Three words: Become a consultant. Consultants get paid for every hour they work. If the client keeps loading up the work and responsibility, and pushes your weekly hours north of 60, so what?! You get paid for it! And if your client decides they don't want to burn too much budget on consulting fees, so what?! You work 40 hours and have an increased quality of life! I've spent half of my 20-year IT career as a consultant in one capacity or another, and have enjoyed 1.) getting paid for ALL of the work I do, 2.) the increased salary consultants get over a full-time employee, and 3.) the vast opportunities offered by working at myriad types of client. Having a diverse set of marketable job experiences WILL help you find work- contract or full time. And yes, if you work for a firm as a W2 employee, you CAN have both healthcare and 401k benefits. 1099 independent contractors make more $$, but are on their own for benefits. Albeit you have to be a bit more saavy with money to be a consultant, as in have 6-10 months of salary saved in case of lean times. But consulting sure as hell does help prevent you from getting "Lumbergh'd." Sure, I'll work Saturday if you need me to... Cha-ching! Work responsibilities piling up = license to print money. And remember, job security is soooooo 1980s. At least when you are a contractor you are more likely to know when the end is coming (end of contract). Layoffs are usually less predictable.
