Economy.. Job Statuses?

[servo]

Just curious to how everyone is doing out there work wise... financially. Not to get personal, but it's been a rough end of year here in the NJ/NYC Metro area looking for any type of computer/it technical work in similar fields. I was working as a private contractor who serviced machinery for Starbucks, DD, and local coffee shops. Horrible businessman he is he lost 70% of his contracts. Mainly due to poor coordination and management, doing work and not collecting his bills as he is a self manned company, ran his business from his home and refused to pay anyone to do his office work, so it sits around for months at a time before he sends or re-sends invoices to clients... making it difficult to even pay his employees which is why I switched to the company that supposedly got a majority of the contracts for the stores I was already servicing on a daily basis throughout NJ. Several different companies equipments, Scharerr, Bunn, Thermoplan, etc...

Anyone know of any areas they live in hiring end of the year/possibly beginning of the year for similar work, or simple PC technical jobs/installations/maintenance. I honestly can't survive starting the year out the rate I have been the past month... loved you guys in the community would do anything for any of yas.... appreciate any help or advice 

[-Spectre-]

I'm a manager for a big consulting company. Even though the economy has been bad business has been good and they are hiring like crazy. I've been working there since got out of school.

You can shoot me a pm and we can talk an see if it is something that interests you. I'm sure I can at least hook you up with an interview if you want to.

[saQwad]

Since I hated school I went blue collar and I'm doing pretty decently, I'm working for my citys water department doing water trouble now for about 5 years.  Pay is pretty decent I usually make about 80k a year.  We're always hiring labourers to work on the leak crews, I think they make about 60k a year after they are done their trial period.  It's not computer work but it's still work!

[KungFoo]

I am a "Senior Technical Store Support Specialist" working for the TJX companies. I am employed as part of a small team of people who maintain the networks and servers for all of the TJX stores across the planet. I've been employed here since 2007. TJX is not currently hiring anyone at the home office.

My advice to you; go into a trade. Become a electrician, plumber, carpenter. ect. Learn a skill that can't be exported to china. Use your degree to become a master of a given trade. The nice thing about advanced math is once you've mastered it, you know it all. Unlike computers, which progress and change all the time. Or start a business. Work for yourself. America is still the land of opportunity. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Merc248]

I'm a systems engineer for an early stage startup based in Palo Alto, CA (for those interested: http://shopply.com).  I'm based in Seattle though, and we're all pretty damn open to remote workers.

Since we're early stage, we all get shafted on salary. Used to make $70k, now make $55k.

We're mostly looking for Python/Ruby software developers though - if you're comfortable doing that sort of stuff, let me know.