Oracle Apps Market and Rates

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Out of interest, what kind of stuff do tech consultants in Oracle Apps do?

[rootsnall]

Out of interest, what kind of stuff do tech consultants in Oracle Apps do?

A bit of SQL I would think !?

[oracleslave]

Out of interest, what kind of stuff do tech consultants in Oracle Apps do?

Over to you SallyAnne...

[Peoplesoft bloke]

A bit of SQL I would think !?

So would I, but I was hoping for a bit more gen from someone who does this kind of work, so I can (purely out of interest) compare it with an equivalent PeopleSoft techie role

[schindler]

So would I, but I was hoping for a bit more gen from someone who does this kind of work, so I can (purely out of interest) compare it with an equivalent PeopleSoft techie role

Developing new/customizing standard professional forms,reports,workflows,discoverer,OAF,ADF..the list is endless

[TheBigYinJames]

Developing new/customizing standard professional forms,reports,workflows,discoverer,OAF,ADF..the list is endless

Schindler's list is good.
Damn, couldn't resist.

[DS23]

lol

seems to me you need to work through different agents.

400 is too low unless you really want the role to learn something new or walk to work or are not up to snuff.

[schindler]

lol

seems to me you need to work through different agents.

400 is too low unless you really want the role to learn something new or walk to work or are not up to snuff.

Well I can't say i am not upto snuff as I have got good references both from permie work and contracting...but sadly the reality is for 400/day i am not learning anything new and making a daily 65 mile each way trip

[Bagpuss]

I can do sql, SAS,Splus, Statistical modelling and yet there are better rates in less skilled IT jobs. There aren't enough people to fill the vacancies in my industry yet the rates are comparably low. How the bobbins does that work?

[expat]

You need to actively come up with a strategy to maximise your rate. If an agent has placed you at £400 per day previously it's going to be difficult to justify why you are worth £650 next time round, particularly if it might affect his margin. Agents are ruthless and if the suspect a hint of weakness will batter your expectations down in a heartbeat...pocketing the difference themselves of course.

When the agent negotiates your rate with you, that is the point in the whole process where he determines his income. The client is there, the contractor has got the position, the client has their contract ready.... all that remains is for the agent to determine how much money he will get out of it, and how much money will pass through his hands but not stick on the way (i.e. your rate). Expect him to lie steal cheat and kill to minimise that. Unfortunately he "knows the market" because he and his colleagues keep trying to get contractors to work for less, and they continually see how well it plays.

Your response is:
1. know the market too. Talk to others who do the same.
2. try the market too: if you don't sometimes ask for more, you never know what you might get (if you are never refused then you are asking too little). But it is true that you are unlikely ever to get 650 from an agent who once got you for 400. He has you tagged as 400-a-day for ever.
Especially, keep going for contracts when you don't need one, pitching the rate high.
3. keep all your contacts and try going direct. Clients may piss you about in other ways but not often in rate. And you're 15% ahead from the start.