One thing that I noticed about job hunting in the US - the blantant "ageism" that is around. Now, meonkeys, you probably won't encounter this just yet. However, let me explain some of the "gotchas" in looking for work, and maybe throw a slightly different perspective on the process.

Firstly, my background. I have been working in the IT industry since 1977. I wrote C code on one of the first Unix installations in Australia, learning from the legend John Lions. I have been a self employed contractor / consultant for over 7 years, and never been out of a job in that time. When one job finishes, my next contract is lined up to start pretty well the next day. I have found my skills and experience in high demand. OK, enough of the boasting :) (Those really intersted can see my cv from the link on my home node)

In September last year, I spent 5 weeks in Dallas, Texas. Why there - when the Olympic Games were on here in Sydney, Australia? A good personal reason - I am moving to Dallas in a few months after I marry my fiancee, who lives there. I contacted several agencies, and sent expressions of interest to a variety of companies. Most of these positions were (from the job description) identical to what I was doing here, or had done before. All were with organisations that said they would sponsor H1-B applicants.

What was I doing wrong? I started to twig when a most recruiters were not interesting in viewing my resume on line (Strange - you would think that a company wanting a web designer / internet expert would look at that first). No - they wanted my resume in MS Word format, or completed on line using their templates. Most places now have electronic scanning of resumes - and only (humanly) read those that pass the filtering. You need to know exactly what keywords they are filtering on before you can even speak to the non-technical HR / Recruitment person.

Why was I not getting to the first stage? I was too old - at 42. A lot of companies don't want someone with 20 years experience. They want people with two or three at the most - in the current "hot technology" (last year and this year it is Java). They get these young, keen types, with as yet no family committments, that can work for 50, 60 or more hours a week, and then in a few years time, when they are burnt out and have not have a chance to update their skills to the "next hot thing", they are "let go". Even easier if they are a non-immigrant (H1-B) worker - they have to quietly go back home - no severance pay, just "there's the door".

I will be back trying again in June - this time with permanent residency. I will not be stressing the considerable experience I have, rather just things I have done in the last few years.

How does this apply to people starting out, trying to work out what salary they should accept? Firstly, your salary is just one part of what you shoudl be looking for, albeit an important consideration. I have a number of "rules" that I follow when looking for new work:

• Am I prepared to work for that company anyway? There are several places I would not work for, either because of thier reputation in the industry, or my own ethical beliefs. For example, I have refused in the past (and would always do so) to take positions with tobacco companies. You may have your own set of beliefs that you set - remember you have to be comfortable in yourself with what you are doing.
• Is the work being offered something not only can I do, but would I be happy doing? Yes, I can write and maintain Cobol code, but would I want that as a full time job?
• Are the overall working conditions acceptable? Hours, location, travel requirements, expectation of working outrageous hours at no notice, management / employee relations, and so on? You have to work in an environment that you are happy with.
• Are the total benefits acceptable? Salary, training opportunities, employer contribution to superannuation (pension plan), health cover, car, etc.
• What are the career and personal development opportunities

Finally, how do you calculate what you are worth? Turn that question around. What do you need to earn to have the standard of living that you believe is appropriate? Where do you want to be in 5 years time - in 10 years time - in 20 years time? What do you need to get there? Do you intend staying in Seattle, or do you want to go somewhere else? I would imagine you would need a higher salary to have the same standard of living if you wanted to live in the Silicon Valley area.

Finally, as someone who has been through personal ups and downs, don't fall into the trap of thinking that a great job where you earn lots of money will be your ultimate reward. I had that - a great house, fancy car, all that - but in the race to achieve that, I forgot that there are other things more important - your family, friends and partner. Don't lose those because you thing "well, the hours are long, but it will be worth it in the end". Invariably, you discover only too late how important these other things are, and how transient material success can be.