Ok. I definitely respect any hardships the author has had to endure - I've had a few of my own. I also appreciate being frugal, calculated and managing risk in one's career.

OTOH, I am hearing echoes of what sounds like a textbook case of victim mentality. It's almost as if his fate wholly lies in the hands of these IT companies he's vying to work for. He mentions failing to hold his own during negotiations. He blames outsourcing. Complaint after complaint about why it's not all "roses, just roses"... like it used to be.

Folks: if you spend the time getting the right skills to pay the bills, this article does NOT apply to you. The crowd that I "run with" generally has NO problem finding lucrative engagements, or employment. Especially in this market. And even in a down market. There's always something brewing.

I hope I'm just gagging on some expensive link bait.