Originally posted by bluedrop
View Post
My consultants answer is the classic: "It depends":-
It depends on
- what your husband/wife does as a main skill. E.g. a project manager, Java developer, DB admin, tester, analyst, front-end, back-end, dev ops engineer security guard.
- the faith or trust in the project - does he or she know the client well. If it is an ex-colleague from the past, and network chum, then you probably have it made.
- the stakeholders, the decision makers true aims for the project - some clients play poker face cards
- the true budget that your other half does not see for the all claim - grand claims are not equal to real-world results
- how the project actual runs in its course. Of course, You do not know until you are in the middle of the project. If your other half is involved train wreck project, which is difficult to turnaround, then you are history, eventually.
- contractors are hired for the "hard" projects not necessarily the "easy" ones. You are judged on performance from day 1 until to end.
- scope for the renewals. Most projects I hear always say there is scope for renewals, except for short term work until Xmas. This linked to the budget bit.
- the type of work - long hours at an investment bank, tough commuting times - away from home a lot - accepting dev ops supports at 3am in the morning
- the situation - contracting in a company that is going through restructuring - the culture of the client - the politics
- your personal situation: mortgage, school fees, rent, pensions, car and typical utilities? Can you afford to go months without work and still pay the essentials?
- it is a lot tougher in 2014 than in 2004, I rarely see developer contractors with 12 month security badge, it tends to spits and bobs, 2 months, renewal 3 month extension, another 3 month renewal, then the project finishes or the budget is halted unexpectedly. It is about mitigating risk and realising that things can go seriously wrong on spin of a fifty pence piece.
Nevertheless £500 per day is a very good rate for a software engineer in central London, 6 months. All the best
Leave a comment: