Right now, I basically feel like I'm working for free. So, over a month ago, I managed to get a contract position at Microsoft by a company called BlackApple Solutions, where another company called HCL America is in the middle. I jumped on the first offer I got because I was seriously hurting after the last time Microsoft started laying off (I was also a contractor at the time). As much as I like this project I'm working on now, I really don't believe I can take this Net30 stuff. Right now, I have no money aside from 98 cents in my bank account, and since I have a job now, I don't technically qualify for unemployment either.

I gave them a call today and they said that since I am on a net30 pay schedule that they don't have to pay me until 30 days from the day they get my invoice. This was not communicated well in the beginning. If I had known this before, I would have refused the offer and taken my chances with a different contract I could have possibly had. IMO that is a BS excuse to literally wait until the last minute to pay me! I worked on net30 before and got paid weekly, but I was hired directly through the company. I seriously cannot wait that long. I'm already behind on rent and I have others that I am in debted to. At this rate, I may end up homeless... AGAIN! I've been there 6 years ago, and I am NOT going back to that again if I can help it. Seriously, this is getting scary. My credit score is too low to qualify for your everyday loan and I already had to take an emergency payday loan. I can't drive uber because not only do I not have a car, and XChange's leasing options are too expensive, especially for someone who's just doing this part time. Same with HyreCar.

On top of all this, I looked up Black Apple Solutions on GlassDoor, and they have mostly negative reviews and many of the complaints were regarding poor communication (no surprise) and issues about pay coming late as well as paychecks bouncing. They also have some positive reviews there, but considering that some of them were posted on the same day and others just days apart all kissing the company's arse as well as some looking like they were written by someone who speaks English as a 2nd language, I consider the possibility of those reviews being fake. Hardly anyone has anything good to say about this company so I feel like I'm screwed.

Rather than wait yet ANOTHER month and hope I don't get put out of my place, should I just search for a new job and one that pays weekly? Should I update my resume and see what else I can get because my situation is friggin dire. One thing is for sure, I will avoid working on 1099 on net30 and will never work for Black Apple Solutions again, or any other recruitment company in a state, especially if they barely speak English. Any ideas?

Shogun.

You frequently seem to have these kind of issues/get churned up in large dev companies like Microsoft. I'd suggest looking for a stable job at a less high profile place/ a place now known for it's incredible churn rate.

That sounds pretty awful. I wish there was some reasonable solution for people in your situation.

Do you have any friends/family you can ask for help? Or a coworker that you are friendly with?

How tied to your place are you? Is there a deposit on it? Maybe you could crash at a coworkers place and promise to clean it everyday and cook food.

Evening job? Maybe one that earns tips.

You frequently seem to have these kind of issues/get churned up in large dev companies like Microsoft. I'd suggest looking for a stable job at a less high profile place/ a place now known for it's incredible churn rate.

For starters, it's not really Microsoft's fault. They can't control the tactics of the recruiters. Second, in the contracting world, you basically take what you can get, even if it's at a moment's notice. Microsoft does the most hiring around here. Apple seems to do the least. The smaller the company, the harder it is to get a job with them. I tried startups as others have suggested several times over the years and got the shaft in other ways. That was 2 months ago I might add.

That sounds pretty awful. I wish there was some reasonable solution for people in your situation.

Do you have any friends/family you can ask for help? Or a coworker that you are friendly with?

How tied to your place are you? Is there a deposit on it? Maybe you could crash at a coworkers place and promise to clean it everyday and cook food.

Evening job? Maybe one that earns tips.

I don't have friends that are going to or even remotely able to help me pay $1200/month in rent along with other expenses that I am paying. I will not get into the rest of it because the details don't concern everyone here. What I do know is that I'm seriously behind and working as a waiter or barista isn't going to cut it because I could seriously get more on an unemployment check than that.

Shogun

What I do know is that I'm seriously behind and working as a waiter or barista isn't going to cut it because I could seriously get more on an unemployment check than that.

The pay might be crap. But will the pay float you until you're stable enough to quit? As long as you can make rent and utilities, then eating ramen and drinking tea for a few weeks are viable choices. And yes, I've been there. I know that struggle.

No, it won't. If I could catch up on all my expenses with $2400/month through unemployment, I'd do that. Seattle is now crazy expensive, and you can just barely live off of this.

Shogun

If you're doing a lot of remote site contracting, then maybe consider ditching town completely, and getting a ways out there. Talk to a bank, get a little plot of cheap land somewhere, build one of those tiny home things as an office, cut expenses, and focus on expanding your client base without the use of recruiters.

A ton of work, but might be a road you're willing to consider.