, a lot if not most companies are "bleeding a > > nickel" when it comes to getting maximum productivity out of workers, on > > top of reducing costs any and every way they can. I don't see this trend > > ending for a few years to come. > > > > > > > > Like its been said before for those that get raises ( Ours have > > been frozen too, and possibly for longer for just this year) along with > > the raise in paying more for your benefits, less in the 401K, 403B, and > > no training budget) be happy you have a job and a roof over your head, > > it could be a lot worse, and quiet quickly.. > > > > > > > > I agree use the opportunity to stand out, put in the time, (and > > we all know it isn't a 40 hr work week, you are lucky if you get away > > with 60-70 hrs a week now a days) learn all you can learn with new > > technologies, and bide your time. > > > > > > > > Z > > > > > > > > Edward Ziots > > > > Network Engineer > > > > Lifespan Organization > > > > MCSE,MCSA,MCP+I, ME, CCA, Security +, Network + > > > > [email protected] > > > > Phone:401-639-3505 > > > > ________________________________ > > > > From: James Kerr [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:17 PM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: Re: OT: Salary rant > > > > > > > > Guess I shouldn't complain about our 1% raise company wide. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: Sam Cayze <mailto:[email protected]> > > > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > <mailto:[email protected]> > > > > Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 6:49 PM > > > > Subject: RE: OT: Salary rant > > > > > > > > Well put, nice words Andy. (And others). > > > > > > > > They might be lowballing to find someone serious about > > the position, not the paycheck. If you bite, they may make it worth > > your while if you are committed. > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > From: Andy Shook [mailto:[email protected]] > > Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 4:27 PM > > To: NT System Admin Issues > > Subject: RE: OT: Salary rant > > > > Chris, > > > > It's tough out there no doubt and I feel your pain, many > > of us that are employed are right there with you. Salary cuts, benefit > > cost increases, insurance coverage decreases, 401(k)s turning into > > 101(k)s, furloughs, FREAKIN' COMISSION PLAN RESTRUCTURES (I fell > > better). The cut sucks, I understand, but you're standing there with an > > FULL TIME OFFER LETTER. To many IT guys that are stupid smart are now > > bagging groceries... > > > > > > > > I encourage everyone in this situation to look long > > term; the here and now is not fun but it is temporary. "This too, shall > > pass", wrote the psalmist. I would use the opportunity you have been > > given to rise above the morale, fear\doom & gloom and stand out; i.e. > > all of you be the rock star in your current position(s). It's a killer > > opportunity, as the fat has been trimmed and orgs are now focusing on > > everything & everyone with laser precision. > > > > > > > > Be the best... [1] > > > > > > > > Shook > > > > [1] This could be perceived as an unintentional Karate > > Kid reference (tournament music....You're the best, around. No one's > > ever gunna beat you down) but that was not the intent. J > > > > > > > > On Tue, Aug 11, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Christopher Bodnar > > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > I know I'm not going to get a any sympathy here, due to > > the unemployment rate, and the economy in general, but needed to vent a > > little. Was hired as a contract to hire position last year. Great > > company, close to home, good salary. 6 months in they cut my salary by > > 10% to the contracting company, which was then passed on to me. I was > > told at the time, that if/when I was offered full time employment, I > > would be brought on with the initial salary I had started at. Just go > > the official offer, and it's 5% below that. I know I should be thankful > > I even have a job, which I am. But I still feel like they are > > low-balling me just because of the economy. If the economy would be > > better and more IT jobs out there, I'd tell them to take a hike and see > > what happens. Can't afford to do that right now with a mortgage and 2 > > kids. For once I just wish someone would offer me what was promised. > > Sorry, not looking to offend anyone out there. Just blowing off some > > steam. > > > > Chris > > > > > > > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > mail2web.com - Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on > > Microsoft(r) > > Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail > > > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
