5 ms·

I recently updated my resume on linkedin and dice and I am shocked by the response. I haven't actively searched for a new job for about 10 years so I didn't re

by sps_jp 14y ago

I recently updated my resume on linkedin and dice and I am shocked by the response. I haven't actively searched for a new job for about 10 years so I didn't really know what to expect both in terms of available positions in my geographical area, Tampa, FL, and salary. In the last 3 weeks I've received 5-10 phone calls and/or emails per day from recruiters with salaries that are all over the board, but higher than my current salary. I have several years of .NET experience, but switched to ROR about a year and a half ago. 90% of the available positions I am contacted about are for .NET, which I don't really want to go back to. However, this makes me wonder if the wise career move would be to go back to .NET and just keep ROR as my side project language. Any advice for someone not living in a start-up or technology hub?

pekk 14y ago
With that .NET experience, outside a startup hub to drive a lot of Rails demand, it seems like you will earn more with .NET than with Rails, doesn't it?
- fecak 14y ago
  The 'outside a startup hub' is probably the biggest factor, but I'm guessing the Rails experience is what accounts for the prices being quoted?
  - sps_jp 14y ago
    Being in Tampa, FL is definitely a limiting factor in my desire to continue working professionally with Rails. However, I really do not want to relocate at this time. I guess I've been lurking on HN too long, because the availability of .NET jobs and lack of ROR jobs in my area was still surprising.
- danielweber 14y ago
  I've asked before: has anyone compiled a list of how various skillsets get paid in our world? If I could get a job doing X or Y, and be happy at either, but X is $20,000 more than Y, I'd love to know that so I can work on those opportunities more.
  - mason240 14y ago
    I am in my first year of web dev after college. I started out doing PHP stuff when I was in school, and now I work using ASP.NET MVC4. I can't help but wonder if I am sabotaging myself by spending time on ASP instead of PHP, and would love some hard numbers to help me make a more informed decision.
    - rrreese 14y ago
      Anecdotally when I arrived in London I talked to a recruiter who claimed that PHP devs get payed less then .Net devs. One recruiter in one city so take with a pinch of salt.
    - dpritchett 14y ago
      .NET MVC is a great first step on the corporate dev path. You'll mostly work in cost center departments (see article). It'll pay pretty well for a day job, but you'll have limited market leverage as a cost center. You'll have to go where the .NET jobs are, and that's mostly big companies that treat IT as a necessary evil. PHP is a great first step on the indie dev path. You'll work in smaller shops, pay can fluctuate wildly, but at least you'll be a profit center. It takes a bit more hustle to manage your career but you'll be better positioned to hang out your own shingle later if you're interested in doing so. A few years of enterprise work can be a fine starting point for transition into more indie dev, but you'll have to be honest with yourself about the trajectory you're on from one year to the next.
      - sps_jp 14y ago
        Yes, agreed. Well stated.
      - euroclydon 14y ago
        Entry level .NET (web) jobs may well be in IT departments, in a so called cost center, but I've have four web development jobs, all using .NET, and all of them have been for product companies, working on the core product, which was either sold on a SAAS model or DVD.
    - 14y ago
- sps_jp 14y ago
  The .NET positions are typically higher in salary, but they also have a wider range. The ROR positions all seem to be within about $10,000 of each other.
profquail 14y ago
When you were working with .NET before, I assume that means you were writing C# (or maybe VB.NET)? You might consider learning F# -- it's a fantastic language to work with and might even change your mind about working with .NET. (Plus, you'll already have a head start given your previous experience.) http://tryfsharp.org http://tryfsharp.org Also, salaries for experienced F#/C# developers are somewhat higher than those of experienced C# developers. Do some research if you don't believe me.
- sps_jp 14y ago
  Yes, my .NET experience has primarily been with C#. I'll checkout F#. Thanks!

by sps_jp 14y ago

pekk 14y ago

With that .NET experience, outside a startup hub to drive a lot of Rails demand, it seems like you will earn more with .NET than with Rails, doesn't it?

fecak 14y ago
The 'outside a startup hub' is probably the biggest factor, but I'm guessing the Rails experience is what accounts for the prices being quoted?
- sps_jp 14y ago
  Being in Tampa, FL is definitely a limiting factor in my desire to continue working professionally with Rails. However, I really do not want to relocate at this time. I guess I've been lurking on HN too long, because the availability of .NET jobs and lack of ROR jobs in my area was still surprising.
danielweber 14y ago
I've asked before: has anyone compiled a list of how various skillsets get paid in our world? If I could get a job doing X or Y, and be happy at either, but X is $20,000 more than Y, I'd love to know that so I can work on those opportunities more.
- mason240 14y ago
  I am in my first year of web dev after college. I started out doing PHP stuff when I was in school, and now I work using ASP.NET MVC4. I can't help but wonder if I am sabotaging myself by spending time on ASP instead of PHP, and would love some hard numbers to help me make a more informed decision.
  - rrreese 14y ago
    Anecdotally when I arrived in London I talked to a recruiter who claimed that PHP devs get payed less then .Net devs. One recruiter in one city so take with a pinch of salt.
  - dpritchett 14y ago
    .NET MVC is a great first step on the corporate dev path. You'll mostly work in cost center departments (see article). It'll pay pretty well for a day job, but you'll have limited market leverage as a cost center. You'll have to go where the .NET jobs are, and that's mostly big companies that treat IT as a necessary evil. PHP is a great first step on the indie dev path. You'll work in smaller shops, pay can fluctuate wildly, but at least you'll be a profit center. It takes a bit more hustle to manage your career but you'll be better positioned to hang out your own shingle later if you're interested in doing so. A few years of enterprise work can be a fine starting point for transition into more indie dev, but you'll have to be honest with yourself about the trajectory you're on from one year to the next.
    - sps_jp 14y ago
      Yes, agreed. Well stated.
    - euroclydon 14y ago
      Entry level .NET (web) jobs may well be in IT departments, in a so called cost center, but I've have four web development jobs, all using .NET, and all of them have been for product companies, working on the core product, which was either sold on a SAAS model or DVD.
  - 14y ago
sps_jp 14y ago
The .NET positions are typically higher in salary, but they also have a wider range. The ROR positions all seem to be within about $10,000 of each other.

profquail 14y ago

When you were working with .NET before, I assume that means you were writing C# (or maybe VB.NET)? You might consider learning F# -- it's a fantastic language to work with and might even change your mind about working with .NET. (Plus, you'll already have a head start given your previous experience.) http://tryfsharp.org http://tryfsharp.org Also, salaries for experienced F#/C# developers are somewhat higher than those of experienced C# developers. Do some research if you don't believe me.

sps_jp 14y ago
Yes, my .NET experience has primarily been with C#. I'll checkout F#. Thanks!