Crap rates - just be honest agents

[psychocandy]

Got call from agent.

SC needed for role in Brussels. Told him not really keen because I'm in a local gig and I do OK. Made the mistake of telling him its Inside IR35.

So hes off telling me how I need to get away from that and that his role is not Inside IR35. Trouble is, his role paid less than half (in euros as well!) and, of course, its in Brussels! (which is more than an hours drive from wales).

Seriously. He got a bit off when I laughed.

Agents - come on now. I do feel a bit sorry for them sometimes when they get what appears to be an impossible task getting someone in for a low rate but realise when someone ain't going to do it and be honest that the rate is indeed crap.

[northernladuk]

<yawn>

General please.

[PurpleGorilla]

How much we talking? £100 a day?

[psychocandy]

How much we talking? £100 a day?

£1000 ;-)

[mattfx]

I've noticed there are a lot of very poorly remunerated gigs being advertised at the moment in the infrastructure arena. Gigs I'd expect to see around the £300-£350 mark people are chancing at £225-£250, which is terrible! I've made it through to the second stage of a permieland interview in a couple of weeks, and am having to seriously consider that it may be the best option looking at what the market is currently doing..!

[northernladuk]

Agents - come on now. I do feel a bit sorry for them sometimes when they get what appears to be an impossible task getting someone in for a low rate but realise when someone ain't going to do it and be honest that the rate is indeed crap.

You want to be careful what you ask for. They might be too honest and admit they are calling you because the rate is crap and you are the only pillock they think might take it.

That said you are being a bit of a hypocrite aren't you? 'You aren't keen because you are in a local gig.'? Maybe if you had been honest and said there isn't a hope in hell I'll be taking a gig in Brussels then none of this would have happened would it?

[psychocandy]

You want to be careful what you ask for. They might be too honest and admit they are calling you because the rate is crap and you are the only pillock they think might take it.

That said you are being a bit of a hypocrite aren't you? 'You aren't keen because you are in a local gig.'? Maybe if you had been honest and said there isn't a hope in hell I'll be taking a gig in Brussels then none of this would have happened would it?

Never say never NLUK. I'll do anything if the price is right? Do you want to see my rate card to see if anything interests you? :-)

[BrilloPad]

Never say never NLUK. I'll do anything if the price is right?

How much for you to say you love NLUK?

You can quote in weekly JSA payments if you want....

[TydnA]

I've noticed there are a lot of very poorly remunerated gigs being advertised at the moment in the infrastructure arena. Gigs I'd expect to see around the £300-£350 mark people are chancing at £225-£250, which is terrible! I've made it through to the second stage of a permieland interview in a couple of weeks, and am having to seriously consider that it may be the best option looking at what the market is currently doing..!

This is exactly what I've found too. Been in infra type role for the past couple years at £300 and now theres few hitting that mark.

In the end, decided to take a perm job at £63k + stock (startup) for the next couple years and see where things go. Should get me into a few new areas like cloud/arch so getting those roles later would be easier imo.

Worst I heard was an infra type role, inside IR35, skills spec as long as your arm and £175 a day...

[unixman]

Have permy jobs caught up with contracting a little bit? Not sure. There still seems to be plenty of "blue water".

Rates are very gradually heading north (in unix infrastructure). I'm on my best rate since 2008, numerically. However if you factor in RPI inflation (the one that includes housing) this is no longer the case. Inflation has a surprisingly big effect over a few years. Eg. £300 p/d in 2007 would be equivalent to £409 now, according to the H-L inflation calculator. Just to fend off inflation, an increase of £10 or so per year is needed. All pretty obvious I guess.

The rates information at https://www.itjobswatch.co.uk seems to confirm a slow upward trend. But it is too optimistic. Either that or I am undercharging.