Reply to: On the bench?

[KathyWoolfe]

My time on the bench starts on monday, after a contract lasting 20 months (extended 3 times).
Not expecting much before Christmas......fingers crossed for after Christmas.

[wantacontract]

gutted

was offered a permie role of 50k inc car allowance back in march this year, turned it down....

stupid move in hindsight...

contracted until june with the same company, by then they found a permie to replace me.

went on holiday from mid june until sept. Got married during that time and had honeymoon in mexico....

looked for a whole month before landing a 4 week contract, in second week now.....

Kinda of wished I took that permie role, home based too and I was rated the No1 PM by the MD.

Now, I am forced to look at day rates of £200, travelling and staying away from home....


Actually went back ealier on in Oct, but they didn't have any positions open now, surprise surprise...

[Stan.goodvibes]

Had a similar situation to you Bob Dalek. Arrived at clientco expecting to be taking over a dotnet/webservices/SQL Server app that had just been completed... first day on the job I was looking at it thinking 'WTF??? is this?' - It really was the slowest badly written pile of tulip I have ever come across.

Fortunately my self-preservation skills are pretty good, so it actually took me around 2-3 months before I managed to get the whole application canned and redone the proper way (i.e. actually doing some user requirements and FDLC).

My boss (also a woman) actually commended me for being the one to point out that the application wasn't up to scratch!

Mind you have no tongue left from having to bite it constantly in meetings etc for first month or two.

[norrahe]

I should point out I'd already dropped my rate by £100 a day.

on another note was waiting on agent to get back to me with dates for interview next week, only to be told he'd received an e-mail from the client with names of interviewees and mine wasn't on the list, even though the client had said they wanted to interview me. Agent tried ringing client to find out why i was dropped, client is refusing to return calls. (so he says).

then again given the way the agent was describing said client, he sounded a right nightmare, so may be I'm better off.

so back on the bench again, waiting for the market on the insurance side of things to pick up.

tulip happens!

[Bob Dalek]

yep! a lot of companies are reducing rates or using the "credit crunch" as an excuse to pay contractors less.

I've been in the situation being put forward for a job and asked to reduce my rate, on saying no, the agency then comes back saying the company will agree on my rate but the other poor schmucks who agreed a rate drop get put forward at a lower rate.

Experience doesn't matter any more, its who's cheapest.

That's been the case, in my experience, for some time now. Consequently, have reluctantly dropped my rate a notch to get the gig... have twice managed to renegotiate at renewal time to the full whack, but that's not the norm, sadly.

[spud]

yep! a lot of companies are reducing rates or using the "credit crunch" as an excuse to pay contractors less.

I've been in the situation being put forward for a job and asked to reduce my rate, on saying no, the agency then comes back saying the company will agree on my rate but the other poor schmucks who agreed a rate drop get put forward at a lower rate.

Experience doesn't matter any more, its who's cheapest.

Especially with some contracts paying permie wages...

Been on the bench for 4 weeks now. Turned down 2 interviews - probably a mistake, but the market does seem much more bouyant now - only time will tell.

[norrahe]

No they wont! They'll give you a flat no for at least 12 months so long as they can replace you. Many clients wont give a rate increase within 12 months unless you prove you're indespensible.

yep! a lot of companies are reducing rates or using the "credit crunch" as an excuse to pay contractors less.

I've been in the situation being put forward for a job and asked to reduce my rate, on saying no, the agency then comes back saying the company will agree on my rate but the other poor schmucks who agreed a rate drop get put forward at a lower rate.

Experience doesn't matter any more, its who's cheapest.

[BolshieBastard]

cheers. and i guess with 3 month contracts you've a greater chance of negotiation come extention time, to save them going to market again.

plus rates might be looking a little better in 3 months.

No they wont! They'll give you a flat no for at least 12 months so long as they can replace you. Many clients wont give a rate increase within 12 months unless you prove you're indespensible.

[Bob Dalek]

Quick....... lets buy some shares before close!!!!!

[mailric]

Just had a call!! Only put my CV online 15 mins. ago. Boomed!

Quick....... lets buy some shares before close!!!!!

[Bob Dalek]

cheers. and i guess with 3 month contracts you've a greater chance of negotiation come extention time, to save them going to market again.

plus rates might be looking a little better in 3 months.

Just had a call!! Only put my CV online 15 mins. ago. Boomed!

[mailric]

Well done.

I think it's looking a lot healthier... but perhaps a greater percentage of 3 month gigs that before? Who cares? Lovely lolly is lovely lolly.

cheers. and i guess with 3 month contracts you've a greater chance of negotiation come extention time, to save them going to market again.

plus rates might be looking a little better in 3 months.

[Bob Dalek]

well, got bored and started looking a little more seriously (i.e. paying more attention to the phone calls). Turns out the market is picking up a little and had an offer of a couple of months work this morning, which I have mixed feelings about

Think the client is playing on the safe side with only 2 months work and no notice period but hay ho.... keeps me out of trouble for a few weeks.

Well done.

I think it's looking a lot healthier... but perhaps a greater percentage of 3 month gigs that before? Who cares? Lovely lolly is lovely lolly.

[mailric]

back in business

well, got bored and started looking a little more seriously (i.e. paying more attention to the phone calls). Turns out the market is picking up a little and had an offer of a couple of months work this morning, which I have mixed feelings about

Think the client is playing on the safe side with only 2 months work and no notice period but hay ho.... keeps me out of trouble for a few weeks.

[Bob Dalek]

Sounds like this person was getting a contract DBA for 3-4 months for half the price.

Top tip - If anyone on the board takes a permie role in the next couple of months with a 12 week probation and a boss from hell, don't get too comfy

In Hammersmith.