State of the Market

[SueEllen]

And another thing!!
Rates. Forgive me if this has already been discussed earlier in the thread. I've nothing to do today but moan.
Was contacted about a role with a big pharma about 2 months ago. Around the 400 mark. Contacted about the same (or very similar) role this week and it's £100 a day less. But I suppose they can do exactly what they like with so many people on the market.

Yes but you have to be the perfect match...

[AV101]

And another thing!!
Rates. Forgive me if this has already been discussed earlier in the thread. I've nothing to do today but moan.
Was contacted about a role with a big pharma about 2 months ago. Around the 400 mark. Contacted about the same (or very similar) role this week and it's £100 a day less. But I suppose they can do exactly what they like with so many people on the market.

Is the agent looking for someone who will do it for £100 less or is the client paying £100 less?

[Elliegirl]

Is the agent looking for someone who will do it for £100 less or is the client paying £100 less?

It's a good question, Captain.
I'm blaming the client because I'm sure they know the lie of the land and want to save money where they can, but no reason why it shouldn't be the agency chancing their arm. Having said that I had a poor agent contact me last week with a laugh out loud rate from a FTSE company that should know better. He quite openly told me that he told the client they were being unrealistic, but they wouldn't have it.

[Elliegirl]

Is the agent looking for someone who will do it for £100 less or is the client paying £100 less?

It's a good question, Captain.
I'm blaming the client because I'm sure they know the lie of the land and want to save money where they can, but no reason why it shouldn't be the agency chancing their arm. Having said that I had a poor agent contact me last week with a laugh out loud rate from a FTSE company that should know better. He quite openly told me that he told the client they were being unrealistic, but they wouldn't have it.

[Big Blue Plymouth]

I need to have a decent wodge of time off myself. Been working with hardly a break for the last three years or so and took this week off only to find myself ill, so no overseas sun for me. but the market is so strange and I wonder when might be the best time of the year to take, say, 3 months off. I might return and find other people eating my dinner.

Did you go to the Canaries & Caribbean in the end?

[Elliegirl]

Did you go to the Canaries & Caribbean in the end?

Bless you BBP I managed 3 glorious days in the Canaries in the end. I had so many plans....

This time around I planned to go to Menorca for a few days for a Vit D top up. Was just about to book and found that the friend I was going with, her passport had expired. I thought I'd go anyway, but the next day I got completely wiped out by the flu.
That's why I'm thinking of going for the 'hang it all, just take some serious time off ' solution.....

[Big Blue Plymouth]

Bless you BBP I managed 3 glorious days in the Canaries in the end. I had so many plans....

This time around I planned to go to Menorca for a few days for a Vit D top up. Was just about to book and found that the friend I was going with, her passport had expired. I thought I'd go anyway, but the next day I got completely wiped out by the flu.
That's why I'm thinking of going for the 'hang it all, just take some serious time off ' solution.....

Doesn't look like there's going to be any opportunity to top up your vitamin d over here for the foreseeable future so I'd just go for it if I were you!

I could be wrong but it doesn't feel like summer's just round the corner....

[squarepeg]

For a good paying contract, I can work anywhere in UK or Europe but can't be bothered to up sticks for a permie role.
it doesn't make financial sense because of living away expenses.

And the BS-ing by the HR and managers who think you are their slave.

[kaiser78]

If you are a contractor you need to be prepared to go where ever, however I agree with you about permanent roles.

This is a rather sweeping statement. I for one am not willing to go wherever for a contract - if it means being away from home in the week or travelling abroad then I discount myself from the off.

[MrMarkyMark]

This is a rather sweeping statement. I for one am not willing to go wherever for a contract - if it means being away from home in the week or travelling abroad then I discount myself from the off.

Agreed.

I have done it once in 17 years, very much my choice to work abroad at that time, apart from that the max has been a commute of 1.5 hours each way.