6 Figures 6 Certs Random Thoughts Thread

[David_TheMan]

Maybe we're talking about 2 different things. I'm talking about cybersecurity jobs and how the rates have dropped 10-15K from just a few months ago. I have no idea on the Federal Contracting side because I left them years ago.

I used to routinely see contract jobs for 60-70hr. But are now 45-55hr in just a few months on the Civilian side.

Getting a Federal job with a base salary of 102K and job security. Is a way better play with companies cancelling contracts and laying off people right now.

Federal contracting is one of the bigger hiring sections for cyber/IT.
Ssalaries are still the same from last year to the present, from what I'm seeing.

When you say civilian side, I don't get what you are talking about civilian is a fed employee thats different than contracting, and you know civilian isn't based on rate but on pay grade, so I don't understand what you are referencing.

Personally I don't think the contracting job has less security than being a civilian, just keep your work ethic and you can find work easy. Plus you make more money.
You aren't getting 102k unless you live in a big locality pay area or for rest of the US you come in at a GS-13 step 10, which aint likely. Plus the benefits aren't even that great.

 

[JT-Money]

Federal contracting is one of the bigger hiring sections for cyber/IT.
Ssalaries are still the same from last year to the present, from what I'm seeing.

When you say civilian side, I don't get what you are talking about civilian is a fed employee thats different than contracting, and you know civilian isn't based on rate but on pay grade, so I don't understand what you are referencing.

Personally I don't think the contracting job has less security than being a civilian, just keep your work ethic and you can find work easy. Plus you make more money.
You aren't getting 102k unless you live in a big locality pay area or for rest of the US you come in at a GS-13 step 10, which aint likely. Plus the benefits aren't even that great.

I'm talking about the difference in pay between Corporate IT contracting and Federal. In the private sector you could always make more money doing contract work than the Feds. I'm guessing because Federal contract companies skim much more money off the top.

And I know several people who got Federal jobs making over 100K. They came from the private sector directly into Federal employment. But now their job security will be a lot better working in Government and don't have to worry about layoffs. They made over 100K in the private sector before taking a slight paycut for the Feds. But this was back in October or November time frame.

 

[David_TheMan]

I'm talking about the difference in pay between Corporate IT contracting and Federal. In the private sector you could always make more money doing contract work than the Feds. I'm guessing because Federal contract companies skim much more money off the top.

And I know several people who got Federal jobs making over 100K. They came from the private sector directly into Federal employment. But now their job security will be a lot better working in Government and don't have to worry about layoffs. They made over 100K in the private sector before taking a slight paycut for the Feds. But this was back in October or November time frame.

Federal contracting is just as big if not bigger than non-federal congracting, mainly because of the money you are dealing with, especially when you get into starting the company and start pulling in multiple contracts.

Contracting for the fed, isn't federal employment, I think you are mixing up terminology so its making things weird to parse. Contractors are contractors, if you are working for the federal government you are a civilian.

Civilians do have more security than contractors, but contractors, like I said before, can find work if they keep on it and don't get complacent in their contract.

And again, if anyone is reading, cyber security wise and IT wise, with regard to contracting we arent taking any hits in my sector and geographic area. There is still a shortage for cleared professionals.

 

[JT-Money]

Federal contracting is just as big if not bigger than non-federal congracting, mainly because of the money you are dealing with, especially when you get into starting the company and start pulling in multiple contracts.

Contracting for the fed, isn't federal employment, I think you are mixing up terminology so its making things weird to parse. Contractors are contractors, if you are working for the federal government you are a civilian.

Civilians do have more security than contractors, but contractors, like I said before, can find work if they keep on it and don't get complacent in their contract.

And again, if anyone is reading, cyber security wise and IT wise, with regard to contracting we arent taking any hits in my sector and geographic area. There is still a shortage for cleared professionals.

I left Federal Contracting back in 2014 because it was a shyt show. Companies just up and leaving the contract with no notice leaving their employees in the lurch. Contracts switching hands to different employers who threaten you to sign non-compete agreements even in right-to-work states. The only real protection you had was getting Federalized.

If you ain't taken no hits yet my posts shouldn't apply to you anyway.

 

[David_TheMan]

I left Federal Contracting back in 2014 because it was a shyt show. Companies just up and leaving the contract with no notice leaving their employees in the lurch. Contracts switching hands to different employers who threaten you to sign non-compete agreements even in right-to-work states. The only real protection you had was getting Federalized.

If you ain't taken no hits yet my posts shouldn't apply to you anyway.

Very I've been in federal contracting since 2008 off and on, went civilian last year and now I'm back to contracting.
If you had a bad contractor that isn't unusual, but typically you see companies lose contracts that is the fear, not contracting companies just not filling the contract.

Don't see to many NCC in the level of contracting I do, unless you are working for the company itself as opposed to working for the company on a contracted job.

Typically your protection in contracting is your work quality, and if you know your job you are good.

I'm simply don't see what you are talking about federally, especially in Washington state with the oracle contract and MS JEDI contract nor the Washington DC area.

 

[Rawtid]

You can always quit the Federal job if you get complacent or the economy rebounds. I just don't think the economy will rebound anytime soon. Everytime I go on LinkedIn someone on my timeline is saying they got laid off recently. They'll be so many people looking for work after this is over it will drive down salaries like crazy. I did a couple of phone interviews last week and they rates their offering are complete garbage. It's only a matter of time before companies try and take advantage by requesting employees take paycuts if they haven't already. I saw dudes on Reddit complaining this had already happened to them.

I'm trying to find someone stupid enough to redo my security clearance so I can ride out this storm working for the Feds.

I wouldn't quit a Fed job; I would definitely treat it like some "marriage" type shyt and commit to it because in the long run, it opens up a lot of opportunities, especially if I cleared. One thing about the Federal Government from what I witness, is they are big on career development and provide training opportunities and resources. They also have clear career and promotion paths, that most jobs don't have. Of course it's dependent on the agency. They have a bunch of Covid-19 specific jobs they are actively recruiting for, so not sure if the economy is hitting them just yet, not in certain sectors.

What level clearance did you have?

 

[JT-Money]

Very I've been in federal contracting since 2008 off and on, went civilian last year and now I'm back to contracting.
If you had a bad contractor that isn't unusual, but typically you see companies lose contracts that is the fear, not contracting companies just not filling the contract.

Don't see to many NCC in the level of contracting I do, unless you are working for the company itself as opposed to working for the company on a contracted job.

Typically your protection in contracting is your work quality, and if you know your job you are good.

I'm simply don't see what you are talking about federally, especially in Washington state with the oracle contract and MS JEDI contract nor the Washington DC area.

I've never worked in the DC area. But heard stories from people who relocated down South that it was totally different. But outside of DC or areas with a huge Federal footprint it's like the wild wild west of shady contract companies.

If you got a top secret clearance up North you could probably quit your job and find another one that same week. It's completely different in these small towns out in the middle of nowhere. I routinely saw when the contracts switching hands these companies either letting you go with zero notice. Or forcing you to sign non-competes where you couldn't work for anyone else in the Federal sector.

 

[Rawtid]

Very I've been in federal contracting since 2008 off and on, went civilian last year and now I'm back to contracting.
If you had a bad contractor that isn't unusual, but typically you see companies lose contracts that is the fear, not contracting companies just not filling the contract.

Don't see to many NCC in the level of contracting I do, unless you are working for the company itself as opposed to working for the company on a contracted job.

Typically your protection in contracting is your work quality, and if you know your job you are good.

I'm simply don't see what you are talking about federally, especially in Washington state with the oracle contract and MS JEDI contract nor the Washington DC area.

How long did you stay a Civilian and what role did you take, if you don't mind me asking?

I was on a DoD Contract as a BI Specialist for the army contracting division and I was lucky because the Executive Director was black and so were many of his staff. It was the first time I've seen so many black professionals and it was a great experience until my new COR starting acting like a hoe, so I left the contract to focus on finishing school.

 

[JT-Money]

I wouldn't quit a Fed job; I would definitely treat it like some "marriage" type shyt and commit to it because in the long run, it opens up a lot of opportunities, especially if I cleared. One thing about the Federal Government from what I witness, is they are big on career development and provide training opportunities and resources. They also have clear career and promotion paths, that most jobs don't have. Of course it's dependent on the agency. They have a bunch of Covid-19 specific jobs they are actively recruiting for, so not sure if the economy is hitting them just yet, not in certain sectors.

What level clearance did you have?

I had Top Secret when I worked for DOD. When working for the Navy as a contractor most Govies took the same training classes we did. But this was on the military side which maybe completely different than civilian agencies like DHS.

I know 3 people who had decent jobs in the private sector. But either got Federal jobs or went back to Federal Contracting. I doubt any of them will return to the private sector. Unless the Government does something stupid like sequestration or a shut down.

I got out right before sequestration began. And not long after tons of Federal contractors got dumped just like I predicted. That's probably what led to the shortage that's probably still going on now. Because it takes forever to get individuals cleared these days. Because their no longer rubber stamping clearances when the work was farmed out to contract companies.

 

[David_TheMan]

How long did you stay a Civilian and what role did you take, if you don't mind me asking?

I was on a DoD Contract as a BI Specialist for the army contracting division and I was lucky because the Executive Director was black and so were many of his staff. It was the first time I've seen so many black professionals and it was a great experience until my new COR starting acting like a hoe, so I left the contract to focus on finishing school.

I stayed a year to get time in grade for gs-13 if I ever want to go back. I was a 2210 working with the Army in their DCO teams.

I was placed on a team with a bunch of other black guys on a racist ass white man's team. All of us civilians left after a year there, fukk that shyt, I went back to contracting, my other co-workers transfered back to his higher GS position.

I've never worked in the DC area. But heard stories from people who relocated down South that it was totally different. But outside of DC or areas with a huge Federal footprint it's like the wild wild west of shady contract companies.

If you got a top secret clearance up North you could probably quit your job and find another one that same week. It's completely different in these small towns out in the middle of nowhere. I routinely saw when the contracts switching hands these companies either letting you go with zero notice. Or forcing you to sign non-competes where you couldn't work for anyone else in the Federal sector.

My sister works in the DC area and I have some old contracting co-workers who are up there now.
Everyone up there wants to leave, except corporate, cost of living is way too high. The key that most people like to do is work remote for a job in DC. That way you can live in the south or a cheaper area and still make DC pay.

A TS isn't regional, you have a national commodity. Outside of a small area with no other clients you are good where ever their is TS work and there is a lot of it.

Nah, there is no Non Compete enforceable that would allow you to only work for one company for all federal contracting work. Non compete have to be narrowly tailored to specific actions, you might not be able to compete on a specific type of project, but not all federal contracting work.

 

[RiffRaff]

We did it brehs.

Just signed an offer in LA for a senior engineer role at one of the big tech companies. Total compensation 350K




Momma we made it!


Five and a half years ago I got laid off from my first gig right out of college. I had to move back home with my parents and was unemployed for two years. Wasn't for lack of trying either. Was doing Uber 50 hours a week for $15/hr and started going to code meetups in the city to start learning Python. Finally after two years got a job offer and moved out to LA. Worked at a startup so was putting in 50-60 hours(sometimes more) at work each week, while studying for the GRE to go back to school and doing another 20 hours on the weekends with Uber to make ends meet. Stayed in a shytty shared room for a few months just to stay afloat.

Got arrested for assault . DA dropped the charges thank God. Initial prognosis was about a year in jail.

Got into Grad School
Left the startup for a new job
And just been grinding since then brehs.

I'm graduating with my Masters next month and I got this new gig. I'm just in disbelief mane

Let this be a lesson to any of y'all on the fence. You can do it too. Put in the work and grind and tech will take care of you.

 

[Secure Da Bag]

We did it brehs.

Just signed an offer in LA for a senior engineer role at one of the big tech companies. Total compensation 350K

 

[Pyrexcup]

We did it brehs.

Just signed an offer in LA for a senior engineer role at one of the big tech companies. Total compensation 350K




Momma we made it!


Five and a half years ago I got laid off from my first gig right out of college. I had to move back home with my parents and was unemployed for two years. Wasn't for lack of trying either. Was doing Uber 50 hours a week for $15/hr and started going to code meetups in the city to start learning Python. Finally after two years got a job offer and moved out to LA. Worked at a startup so was putting in 50-60 hours(sometimes more) at work each week, while studying for the GRE to go back to school and doing another 20 hours on the weekends with Uber to make ends meet. Stayed in a shytty shared room for a few months just to stay afloat.

Got arrested for assault . DA dropped the charges thank God. Initial prognosis was about a year in jail.

Got into Grad School
Left the startup for a new job
And just been grinding since then brehs.

I'm graduating with my Masters next month and I got this new gig. I'm just in disbelief mane

Let this be a lesson to any of y'all on the fence. You can do it too. Put in the work and grind and tech will take care of you.

let me hold something

 

[Secure Da Bag]

Total compensation 350K

let me hold something

 

[analog]

let me hold something