Anonymous wrote:With the Federal government down sizing, does that mean there will be more opportunities for contractors in the IT sector? Thoughts?

def no more h1b workers.....

Anonymous wrote:My defense contractor is actively recruiting and hiring software developers, especially cleared ones. Whether the jobs will last forever seems to be less of a concern for some looking for immediate paychecks. If the contracts are funded and not in a period of performance review or extension, they are safer than others. Safer than being a probie right now.

Howard County is hiring project management and is actively recruiting. Public sector jobs are still out there.

Yes. Your first question should be about when their current contract for the project you'd be working expires. At my DOD contractor we're in 5 year cycles, that often get extended. It's good to know when that will happen.

My defense contractor is actively recruiting and hiring software developers, especially cleared ones. Whether the jobs will last forever seems to be less of a concern for some looking for immediate paychecks. If the contracts are funded and not in a period of performance review or extension, they are safer than others. Safer than being a probie right now.

Howard County is hiring project management and is actively recruiting. Public sector jobs are still out there.

Not tech jobs but my dept is cutting large contracts- money left over from CARES or ARP and contractors that dare mentioned equity on their website.

Anonymous wrote:Now, while they're cutting things, is not a good time to be a contractor. In a year from now when they need people to replace those lost in the RIFs then it will be a good time. Except you'll likely be competing against the people that lost their jobs and have in-depth knowledge of the systems.

I actually expect a lot of the job losses to turn into a revolving door where folks leave as employees and come back as contractors performing the same work.

I would say the vast majority of Fed employees do not have the technical skills to perform the daily technical activities. When I was working for Dept. of Transportation IT network in 2022 as a contractor, almost 100% of the technical work was done by contractors. Fed employees were completely incapable of performing the technical work. They were just there for "paper" approval. DoT could have cut the number of Fed employees in the technical department by 50% and no one would notice. Most of the Fed employees just don't have the technical skill to compete with people in the private sector.

I work in contracting and the best thing I can tell a Fed is to upskill in a new technology. Oracle cloud, Workday for Federal, Salesforce. Do it now. They want to modernize and having these skills will get you a job.

Anonymous wrote:Now, while they're cutting things, is not a good time to be a contractor. In a year from now when they need people to replace those lost in the RIFs then it will be a good time. Except you'll likely be competing against the people that lost their jobs and have in-depth knowledge of the systems.

I actually expect a lot of the job losses to turn into a revolving door where folks leave as employees and come back as contractors performing the same work.

+1. I’d give it a year.

Now, while they're cutting things, is not a good time to be a contractor. In a year from now when they need people to replace those lost in the RIFs then it will be a good time. Except you'll likely be competing against the people that lost their jobs and have in-depth knowledge of the systems.

I actually expect a lot of the job losses to turn into a revolving door where folks leave as employees and come back as contractors performing the same work.

With the Federal government down sizing, does that mean there will be more opportunities for contractors in the IT sector? Thoughts?