[stackthatcode]

Ok. I definitely respect any hardships the author has had to endure - I've had a few of my own. I also appreciate being frugal, calculated and managing risk in one's career.

OTOH, I am hearing echoes of what sounds like a textbook case of victim mentality. It's almost as if his fate wholly lies in the hands of these IT companies he's vying to work for. He mentions failing to hold his own during negotiations. He blames outsourcing. Complaint after complaint about why it's not all "roses, just roses"... like it used to be.

Folks: if you spend the time getting the right skills to pay the bills, this article does NOT apply to you. The crowd that I "run with" generally has NO problem finding lucrative engagements, or employment. Especially in this market. And even in a down market. There's always something brewing.

I hope I'm just gagging on some expensive link bait.

[redact207]

I was thinking exactly the same thing. You can complain about your job going to India, Russia or Eastern Europe all you like, but the sorts of jobs that are realistically compatible with those locations shouldn't be paid highly or in demand in the first place. The short of it is GOOD people are still HARD to find (heaven knows I've been looking for them).

The other thing that rubbed me the wrong way is this guy was taking 6 month holidays and working when he felt like it. Then he gets all upset when there's a low in the market and he's desperate for cash. What ever happened to making hay when the sun shines?

Surely with "decades of experience," this guy should have saved plenty by that point in his life to have a happy early retirement; but by the sound of it he's taken the work and salary for granted and wasted it away.