Michigan is definitely in a depression. Most people here don't like to call it that, but that is what we are in. Not only are we losing good, high-skilled people who leave Michigan for jobs out-of-state, but the people that remain here are not interested in pursuing opportunities when they become available. Consider the following:
About a month ago, I was asked if I knew of any senior Domino Administrators who would be interested in a job working for a major company in the Metro Detroit area. The job was a direct hire position, not an indefinite contract or contract-to-hire position. I didn't know of anyone off-hand, so I contacted several people I knew who were already employed as senior Domino Administrators. One person I contacted was on the verge of moving out-of-state for a full-time position. The other people I contacted weren't really interested in changing jobs at this time.
A good friend of mine has been looking for a senior Notes/Domino developer for some time. He's posted the job several times, but from what he's told me, none of the top-notch Notes developers I know of ever apply. Since his options have been limited, he's been forced to hire from the few people that did apply. These people had less than stellar work histories and references. When these people ultimately didn't work out, I wasn't surprised. Still, I don't know what else my friend could have done. He had more work than he could handle and needed to keep his customers happy.
Another company I know was looking for a project manager for the Notes development team. The main requirements for this job were Notes development experience and PMI certification. When the job was posted publicly, there were no applicants. I think that the PMI certification was the primary reason behind the lack of applicants. But I find it difficult to believe that there aren't any PMI certified project managers in Michigan that have some Notes development exposure.
So why aren't the Notes/Domino professionals in Michigan pursuing other job opportunities when they become available? I think that Michigan's bleak economic forecast scares many people into not leaving their current position for something new. If you leave a position you've been at for several years for a new job, and the new job doesn't work out, where do you go from there? There aren't a lot of jobs for senior Notes/Domino professionals available in Michigan right now. If you make a mistake, you could be out of work for a long time.
Another reason I have for why Notes/Domino professionals here aren't moving around is because the pay for many positions pay so little. Several larger companies in the area have driven the rate for Notes/Domino professionals so low that it really doesn't pay to switch jobs even if the new job appeals to you.
Taking all of the above into account, I really shouldn't be surprised that I can't think of an available Notes/Domino person when I hear about an opportunity. I'm sure I don't know every Notes developer and administrator in Michigan, but I do know most of them through my role as president of the Detroit Notes Professionals. Are there really no senior-level Domino administrators or developers actively looking for a position in Michigan?
Help Wanted--But Who's Looking?01/15/2007
