Is it that low?

[industry86]

Just got off of a phone interview with Matrix RP (staffing firm) and they were offering entry level software development at $17-$20/hour.

Really? I mean really? Everybody I know in my classes that has been hired recently have all started at or around $60k/year. $20/hour barely gets to $42k.

Is this what I should expect from staffing firms?

Comments

[poh]

Yup, that's staffing firms for ya.

[industry86]

I got to step it up then.

[paintgirl]

I just want to say your avatar rocks. Is that a blackboard behind you?

[industry86]

yep. www.weeworld.com search for industry86.
you can export your own little weemee for an avatar too.

bothered with it because it held ideas towards my project, then had some fun with the avatar customization.

[recalcitrant_lj]

Most staffing firms are notoriously tight-pocketed.

Was making about 60k as a software engineer at Go2Net/Infospace back in the day, but not through a staffing firm. That would have moved up quickly, had I started in that position, not transferred in from another department.
$20/HR was about what I started out at thru Volt for a Software Test Engineer II position. Moved up a bit from there doing SDET stuff through JetStream (also not a staffing firm), then back down and up again @ Lionbridge as STE and Content Manager.

I'm happy with what I am making at Quardev now, though I am an FTE... but I know they treat their contingent staff well.

But yeah.. if you can find an FTE position, it will definitely pay better, with MUCH better benefiets. But, staffing allows you to get real-world experience in a lot of different niches, which really makes your resume sing.

[industry86]

A friend of mine told me to stay away from Volt for exactly the reason you have stated. They undercut their employees by about 33%. Apparently Excell Data does not, but I haven't seen anything to prove it other than my friends opinion. I guess he got a position through them at roughly 60k.

Oh, and the Quardev recruiter that was supposed to call me 15 minutes ago mentioned you by name. "I received your resume from Gray" was what he said, so it sounds like he knows you...but maybe just knows OF you.

But definitely looking for FTE. That would be mucho bueno.

[chiaspod]

I worked through Volt my first pass as a contractor '97 - 2000, and through Excell when I contracted in '04; Excell does offer slightly better pay and better training opportunities.

Excell is also much better at trying to find contract-to-FTE positions.

[industry86]

Thanks for the input.

This was partly my fault...I think, but I received a phone call from Volt about an hour after a specified time and went someplace quite to talk...and then the phone cut out. Never received a call back.

I know thats partly my fault, but not even giving the benefit of doubt that a technical problem cut us off? Blegh. But maybe I'm a little nicer than HR people.

[theemptied]

What are you good at / looking for these days?

[industry86]

Entry level type work. Preferably straight up development. I know enough C++ and Java to start. I really like working with parallel and distributed systems. That class was my favorite by far.

Ya, I'm pretty much straight out of college with no real industry experience.

Why? What do you know?

[theemptied]

Not much in that arena, but I can keep an ear to the ground if I know what to listen for :)