OT : Salaries & Contractors

Reading Doc and Robert about 'contracting' really doesn't leave me
thrilled. Far too much famine and feast, with the emphasis on 'famine'.
Then again having to deal with the 'pimps'. The other aspect I don't
care for is you are with an outfit for say 6, perhaps 12 months and then
you are gonzo. Perhaps successfully you have left your 'mark' behind
with your proficiency - but not particularly self-satisfying, I would
suggest.

If loners could hit the mark with a 'unique' application - then they can
be on a winner. Book on Win 32 APIs has been hanging around on my
bookshelf for years, and has an example of using dropdown menus/lists to
order pizza. Smart guys. Just about six months back, read where two
entrepreneurs in Edmonton hit the jackpot. They came up with a
pizza/submarine or whatever Web on-line system to order your favourites.
No specifics but they have been able to sell it to take-out franchises
both here in Canada and the States.

Then to-day I see following in the 'Working' section of the Calgary
Herald. First time, in a very, very long time that I've actually seen a
salary range quoted, (sorry Doc - perhaps you should send your canned
response to the Calgary Herald :-) ).

Desktop Specialist - with the NEB (National Energy Board) - so it's the
Feds, and likely you've got 'bonuses', like additional health coverage,
teeth (NOT covered by any health schemes - try getting a root canal for
$10 !), savings plans, good holiday entitlements etc. The downside -
it's civil service, so are you able to handle all the BS that goes with
bureacracy.

The job, wouldn't appeal to all, (includes me), but basically the skills
needed to daisy-chain configurations together and couple that with the
right software - emphasis is on selecting the right pre-canned packages.
Plus of course, a necessity to be aware of package content to get
end-users up and running.

Got to allow for dollar exchange rate, and your location but the going
rate, permanent job, is $64,609 to $78,604 pa. I would think one could
live quite comfortably on that in Calgary. In fact, I would be as happy
as a pig in shit with half that figure !

Any Canucks care to comment on the salary rate as it applies to their
bit of the Great White North ?

Jimmy, Calgary AB