Did you take a lower rate for your 1st contract?

[Rabotnik]

I've been looking for my first contract for 3 weeks now since resigning (4 days of work left at my perm role) and although I've been put forward to at least 6 companies (confirmed by name, seem to be legit), I haven't got a single interview. So although I have all the skills they need, something seems to put the client off from seeing me.

I think it could be because I have only worked at 2 companies in my 6 years of experience, and other candidates may be contractors who have worked at various companies in that time period.

I checked itjobswatch, and my skillset should get me at least £400pd (SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, SQL 2008R2, 2 x MCTS and 2 x MCITP).

Do you think I am being too optimistic and I need to take a hit in my rate since it would be my 1st contract? Do you think I should keep looking at that recommended rate (since I have a war-chest to keep me going a few months)?

I don't know if I'm being impatient or too greedy with my rate for a newbie.

[cojak]

I dropped £100 per day to move from training to doing.

I made it back on the next contract.

[Fred Bloggs]

Go for £300 a day for the 1st contract, if you end up sitting around for 3 months on £0 waiting for £400 a day you'll never make it back up.

[Wanderer]

I don't know if I'm being impatient or too greedy with my rate for a newbie.

There's your first lesson in business: If you aren't getting a job then you may need to lower your rate.

My gut reaction is that £300+ is a pretty good ball park for someone with 6 years experience. Keep looking, but watch that you don't take a low rate and then end up with a load of inertia such that you stay there for a year when you should really be moving onwards and upwards.

But also remember that if you aim high for £400 then you might just land the right job and you'll be quids in. It's a bit of a poker game really, good luck!

Watch out for the agents - they like to take a big fat cut out of newbies on their first contract. If the client is willing to discuss rates directly then that's a good way to keep the agent honest. But tread very carefully on this one...

[SueEllen]

Watch out for the agents - they like to take a big fat cut out of newbies on their first contract. If the client is willing to discuss rates directly then that's a good way to keep the agent honest. But tread very carefully on this one...

WHS

Make sure you aren't stupid enough to not read your contract properly and get clauses that prevent you from doing it removed. The agencies only put them in if they have something to hide.

[Rabotnik]

Go for £300 a day for the 1st contract, if you end up sitting around for 3 months on £0 waiting for £400 a day you'll never make it back up.

That's what I'm thinking now. I actually spotted a job yesterday offering £300pd for 3 months doing something dead simple for me, so I thought I might as well try grab that instead of sitting on my a*** waiting for a £400+ job to land on my plate. Funnily enough, no agent has ever tried to talk me down from £400 even though they know I am moving from permanent. They all say "spot on" when I quote £400, and once I even said £450 to take the p*** and the guy still said spot on . So I am at a bit of a loss as to why clients don't like my CV.

There's your first lesson in business: If you aren't getting a job then you may need to lower your rate.

My gut reaction is that £300+ is a pretty good ball park for someone with 6 years experience. Keep looking, but watch that you don't take a low rate and then end up with a load of inertia such that you stay there for a year when you should really be moving onwards and upwards.

But also remember that if you aim high for £400 then you might just land the right job and you'll be quids in. It's a bit of a poker game really, good luck!

Watch out for the agents - they like to take a big fat cut out of newbies on their first contract. If the client is willing to discuss rates directly then that's a good way to keep the agent honest. But tread very carefully on this one...

Thanks mate, I will definitely start hitting around the £300 mark (hopefully I will snap up that job I mentioned, since it looks very simple and is only 3 months). I made sure I had savings enough to last me a few months before I resigned, but now that it comes to it I really want to get going on my 1st contract ASAP to prove I can do it. Won't deny it will be somewhat embarassing telling everyone at my leaving do I still haven't got a contract to go to...

[Fred Bloggs]

Good thinking, 3 months will soon pass and you can spend the time making the best of contacts to line up the next job on a higher rate. 3 months at £300/day is a lot better than sitting there on £0 per day waiting for a job that may not arrive while eating into your savings.

[Scrag Meister]

Not sure a drop in rate expectation is necessary, or a little patience.

When I left permiedom, I was on the bench for 3 months and was offered some lowly non-banking roles, at some lowly non-banking rates. Which I turned down. Believe me by the time 2 months came up I was thinking about lowering my expectations.

I was dead set on an IB role (purely fiscal, not cos I love banking), or similar, it all paid off in the end.

Patience is a virtue. GL in your search.

Once you are on the bench though you have loads of time to chase agents, check jobserve, learn useful skills.

[JoJoGabor]

I expected to get £350/day on my first contract after leaving permieland with 5 years experience. After 2.5 months of being sat on the bench, I took a contract at £240/day at a level that was way below what I was doing before, It took me 2 more contracts over a year to get back to the level I felt I should have been at.

[lukemg]

Firstly, well done for taking this brave decision, with the world economy teetering on the bring of disaster, many would not have jumped with no safety net.
You are somewhat tainted by the current perm status when there are numerous seasoned contractors available, you will be seen as more of a risk. SO, as has been said, take any reasonable role doing the right stuff to get you started. Skills + a track record of successful contracting looks a better prospect.