Market Rates

[GB9]

Just looking for work for the first time in over 4 years and advertised rates suck. They look to be down around £100 on the back end of last year, even though there are plenty of jobs out there. I reckon that my real terms income has fallen around 30% in 12 years, despite having all that additional experience. So bad I'm almost contemplating looking for permiedom again. At least I would get holidays and sick leave and all those other benefits that separate us from yokels.

[rd409]

Just looking for work for the first time in over 4 years and advertised rates suck. They look to be down around £100 on the back end of last year, even though there are plenty of jobs out there. I reckon that my real terms income has fallen around 30% in 12 years, despite having all that additional experience. So bad I'm almost contemplating looking for permiedom again. At least I would get holidays and sick leave and all those other benefits that separate us from yokels.

It really depends on what you do as a contractor, I guess. My rates have gone up 30% in last 3 years, so can't really say the rates suck. Remember as an expert you have to keep on upskilling yourself. You cannot rely on your present skill set to enable you charging the same rates over and over again.

My 2p.
Dave.

[cojak]

It really depends on what you do as a contractor, I guess. My rates have gone up 30% in last 3 years, so can't really say the rates suck. Remember as an expert you have to keep on upskilling yourself. You cannot rely on your present skill set to enable you charging the same rates over and over again.

My 2p.
Dave.

+1. But it does feel that you have to work harder (through up-skilling) to maintain the same rate.

[GB9]

For the last couple of years I have been managing big projects (£10m+) so don't really have any useful skills any more . My background is analysis (I had lots of good skills a couple of years ago) but been out of that and hence very difficult to get back in against a stock BA.

Architects seem to be flavour of the month, and the North / South divide seems to have re-emerged, although mainly as a result of rates in the North having fallen rather than southern rates having risen.

[BolshieBastard]

I'd agree rates appear very depressed right now. Early last week, I saw jobs advertised at 100-150 a day with ISTQB /ISEB intermediate qualification.

Whether rates are depressed because there are few jobs about is another matter IMO.

[craig1]

Those with niche skills are still getting the good rates but generalists are being pushed down in rates. The problem is that most people just don't think they have a niche when in reality it's a rare thing for someone to not have one. Just market yourself properly and the rates will rise. I got that advice about 5 years ago, took apart my CV to highlight my narrow specialites and my rates have risen year on year since.

[GB9]

Interesting that clients seem to be preferring less experienced (and cheaper) candidates over more experienced (and bloomin' expensive) candidates.

Also back to a position where ads are stating that candidates must have a minimum of at least 2 or 3 years experience. This is ironic as I have only seen this before in a booming market, which this isn't!

[SimonMac]

Just looking for work for the first time in over 4 years and advertised rates suck. They look to be down around £100 on the back end of last year, even though there are plenty of jobs out there. I reckon that my real terms income has fallen around 30% in 12 years, despite having all that additional experience. So bad I'm almost contemplating looking for permiedom again. At least I would get holidays and sick leave and all those other benefits that separate us from yokels.

Kinda answers your own question, time to reskill to something that not's flooded by cheap competition. I know I am very niche, so at most 1 or 2 adverts come up each month, I guess its my my rates are holding steady while others are taking cuts

[GB9]

Kinda answers your own question, time to reskill to something that not's flooded by cheap competition. I know I am very niche, so at most 1 or 2 adverts come up each month, I guess its my my rates are holding steady while others are taking cuts

Am fairly niche as is, just not that many very big projects about at the moment. Very much regret taking my last contract.

[rob s]

Yeah, there are some desperate people with skills and experience all willing to go in at the bottom end of every rate. I guess there are agencies happy to scrabble for any commission they can.