Rates in France

[AlfredJPruffock]

Yup agree with the above.

French salaries generally are pretty awful the worst in Western Europe (except perhaps Italy), and that goes for contracting rates.

You want EUR 550 a day?, I´m afraid the PM will splurt his coffee all over the desk.

Generally rates have been pushed down throughout Europe, 65-70 is a good starting point in Germany but won´t necessarily get it.

Just to confirm mcguiggd, there is one exception; there does seem to be a company that does travel reservation systems in Nice that pays decent rates; I´ve come accross them a couple of times; they seem to be outside the French system eg. French isn´t important and they advertise through UK agents, which is unusual.

Having wokred in almost all of the EC states I have to agree that the Italians pay peanuts.

[mcquiggd]

5 Euros an hour, as much garlic as you can eat, and you have to run away when theres a fight.

At the moment, that's not bad advice....

[tim123]

Just to follow this up. The agent got back to me indicated that 450 was achievable. I told him that I could live with that if the job was interesting enough.

He then proceeded to 'interview' me, and I indicated that I was looking to use my skill set to expand into new areas and I wasn't interested in walking into an exact fit (particularly for this location).

Basically, I am looking for the holy grail of an agent to work with me to get me a better job. This doesn't seem unreasonable as I know that for the skill set he is trying to recruit there is one qualified person for every three (or more) vacancies.

He didn't seem interested in that, and he hasn't phoned again. I'm not bothered, if he was only going to shoe-horn me into more of what I am doing now, or only put me forward for a dull Build Manager/Integration job I was never going to take it, whatever rate was offered.

Timmy

[Lucifer Box]

Tim123, something I have tried before (once, and it worked) to get that level of service was to offer the agent £1k cash if he got me a contract within my parameters. Worked a treat and the agent couldn't do enough for me but I'm not sure it's an attitude anyone would be keen to encourage.

Of course, I'm sure he told his boss and the taxman about his bonus. Not.

[mcquiggd]

I did that during the lean years once... offered a bonus of £500 to however got me a contract that paid at least £350 a day and lasted for at least 3 months. Seemed like a small price to pay for the amount I took home.. and it worked...

[Lucifer Box]

My exact reasoning also, mcquiggd. Worked a treat when I was at that moment when I really needed a contract and I was quids in by the end of it. Money well spent.

[dang65]

Just to follow this up. The agent got back to me indicated that 450 was achievable. I told him that I could live with that if the job was interesting enough.

I'm about to start on an ASP/SQL Server/General Web Stuff contract in France at 460 euros p/day, but a large amount of that will be instantly swallowed up in flights and accomodation. I'm doing it for my CV though. Sacrifices must be made.

[WageSlave]

Basically, I am looking for the holy grail of an agent to work with me to get me a better job.

Does such an agent exist? An agent works on behalf of the end client, not the contractor (unlike a football agent). They have no interest in developing your career, and their interest in finding the 'right' position for you extends only so far as making sure that you won't walk or do anything else to harm the agent's relationship with the client (i.e. damage future business opportunities).

I believe the key to successful dealings with agents and clients is operating from a position of strength. This is stating the obvious, but if you have money in the bank and a strong CV then you can be much more demanding and fussy with roles.

I 'work' with agents on a contract by contract basis; nothing more, nothing less.

[WageSlave]

offer the agent £1k cash if he got me a contract within my parameters.

Ah, LB, you are indeed a cunning fox, no doubt fully equipped with a degree in cunning from Oxford (in the finest Blackadder tradition).

I'm not sure that I would be prepared to make such a proposition - it's not just the money but the principle. But that's probably why you live in a mansion and I rent a pikey flat next to a chip shop

I've said it before and I'll say it again, damn my parents for spawning an idiot child!

[Lucifer Box]

Does such an agent exist?

They can do, but you have to bribe them. You can offer an agent far more money than his pitiful cut of the commission will be from his employer. All of a sudden they can't do enough for you. It worked for me and was money well spent.