The BEST Things About Contracting

[N Kendall <k534 -at- EARTHLINK -dot- NET>]

I've tried not to respond to this thread, but I just can't resist. I've been
a contract employee since 1979. That's 20-years folks. I've worked at
everything from Drafting (learned in High School) to Engineering to Tech
Writing. Each step has provided learning that was/is invaluable. By the way,
I was the only girl in high school to take the drafting class! And, there
was some question by the teacher and the school board as to whether a "girl"
should take such a course! I won.

Drafting paid my way through college. How? I started my own business. I
carried a full load of classes and worked a 30-40 hour week doing drafting
for several small manufacturing companies that didn't need a full-time
employee but was delighted to have someone who could work part-time. Since
it was my own business I could schedule my hours to suit my needs. It was a
lot of work, but worth every minute of it.

The BSME I got in college, along with my work experience, lead me into
printed circuit board design, which lead to hybrid circuit design, which
lead to Electro-Mechanical Packaging. Eventually, I became a Project
Engineer. Kept in mind, with only a short 1-year exception, all of this was
contract work.

As a Project Engineer, I wrote a lot of reports, proposals, specifications,
and justifications for various actions. It was a fun challenge to be able to
sway upper management through the use of a well written document. I learned
there was a real need for Engineers who knew the technical aspects of a
project and who could translate the techno-speak into simple English. I
switched careers and became a Technical Writer. Perhaps because of the
degree, my pay did not decrease, it increased.

Although at times, I think about going back into Engineering, I really enjoy
Technical Writing. And, if you have to work at something for 8 or more hours
per day for 30-some years, it might as well be something you enjoy doing. If
you don't like what you're doing, get out. Find something you do like to do.
Life is entirely too short to be miserable.

I've worked for some of the largest companies in the US, met a lot of nice
people and a few that weren't, and had a lot of fun along the way.

Contracting isn't for everyone. There is a certain insecurity in knowing
that tomorrow you may not have a job. But what about all those fine loyal
direct employees who have been "downsized"? Most went to work for the
company of their choice with the idea the company was going to provide
long-term benefits, pensions, health insurance, etc. What do these downsized
employees do after spending 10 (or more) years with a company only to find
themselves on the unemployment rolls with stagnant skills?

As for the insecurity of contracting, there's a counter-point of
satisfaction in knowing that no matter what happens, you'll survive and live
to find another job; another challenge. There is always work to be done. The
smart, and employed, contractor has to be flexible, versatile, and have a
broad knowledge base. The trick, if there is such a thing, is to be really
good at one or two things and know a little bit about a lot of other things.
Also, a good contractor has to take responsibility for themselves and their
actions. Something that seems to be lacking in many people today, whether
contract or direct.

Something my Daddy told me years ago, "There is no one in the world
(companies included) that will look out for you as well as you can look out
for yourself".

Guess I'd better get off this soap box and get back to work. BTW, I'm back
to my own business again, and doing great!

*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
Nancy Kendall
Sr Documentation Analyst and Owner
Kendall Custom Documentation
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*


 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=