Difficult getting rates to match industry experience

[chicane]

I'm currently in the fortunate position of being on a gig for the last last 2 years that pays a rate in line with my skills and experience. This contract is unfortunately likely to end in a couple of weeks.

Without wishing to sound arrogant, I've been in the LAMP web development game for nearly 10 years working on some pretty high-profile stuff. I believe I can provide considerably more value to clients than the majority of less experienced contractors in the same field, both in terms of quality of output and speed of work, not to mention all the non-technical skills required.

The problem is that clients don't seem to want to pay a penny extra for any experience beyond 3-5 years - the rates seem to max out at £250-300/day (up North at least) with no provision for candidates who can, for example, produce deliverables at twice the speed of the average candidate. Trying to get this concept across to clients seems to fall on deaf ears.

Would appreciate any suggestions on where to go from here. I'd really like to continue to work in a technical capacity but this doesn't seem incredibly feasible from a money point of view.

Permie team leader/management options are of course an option, but I'd still struggle for a number of years to match my current take home, not to mention having to take on board all the political meandering that comes with it.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[zara_backdog]

Unless you have not noticed - Most rates are down at the moment, as far as I can see it is:

1-Stick to your guns and see if you get the rate you want - after all ' you are worth it'
2 - Take the rate that is offered -Cut in daily rate is better than no rate at all.

Got this all to come again next week

[chicane]

Most rates are down at the moment

Thanks - I am indeed aware of this after the constant CUK doom in conjunction with being "asked" to take a 10% cut by current ClientCo a couple of weeks ago.

I should have mentioned that the issue I've brought up seems to manifest itself in boom times as well as doom times. Thinking that I might as well get people's thoughts on it now in case the recovery comes sooner than expected!

You have a contract renewal/end coming up as well? My commiserations.

[Jubber]

Yep

I would think your experience matches a lot of others on this board.

I've been lucky enough to have an unbroken run for the last 30 months on plump rates. It is very different now. In the last downturn (2001/2) it was hard. Low rates if you could get something.

As mentioned above - take what you can get - better than the bench.

[expat]

Your experience matches mine: the buyers have a requirement that does not differentiate between "OK" and "very good" skill levels, and they have a price for what they want to buy. In economic terms I'd have to say that what they are buying is the worker and not the work.

Being better will not directly get you more money, though it may get you better shots at the contracts. The deal then is to find the better-paying contracts, and get them in preference to the other candidates, because you are better.

This obviously doesn't work if there are no better-paying contracts. It's always been like that.

[NickNick]

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

Just a thought.

NN

[MPwannadecentincome]

twice the speed of an average candidate - get two gigs and do both at the same time - preferably from home

[centurian]

The problem is that clients don't seem to want to pay a penny extra for any experience beyond 3-5 years - the rates seem to max out at £250-300/day (up North at least) with no provision for candidates who can, for example, produce deliverables at twice the speed of the average candidate. Trying to get this concept across to clients seems to fall on deaf ears.

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.

[DimPrawn]

Problem is I'm 3x faster.

[jmo21]

economic crisis, supply and demand, agents who have so many CV's to look at they barely even read yours etc.

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?