How is the job market in your area?

["bgoett" <rbg -at- silk -dot- net>]

Horrible, just horrible.  When I was turfed out of my comfy job with a
company owned by Daimler Chrysler just before Christmas, I thought "okay,
I'll just hang out my shingle and try to drum up some freelance work."  I
live in Canada, by the way.  I advertised, networked, did whatever I had to
do to get my name out there.  People started to call me about jobs but when
the discussion turned to how much I charge, it always ended with "I'll get
back to you about this."  If you knew how much I am asking for an hourly
rate, you tech writers in the U.S. would probably think I am on crack (okay,
I'll tell you, $25 Cdn, or about $18.00 U.S).  I live a bit off the beaten
track but in an area with a growing high tech and manufacturing sector.
Bottom line is, people where I live think they can hire a tech writer for
about $12.00 an hour CDN.  They think tech writers are glorified typists or
office help.  It's pretty damn discouraging after awhile.

Bruce Goett
Discouraged in Canada


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