Difficult getting rates to match industry experience

[expat]

The hirer will have a requirement and a budget. Either you do it on budget, or you don't. He doesn't have more budget for doing more or faster.

[Mr Crosby]

Problem is I'm 3x faster.

Is that in the bedroom as well?

[BlightyBoy]

So, would this be considered [current] market rates, has there been a typo or is this just a piss-take.

http://www.jobserve.com/W30BD67F92C015B4C.jsjob

I think I can earn that on my current gig just by taking a dump!

[Mr Crosby]

So, would this be considered [current] market rates, has there been a typo or is this just a piss-take.

http://www.jobserve.com/W30BD67F92C015B4C.jsjob

I think I can earn that on my current gig just by taking a dump!

Its the type of rate now for 1st line helpdesk work.....

Don't think rates have fallen that much yet.

[chicane]

In economic terms I'd have to say that what they are buying is the worker and not the work.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here. At current ClientCo (large telco), the rates on offer are reasonably good - however they don't tend to differentiate between "OK" and "very good" when recruiting. This puts me on a level playing field with lesser skilled candidates in terms of my chances of getting new gigs or renewals.

Smaller companies (e.g. local design agencies) are considerably more aware of the difference between "good" and "excellent", but the rates on offer are pitiful - currently in the range of £15-20/hour.

Being better will not directly get you more money, though it may get you better shots at the contracts.

I can thankfully confirm that this is the case - I've got a strong CV that often seems to get singled out by pimps. Unfortunately the pimps in question are offering £20-25/hour for contracts 100 miles away.

Isn't there also the matter of marketing here? If you can market yourself in a different manner, then you can command higher rates?

Are you talking about marketing my skills and experience to agencies or dealing direct with clients? The problem I have is that I know there must be a better way of putting across the benefits of my skills and experience - I just can't think what that method should be.

Of course the blunt alternative is that you are simply not as good as you think you are.

Perhaps that's the case

The hirer will have a requirement and a budget. Either you do it on budget, or you don't. He doesn't have more budget for doing more or faster.

Thing is, I'd be quite happy to go in there and say "I'll do this job in half the time for double the day rate". They don't seem to get that though - it's as if they want to fix the requirement, budget and the timescale.

[BlightyBoy]

Its the type of rate now for 1st line helpdesk work.....

Don't think rates have fallen that much yet.

It was the statement;

Candidates should have a strong knowledge of C++ or Java

and

development of data handling software

that confused me into thinking that this was a development role.

Or are they just looking for indian chappies who spend their spare time posting on codeproject or codeguru websites?

[chicane]

I think I can earn that on my current gig just by taking a dump!

Either you're constipated or you're doing pretty well.

[BlightyBoy]

Either you're constipated or you're doing pretty well.

[chicane]

You mention they asked you to take a 10% cut? did you take it or is that the reason you are finishing up? Can that decision be revisited?

The request to take a 10% cut came first - to which most contractors (understandably) agreed. ClientCo are now deciding whether or not to keep contractors on board regardless of the cut.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Last time I was in the Jaguar showroom, the salesman kept telling me how much better the latest Jag was than my small Vauxhall. I would be able to go so much faster in the Jag - and it would save me time and therefore money. I wasn't convinced with his sales pitch and didn't feel it was worth the extra money.

Okay, I just made all that up, but the point is that value is in the eye of the buyer. If they don't think it's worth the money they won't pay it.

The reason for the deaf ears is that they've heard it all before (and probably been caught out more times than they can count). You may be correct in your efficiency rate - but they have no way of knowing that, especially when a dozen other people tell them the same thing.

However, surely regular clients of yours will have seen you in action and recognise your efficiency rate. If not, then you need to work on your marketing approach to ensure your achievements are recognised. Of course the blunt alternative is that you are simply not as good as you think you are.

Perhaps the trick here is to sell your value to the agent and remind them they get bigger commission if they successfully place you!