Is it harder today to be a contractor than 10 years ago?

[TestMangler]

£4k a week in year 2000, so you were part of the hayday group

It was actually part way into 2000 when contractors were starting to struggle that I hit my peak (or lucky streak). I made virtually f*** all out of the lead up to Y2K. A friend who was an old time programmer made a bleedin' mint though. He built an extension which doubled the size of his house which he still calls "The Millennium 'find and replace' Wing"

[eek]

This. Been contracting over 25 years. My rate pretty much unchanged for the last 15. I used be able to save loads. Now I can't.

Bobs and politicians equally to blame IMVHO.

Knowing the lay of the land I started a concerted plan to move up the food chain 2 years ago. Picked a specialist tool in a technology stack with decent rates and made sure I know the ins and outs of it.

I think my next rate will confirm that I made the correct choice... The one thing I already know is that I can now pick the client rather than the client picking me.

In fact I just told crapita I won't jump through their hoops....

[jamesbrown]

Knowing the lay of the land I started a concerted plan to move up the food chain 2 years ago. Picked a specialist tool in a technology stack with decent rates and made sure I know the ins and outs of it.

I think my next rate will confirm that I made the correct choice... The one thing I already know is that I can now pick the client rather than the client picking me.

In fact I just told crapita I won't jump through their hoops....

Definitely the way to go (not just in IT). It introduces some risk, and there's obviously a balance, but a specialist skillset puts you in control.

[NotAllThere]

... My grand a day doesn't make me feel well off at all.

£1000 a day? INKSPE.

I started 1996. By 2000, I was on around £80 per hour. Then it tanked to around £50 an hour. However, now I've found my niche, I've been pulling in more income year on year. Even with the expense of living in Switzerland, I find I feel pretty wealthy. There's no saving up for anything, and, except for mortgage, no debt.

[darmstadt]

My first contract was in 1986 on 5,50 an hour. I think that its got better since then

[ChimpMaster]

Knowing the lay of the land I started a concerted plan to move up the food chain 2 years ago. Picked a specialist tool in a technology stack with decent rates and made sure I know the ins and outs of it.

I think my next rate will confirm that I made the correct choice... The one thing I already know is that I can now pick the client rather than the client picking me.

In fact I just told crapita I won't jump through their hoops....

I need to change tech and pretty soon - in around 6 months' time. I was thinking of going permie to be able to do this, but it wouldn't be an easy thing to stomach. Would you be willing to share your ideas on how you went about evolving? (PM if better)

[unixman]

I started contracting in 2006. Rates increased rapidly then tanked in 2008 of course. Now rates in my line of work are about the same (numerically) as they were in 2006, in other words (with inflation) down by about 10%.

Finding work seems about as difficult as it was in 2006. Being a systems administrator/designer, I have been a little less affected by off-shoring than some, but still affected.

[BrilloPad]

My first contract was in 1986 on 5,50 an hour. I think that its got better since then

I was 1988. £17.5/hour. Which was a big step up from £21k a year!

1995 I was on £45 an hour.

1999 was £80/hour.

<sigh>

[eek]

Knowing the lay of the land I started a concerted plan to move up the food chain 2 years ago. Picked a specialist tool in a technology stack with decent rates and made sure I know the ins and outs of it.

I think my next rate will confirm that I made the correct choice... The one thing I already know is that I can now pick the client rather than the client picking me.

In fact I just told crapita I won't jump through their hoops....

Contract option 1 is in after a 40 minute chat yesterday during which a single question was asked...

option 2 will appear tomorrow...

Boom thread will appear once I decide which to take..

So either I'm getting far better at interviews or the market is better in certain sectors than others...

[eek]

Contract option 1 is in after a 40 minute chat yesterday during which a single question was asked...

option 2 will appear tomorrow...

Boom thread will appear once I decide which to take..

So either I'm getting far better at interviews or the market is better in certain sectors than others...

Back up plan for option 1 has sent his CV in. So they won't be left in the lurch if I go for option 2...