[AusNOG] Job: Head of Network Operations - NEXTDC - SydneyC

[Mark Newton]

On Feb 25, 2015, at 4:55 PM, Skeeve Stevens <skeeve+ausnog at theispguy.com> wrote:

> Something I'd also recommend to some engineers... consider timesharing... I.e. working part time for two or three people - at normalish wages, not contracting hourly wages... a good way to create yourself a fulltime job. 

If someone is going to do that, why wouldn’t they do the same thing at contracting rates?

> Btw... I'm not trying to get 'cheap' people, I am just saying that most employers don't want to pay contractor rates on a long term basis.

A contractor doesn’t need to care what “most” employers want, they only need to care about what the clients they’re specifically offering their services to want.

There are plenty of companies out there who employ people full-time on contracting rates, so it can’t be that hard. Anyone who’s getting less than normal contracting rates for their part time work probably should be having a heart-to-heart with their current employer about their willingness to continue the arrangement :-)

For what it’s worth: This is a community of, mostly, people who work for network operators. I’m not convinced that it’s in this community’s best interests for anyone to drive down the pay and conditions for people who work for network operators, unless, like you, they actually own the business that’s providing the pay and conditions.

Shorter: Your goals aren’t aligned with employees’ goals, which might be something to consider when you’re offering career advice to employees.

   - mark