Well back on the bench with a nice war-chest to cover me intact.. had a bit of fun discussing some opportunities.. as much as the situation is bad I'm starting a campaign from my home-office to push back against this deflated market.
After discussing a very interesting and worthwhile 12 month role today we got to the "so what is your rate?".. to which I replied "I'm happy to go with the market rate, what do you have in mind?"... (always catches them on the hop)..
Anyway after politely stating I could not work away from home for £120 per day (what planet are these guys on) and laying down my minimum rate, I've been told my CV is still being put forward and that they hope to come back to me. I explained that they would be lucky to get someone (given the location) and would have to hope they were local to the client, as well as the fact nobody would give any sort of commitment to a full 12 month (this was key to the project) for that kind of rate.
If clients really think that specialists/experts are willing to 'contract' for permie wages but with none of the benefits, then it leaves me asking the question whether contracting (for myself) long-term is indeed a viable option.
I'm using the bench time now to train a few certs I need, then I seriously think I'll end up back permie as much as I don't really want to, it just seems right now unless you land on a lucrative SC cleared .gov contract the agents and clients are just going to milk the situation and play everyone off against each other.. something I refuse to participate in unless my situation gets desperate.
After discussing a very interesting and worthwhile 12 month role today we got to the "so what is your rate?".. to which I replied "I'm happy to go with the market rate, what do you have in mind?"... (always catches them on the hop)..
Anyway after politely stating I could not work away from home for £120 per day (what planet are these guys on) and laying down my minimum rate, I've been told my CV is still being put forward and that they hope to come back to me. I explained that they would be lucky to get someone (given the location) and would have to hope they were local to the client, as well as the fact nobody would give any sort of commitment to a full 12 month (this was key to the project) for that kind of rate.
If clients really think that specialists/experts are willing to 'contract' for permie wages but with none of the benefits, then it leaves me asking the question whether contracting (for myself) long-term is indeed a viable option.
I'm using the bench time now to train a few certs I need, then I seriously think I'll end up back permie as much as I don't really want to, it just seems right now unless you land on a lucrative SC cleared .gov contract the agents and clients are just going to milk the situation and play everyone off against each other.. something I refuse to participate in unless my situation gets desperate.
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