Reply to: Have you ever been asked your day rate in an interview?

[SueEllen]

I don't think it's that easy for someone of working age to be placed on someone else's policy

I was told, by more than one American, that they tend to do someone's immediate family. So it includes spouse, and those under about 21 who are still in education.

However some employers offer better healthcare benefits than others even within that.

[eek]

Didn't they have wives/partners who worked?

I don't think it's that easy for someone of working age to be placed on someone else's policy

[SueEllen]

When I was working in the US my colleagues could not imagine taking the risk to go freelance.

Nothing to do with income - everything to do with walking away from employer provided healthcare.

Didn't they have wives/partners who worked?

[northernladuk]

What're the key differences? I assume hourly rates vs day rates, anything else?

Whole different approach for many reasons. Contracting just doesn't exist over there as it does over here.

[TheDude]

What're the key differences? I assume hourly rates vs day rates, anything else?

When I was working in the US my colleagues could not imagine taking the risk to go freelance.

Nothing to do with income - everything to do with walking away from employer provided healthcare.

[ConsultingTechArchitect]

In which case they would be very stupid because the people interviewing were American and as I pointed out before the US contract market is very, very different.

What're the key differences? I assume hourly rates vs day rates, anything else?

[eek]

Because it's literally impossible for a permie to find that out any other way...

They were fishing for info because they're not happy and want to wallow in their bitterness over someone else getting paid more than them. I bet at least one of them updated his CV after that conversation.

In which case they would be very stupid because the people interviewing were American and as I pointed out before the US contract market is very, very different.

[ConsultingTechArchitect]

Rubbish - there are plenty of contractors who love to imply how much they earn and use crass phrases such as 'every day is bonus day'

I once heard "every day is ka-ching day". That's my favourite. Even I wouldn't say that out loud though.

[TheDude]

Because it's literally impossible for a permie to find that out any other way...

Rubbish - there are plenty of contractors who love to imply how much they earn and use crass phrases such as 'every day is bonus day'

[ConsultingTechArchitect]

Maybe they asked because they're thinking of moving into contracting and want to know the going rate?

Because it's literally impossible for a permie to find that out any other way...

They were fishing for info because they're not happy and want to wallow in their bitterness over someone else getting paid more than them. I bet at least one of them updated his CV after that conversation.

[TheDude]

They are American - the contractor market is very, very different there.

Which makes the question even more bizarre.

I have interviewed at many large firms and have only every discussed salary with HR. For contract positions I have only ever discussed rate with agents.

[eek]

Maybe they asked because they're thinking of moving into contracting and want to know the going rate?

They are American - the contractor market is very, very different there.

[ladymuck]

Maybe they asked because they're thinking of moving into contracting and want to know the going rate?

[PCTNN]

Yeah, great start telling the perms working for you how much you are on. That isn't going to help you one iota.

To be fair this isn't a big deal at all.

Permies are not that stupid; they know how much contractors make. Any permie that has some experience will receive messages on a daily/weekly basis from agents about contract roles so even the most clueless permies have a rough idea of how much a contract ba/pm/dev makes.

[ConsultingTechArchitect]

Towards the end of the interview they asked my current day and because of adrenaline and my mouth being in overdrive I actually let it slip before gaining my composure.

Hahahahhahahah. Not much else to add to this one considering you already know you did a bad thing.

The only time you ever tell someone your rate is when you find someone at your client that's wiling to share your full rate (with recruiter margin on top). That way you know if the recruiter is taking the piss, gives you some ammo in the contract renewal negotiations to drive his margin down and your rate up.