Would you take this?..

[SillyMilly]

From my POV, I couldn't agree more. I'd sonner be on a lower rate than put up with enforced bench time

I agree with Rookie - a lower rate is better than £0 p/d!

[Not So Wise]

Take it and keep eye on market for something better (higher rate/closer to home/longer contract), Bird in the hand and all that

Might be bit unprofessional taking a contract and from the get go looking to get out but honestly what do they expect at that rate? Currently doing a contract at well under my normal rate (15% less than my minium before the crash) and they know as soon as market picks up I am out of here, but even so they are happy with the saving they are making in the meantime

And don't base any judgement you make on the mystical £35, if they really could have offered that they most likely would have long ago

[Zippy]

I don`t buy into the 'take what you can get' approach. If we all took low paying work it could prolong the period of low pay for contractors. ........

You may be correct but not everyone can build a nice warchest and you still need to pay the bills and feed the kids. When the market picks up again and your services are in demand you can cash in.
I tend to agree with most of the others as I'd rather be doing something/anything other than watching Homes Under the Hammer.

[thunderlizard]

try telling that to my friend. He turned down a 200 a day contract in liverpool last week. Excuse: not worth the money. Still on the bench and activily looking

well that's OK if he can afford to keep waiting. If he's holding out for say £250, that's an extra £6500 over a 6-monther. So even if it takes him another 5 weeks to find one he's still better off than if he'd taken the £200.

[cojak]

Regardless of what your skillset is £200 per day is better than 0 per day

WHS

[cojak]

well that's OK if he can afford to keep waiting. If he's holding out for say £250, that's an extra £6500 over a 6-monther. So even if it takes him another 5 weeks to find one he's still better off than if he'd taken the £200.

There's an awful lot of if's in that statement. OK if there are a lot of contracts but too many if there aren't...

[Gonzo]

There's an awful lot of if's in that statement. OK if there are a lot of contracts but too many if there aren't...

He must be a coder.




IGMC.

[TheRefactornator]

He must be a coder.




IGMC.

A switch statement would be much more appropriate in that context.

[MGM]

This is exactly what I've done...

On the bench for 6 months, took a £200 / day contract, (200 miles away from home - so it's Travelodge time) and still looking for positions after 2 months... However, I've billed £10k and am not eating through the warchest

Downsides - it's 200 miles from home and less than half my previous rate

Upsides - I'm working, (4.5 day week - still billing 5 days) getting into a new sector, learning SAP and there is money coming in again!

Early on in my job search, I scoffed at £350, then £300, then £275 daily rates - how I wish I'd taken them now

[Troll]

I know but you have to be careful how you word these hypothetical questions otherwise it's open day for the trolls.

Trolls would not get out of bed for £200 @day