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Home > Archive > Certifications and IT jobs/Salaries > February 2002 > So if I actually get offered a job...
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So if I actually get offered a job...
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| I'm a newly A+ certified IT pro with a few years of experience. I'm 19, just dropped out of college, and looking for an IT position in the Detroit area. I interviewed for three helpdesk/support positions this week, and I want to know from people who;ve been there,
If I actually offers for get one or more of these jobs, then what?
How does contracting work exactly? I know, Company A pays me, but basically hoes my work out to company B,C, whoever
Do I actually sign a contract? (True, prolly a stupid question, but I honestly wonder)
If it's a 10 month contract, do I get pealized for leaving the job before my time is up?
Can I expect a raise/performance review as I get more certs and whatnot?
any specific things I need to know before becoming a contractor, stuff you wish you had known?
How sohlud I ask about if the company pays for training, ask about benefits packages?
and if I don't get the jobs, there seem to be a few people on these boards who interview people as a part of their job, if you were to IM or email me or post here, could I send you my resume, to see if it's tight enough or if there are things that need changing.
As far as interviews go, I feel I do a good job of communication, but I want to reach the level of being able to walk in and making them know that I am THE guy they need on this job, and I'm just not doing that yet, I'm only seen as "ok, he is suitable for this post, and personable enough, but who else is there?". What tactics, tips do I need?
Thanks to anybody who can help me out, and good luck to everybody else on the job hunt. | |
| Nicole 2002-02-08, 10:46 am |
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How does contracting work exactly? I know, Company A pays me, but basically hoes my work out to company B,C, whoever
You do whatever they want you to for the most part.
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Do I actually sign a contract? (True, prolly a stupid question, but I honestly wonder)
Maybe. It might be an oral contract. If it's a written one: READ IT CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU SIGN IT.
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If it's a 10 month contract, do I get pealized for leaving the job before my time is up?
Maybe. Refer to your contract.
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Can I expect a raise/performance review as I get more certs and whatnot?
Maybe. Refer to your contract. But don't hold your breath... you will probably have to renegotiate.
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any specific things I need to know before becoming a contractor, stuff you wish you had known?
The tax code is your new best friend. You know all those taxes most people pay out of their paycheck? Well, you won't. At least not until April the next year and you realize you owe a year worth of income, social security, and medicare taxes, plus penalities for paying them late. You need to pay your taxes quarterly, and set aside enough from every paycheck to meet those commitments. Be prepared, just in case, to be able to pay more at the end of the year.
However, the self-employment deductions can be sweet.
If the tax laws make your eyes sim in circles, you need to talk to a tax pro who can help you plan.
And remember the tax issue when figuring out how much money you need to live on!
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How sohlud I ask about if the company pays for training, ask about benefits packages?
True contractors rarely get benefits, although there may be perks working for the company, like access to their training software or a group insurance plan that you can buy into. Depending on the company (refer to the contract again) you may have nice benies or you may get squat.
If you are getting nothing, remember what those are going to cost you when figuring out how much money you need to live on!
You are welcome to post your resume here, and you should get some comments. Good interviewing skills are usually a function of preparedness (learn about the company before you get there) and practice. Even if you don't want the job, if you get asked for an interview, take it. | |
| ccieToBe 2002-02-08, 4:13 pm |
| First of all I agree with everything Nicole said 
Take a carefull look at any contracts they give you before signing. I interviewed with a couple contracting companies a while back and their contracts would have required me to work for them exclusively. That may or may not matter in your case. In my case it mattered enough to loose interest in working for them and look elsewhere. | |
| darthw 2002-02-08, 6:23 pm |
| I agree with all that was said above. It's pretty much been my experience.
However, continue with your college, even part time if you need to do that way. A degree will get you farther than most things. Get it while your young. | |
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| Get the job, if they hire you. Nothing better than a real life experience. As the end, you will find out a college education will help you to understand and learn more toward your IT career.
U can take a short break, but don't give up. | |
| gammann 2002-02-10, 9:56 pm |
| Depends on the type of contracting you are talking about. It sounds like you are talking about contracting for a company as apposed to contracting for yourself.
I have done the contracting for a company, where you work for Company A, but you work at Company B, almost as if you are an employee at Company B. Company B pays Company A, who takes their cut, then Company A pays you your salary, and your benefits, and the appropriate taxes. Headhunters usually work in this fashion.
Sometimes it can suck, cause you are always an outsider, it just depends on how Company B treats you. Some places make you feel just like an employee, your paycheck just comes from a diff address, while some others will exclude you from some meetings and company functions.
In my experience, you get almost no training benefits, unless Company B is cool and gives you some training. This is typically due to the fact that they don't expect you to stick around long, or the contract between Companies A & B is a temp to perm position.
If its a 10-month temp to perm contract, this in no way guarantees that you will have a permanent position after the 10 months is up. The contract should state whether there is a penalty for leaving early, if so, I would also make them amend it, so that if they don't hold up their end (i.e. layoff) that they pay you the remaining months salary as a severance.
So make sure you read the contract carefully. | |
| kappagamma698 2002-02-11, 8:17 pm |
| Well I cant make any more good points about the contract info but from first had I can tell you to finish school at all costs if you can. I myself just left without finishing thinking that I could be out here making money and not doing the boring school thing but after being out for a little over a year I am looking for anyway to go back even parttime. I did find a job working at a helpdesk but still think that I will keep trying to go back here when the next school year starts backup. | |
| EvanF 2002-02-14, 11:49 pm |
| I almost worked for a contracting company...
They were hiring for Help Desk for HP ( I would work for them and they farm me out to HP). I was studying to be an MCSE, had been working as a System Admin/Tech support/application engineer... type job for 5 years and they needed to fill a contract with bodies. They were so desperate that they agreed to pay me about $32 an hour.. BUT I figured I would have to pay for my own health insurance, keep track of my taxes (like was said before) and had no 401k, I realized that I would be making less than where I was at AND it was only a 6 month gig. at the interview I asked if advancement was possible, they deftly evaded the question. I suggested that my skills might be better used in a different position and that Help desk was an almost dead end position. Even though they wanted me for the one position (which I declined) they never called me back... I still work at the same place...
On the other hand... A friend of mine did go with them. She had no experience prior to the help desk and 4 months after starting, jumped her contract for a better paying position (no penalty)and now two jobs later is working as the head of a technical education facility. |
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