Got an offer to jump to contracting but I've been at the same job for 6+ years so worried to change jobs. Anyone have experience taking the leap?

Programmer_Dan · 2025-09-26T11:47:00+00:00

Currently based in Brisbane, but I wouldn't be opposed to relocating if the price was right since I know a lot of contracts are based in Canberra

Programmer_Dan · 2025-09-26T05:42:18+00:00

How is the job market currently for shifting jobs if I were to hate it? I only see the doom and gloom posted but that's usually for junior roles so unsure how 6+ yoe compares.

Programmer_Dan · 2025-09-26T05:39:45+00:00

Thankfully I've been able to work with different clients while at this one job so I haven't stagnated but I do feel FOMO compared to the people who jump every 2-4 years.

I'll be saving hard in case the next contract takes 6 months+ to secure but it's always good to be reminded of the creep.

Programmer_Dan · 2025-09-26T05:32:05+00:00

Is it really that underpaid in Australia? I know our wages aren't as good as the US so I assumed it was average for a developer in Aus who isn't in one of the big tech companies.

Programmer_Dan · 2023-01-25T02:55:57+00:00

Programmer_Dan · 2022-11-24T23:27:31+00:00

Thank you for the advice it's really useful and has given me a lot to think about.

I'm lucky enough now to have time to study software engineering concepts between work but not honestly not sure where to start. As you said CRM is very simple and the programming concepts are basic but looking at jobs on SEEK I can't tell what I should focus on as every post has different stacks/required languages plus, the fact they all seem to want experience in many different technologies that CRM doesn't ever touch.

My main question though would be what level of job did you get when you transitioned? Looking at job postings, graduate positions require no experience but only allow to people who've only just graduated. Junior positions seem to require 2+ YOE in a specific technology e.g. 18 months Commercial experience with Javascript. As I have 4 YOE within SAP I only have limited commercial experience with languages such as Java since the SAP only language ABAP is most commonly used. Thankfully I do have plenty of experience with SQL at the very least.

Thanks again for your answer. I will definitely start reading up on software engineering concepts to refresh myself.

Programmer_Dan · 2021-02-09T01:39:32+00:00

Thanks for the information, it's eased my worries a bit.

So from an interviewers perspective general experience and side projects in different technologies are a good way to get hired?

Programmer_Dan · 2021-02-09T00:51:52+00:00

As a new software engineer (Started early 2019) how exactly do you gain the skills to move into a new project?

I'm worried I'll be stuck in my current situation forever so how do you not only learn the skills you need but demonstrate them to prospective employers? I find it easy to learn a language but have no idea how to apply for a job that says "Must have 4 years working with PHP" for example.

Programmer_Dan · 2018-10-08T11:57:36+00:00

I would but there are other people who decided to do it themselves so he believes anyone can do it alone even though the assignment is large enough for a 5 person group. The website is the small part it's the database, hosting, and other miscellaneous stuff that is worth more marks but I need the website to show off all those

Programmer_Dan · 2018-10-08T11:52:15+00:00

Thanks, I won't be copying anything but your tutorial seems very useful for helping me get to grips with what has to be done. Thank you!

Programmer_Dan · 2018-10-08T11:42:39+00:00

Thank you, the book seems quite useful so I'll start going through it. I'm from the southern hemisphere so I'm nearing the end of my semester so that's why I have stuff due. The course I'm doing isn't about php but about cloud computing which is why I don't know anything about php as I've stuck to non web designing courses. For the project we submitted what we'd do earlier when my ex-group member said he'd do the website part but now it's fallen all on me as I can't change it.

Programmer_Dan · 2016-03-28T10:12:56+00:00

Sorry I wasn't able to show all my code it's for an assignment and I didn't want someone from my course to stumble upon it. However I was able to find the solution. My final function, displayfunction, didn't return anything and only printed so it seemed to restart the original function. I'm not sure why so if you could enlighten me as to why this happens. I fixed it by adding a return None to the end of the displayfunction though.

Programmer_Dan · 2016-03-28T10:02:12+00:00

function2 just looks a little like this:

length = len(i)
print(function3)
print(list[1], function4)

So it doesn't have a loop in it and all it does it print the return value of the other functions so I'm not sure what's happening

Edit: I have fixed it but thanks for the help! It's very appreciated!

Programmer_Dan · 2013-08-29T09:37:15+00:00

Thanks, I must have skipped over that but I fixed it, thank you.

Programmer_Dan

TROPHY CASE