From: rg@msel.unh.edu (Roger Gonzalez)
Subject: help!  need advise badly!
Organization: UNH Marine Systems Engineering Lab
Distribution: misc
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 21:56:20 GMT


Greetings!  A former co-worker called me up the other day and asked if
I would like to do some contract work for the place he now works.  I need
advise on this, because the situation sounds too good to be true, and my
decisionmaking process tends to get very suspicious of things that sound
too good to be true....

The scenario:  I work in a research lab loosely associated with a university.
While I'm mainly a jack-of-all-trades programming on everything from Unix
to DOS, device drivers to GUIs, I've developed a talent for <INSERT TRENDY
SKILL OF CHOICE>.

I've been working here for about 3 years, ever since I got my BSCS.  I'm
ready to leave the lab, but haven't really committed any real time or
effort to the job search.  I have trolled around occasionally, and have
gotten quite a few nibbles.  The main setback I've hit is an apparent
prejudice in industry against people coming from a "researchy" background
(the fact that I strictly did development didn't seem to matter.)

At any rate, my friend calls me up and says they need a contractor to do
work in <INSERT TRENDY SKILL OF CHOICE>.  He describes the work, and its stuff
that is well within my talents and abilities.  Unfortunately, the time scale
is a little short for my estimation of the project, only 11 months.  But I
think still doable with some effort.  Furthermore, the work would be at
<INSERT VERY SEXY COMPANY>, and would let me play with <INSERT NEAT EXPENSIVE
TOYS>.

I was a little leery about packing up and moving to <INSERT EXPENSIVE STATE>
just for 11 months, even if there was the potential of an extension.

But then, he told me the money that they were looking to spend.  Now, my
salary at a university-affiliated lab is much smaller than a comparable
position in industry, but this number was almost double what I would have
gotten even in industry!  This number seemed Really Big to me, but my mind
boggled when they said that the only other person they've found with the
requisite skills was "overpriced".  Yeesh.

The large numbers involved, plus the word "contract" added up to the probable
threat of the presence of slimy lawyer types, a species which I don't even
understand, much less want to be associated with.

So here I am, 3 years out of college, with an apparently desireable skill or
two, living on a shoestring budget while working as Systems Guru at a nice
reputable (if underfunded) lab.  And a sexy company wants to hire someone that
has my skills for 11 months, they want someone "cheap", and they want them by
mid-may.  And I'd love to be able to have all my bills paid off so I can go to
grad school in a year or so.

So.  I ask you, O Contract Gurus, please enlighten me!  I generally ignore
all things associated with legaleze, and am mystified by financial affairs,
and feel naiive enough to be "ripe for the plucking."

I don't know enough about contract work to even -ask- intelligent questions
to you.  The only ones that come to mind are

	LIABILITY - What can they get me for?

	PAYMENT   - How am I paid?  Lump sum?  As a salary?  Do I charge them?
                How would it be taxed?


At any rate, I think I've already decided to at least talk to them, even
though they are multiple states away from me.  I'd appreciate it if you could
guide me a bit, and give me tips, questions to ask them, things to watch out
for, etc.

Please email... I don't get this group on my machine..

Thanks for your patience,
Roger



--
"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting
 than the question of whether a submarine can swim" - Edsger W. Dijkstra 

Roger Gonzalez   -  rg@msel.unh.edu
Division of Bit Banging and Reluctant Robotics
UNH Marine Systems Engineering Laboratory, Durham, NH  03824-3525
(603) 862-4600 -4399 (fax)

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