Newbie - Advice Please

**Ardesco** · 18 April 2008, 13:12

Originally posted by cuthill76 View Post

Hi all,

I am currently searching for my first contract and I have now been offered a position with an oil company basically as an analyst / programmer (c#, sql). The job seems ok and is guaranteed for a year minimum with high probability of renewal. The thing is the agency who I am going through have only quoted me a rate of £220 a day and my understanding is that this is quite low. What I want to know is am I correct or is it the case that the year contract time compensates for this? If it is low what do you guys think I should try and shoot for?

Thanks,
Iain

Sounds low to me, but then I don't know what the shape of the c# market is right now, how much experience you have, and how good you are.

**oracleslave** · 18 April 2008, 13:18

Originally posted by cuthill76 View Post

Hi all,

I am currently searching for my first contract and I have now been offered a position with an oil company basically as an analyst / programmer (c#, sql). The job seems ok and is guaranteed for a year minimum with high probability of renewal. The thing is the agency who I am going through have only quoted me a rate of £220 a day and my understanding is that this is quite low. What I want to know is am I correct or is it the case that the year contract time compensates for this? If it is low what do you guys think I should try and shoot for?

Thanks,
Iain

There is no such thing a guaranteed 1 year imo therefore I wouldn't let an agent or anybody else argue my rate down with that excuse.

**ChimpMaster** · 18 April 2008, 13:37

How much would (do) you earn as a permie? What is that worth as a daily rate?

When I first went contracting I converted my permie salary, plus all benefits, into daily rate. From that I worked out that I needed at least around £350 a day to match that. But I wouldn't settle for anything less than £500 to make up for the risk factor.

**Dow Jones** · 18 April 2008, 13:58

Length vs Rate

OK - apart from all the other stuff (is it worth it), the guy is asking a sensible qn (v. rare for a newbie), so it deserves some answer:
Although there is no guarantee for how long it may go, 12 m for a 1st contract isn't bad esp. as things stand atm.
My 'discounts' upon renewal (if they like me & vv) are:
10% for 6 m
20% for 12m
(as opposed to the 3/m std one)
so eg from £ 500, may go down to £ 400 for a 12/monther.

**oracleslave** · 18 April 2008, 14:05

Originally posted by Dow Jones View Post

OK - apart from all the other stuff (is it worth it), the guy is asking a sensible qn (v. rare for a newbie), so it deserves some answer:
Although there is no guarantee for how long it may go, 12 m for a 1st contract isn't bad esp. as things stand atm.
My 'discounts' upon renewal (if they like me & vv) are:
10% for 6 m
20% for 12m
(as opposed to the 3/m std one)
so eg from £ 500, may go down to £ 400 for a 12/monther.

Personally I never reduce rate when the contract is a long one. Increase it for a short one...absolutely.

**ChimpMaster** · 18 April 2008, 14:06

Originally posted by Dow Jones View Post

My 'discounts' upon renewal (if they like me & vv) are:
10% for 6 m
20% for 12m
(as opposed to the 3/m std one)
so eg from £ 500, may go down to £ 400 for a 12/monther.

Discounts? You have to be kidding. Unless you work in a very commonly available skillset there shouldn't be nothing like a 20% discount. Furthermore, once you're into a client they will grow to know and love you, so long as you are good at the task. You should look to increase your rate over time.

A 20% discount is a huge compromise to make - you may as well work 2 months less in the year, you'd be better off.

**Dow Jones** · 18 April 2008, 14:16

On the other hand..

On a 12/m contract, I can factor and take time off (up to 6 wks easily) for Xmas/Easter/summer without worrying, also assuming it's local and everything. Maybe I'm over cautious, but times are hard (and getting harder?)
Obviously the higher the rate, the higher to lose (but also more to gain long-term).
I wouldn't go below what I think the avge for my skillset.

**chef** · 18 April 2008, 14:16

your contract is only as long as the notice period written in it. If the project goes tits up and they want to make reductions you'll be the first to go and notice period will be all you get at best. so 1 yr, 3 months, it's all irrelevant because you cant control the finance purse strings of the client you work for.

**ChimpMaster** · 18 April 2008, 14:21

Originally posted by chef View Post

your contract is only as long as the notice period written in it. If the project goes tits up and they want to make reductions you'll be the first to go and notice period will be all you get at best. so 1 yr, 3 months, it's all irrelevant because you cant control the finance purse strings of the client you work for.

Correctamondo. Client recently offered me 6 month extension as opposed to previously offered 1 year. Notice period still 1 month so I said - yeah, what's the difference chief?

If they need me in 6 months' time they will extend me again. If not then it's ate logo amigos.

Newbie - Advice Please