Contracting for most of the last 10 years now.

Watch out for a particular thing Robert Half will do if you're not careful. They market your resume before contacting you about it. This means you can double submit (a HUGE no no) and not know about it. And their rates aren't the best for a competitive position. I don't go near them anymore. They may have changed over the years... but I doubt it.

Contracting is a wierd animal. But at least when I rebuild a server for 48 hours over a weekend, I get PAID for the extra work week.

I agree with Jeff above (that seems to be common, lately). Find a few GOOD recruiters and build up your reputation with and through them. They may travel to other companies. This happens. You can still work with them.

Non-Compete usually means that you can't take a job for 6 months (don't accept any longer than that) after you leave a position with a company that they placed you at. It's pretty standard in the SW (I'm Phoenix). It's relatively common in NYC and Boston, as well, the only two other places I heavily contracted. There's a conversion fee for turning a contractor into an employee. Firing you, dumping the contract, then hiring you directly through a 'competitive interview process' is 'legal'... without that piece of paper. Thus why you sign it. It avoids them not getting $$ for a "Job for Bob" process.

Experis has treated me well, after they bought Comsys who did me just fine. TekSystems are decent but I've only briefly worked for them. There's a few smaller recruiters around me (PCS, for one) who I usually work with but I've been out of the game for a few years... 3 month contract that will finally let me go 4 years later. 😀