Reply to: Would you take this?..

[SuperZ]

The part where I was asking whether overpaid arrogant fe<kers were a benefit to the team or in reality were just pointless gob sh!tes and do not contribute to the goals of the team?

An estimate is an estimate, not quite a guestimate but also without vision of what the future holds, not often will people be spot on.

Impossible to be sure code bug free without exhaustive testing and therefore way off estimates and so there will always be bugs

[original PM]

Just the last bit really, you know when you seemed to be trying to make a point.

The part where I was asking whether overpaid arrogant fe<kers were a benefit to the team or in reality were just pointless gob sh!tes and do not contribute to the goals of the team?

[chicane]

anyone know any decent coders who can...

Yes, but they don't come on the market very often because they're too busy getting renewed all the time.

[Shimano105]

Just the last bit really, you know when you seemed to be trying to make a point.

[original PM]

Sorry but I hope your specs are a little less confusing

Oh I do apologise maybe you enlighten me as to which part of the statement was confusing and then I could clarify it for you.

[Shimano105]

anyone know any decent coders who can

a) Give a proper estimate based on relevant documentation

b) Actually offer useful suggestions on the best way to code it - even if it may mean a tweak to user interfaces

c) Stick to the estimate given in a

d) Deliver code which has been properly tested so is bug free (may not do what we want but at least it does not give errors)

e) take the time to understand what the end goal of the project is and therefore enderstand what the system is trying to achieve and use that information when coding to ensure the coding is geared towards achieve the end goal?

would I get the above from some one on £400 per day as opposed to someone on £200 per day

or woud the £400 per day person end up being a cocky now it all who felt their sole job was to point out how everyone else is failing as opposed to just getting on with the damn job?

just wondering!

Sorry but I hope your specs are a little less confusing

[Brussels Slumdog]

Short term yes

Finishing a two week gig in Bristol to day at £150 a day below my normal rate.
After paying my flights + accomodation + food will make enough to feed Mrs
BS and child for 10 days. Job was too simple and may look silly on my CV.
I only accept low paid jobs for under a month.

[Zippy]

anyone know any decent coders who can

a) Give a proper estimate based on relevant documentation

b) Actually offer useful suggestions on the best way to code it - even if it may mean a tweak to user interfaces

c) Stick to the estimate given in a

d) Deliver code which has been properly tested so is bug free (may not do what we want but at least it does not give errors)

e) take the time to understand what the end goal of the project is and therefore enderstand what the system is trying to achieve and use that information when coding to ensure the coding is geared towards achieve the end goal?

would I get the above from some one on £400 per day as opposed to someone on £200 per day

or woud the £400 per day person end up being a cocky now it all who felt their sole job was to point out how everyone else is failing as opposed to just getting on with the damn job?

just wondering!

I know a few people who have all these skills, unfortunately I don't know any pimps or (some) clients who value them.

[original PM]

anyone know any decent coders who can

a) Give a proper estimate based on relevant documentation

b) Actually offer useful suggestions on the best way to code it - even if it may mean a tweak to user interfaces

c) Stick to the estimate given in a

d) Deliver code which has been properly tested so is bug free (may not do what we want but at least it does not give errors)

e) take the time to understand what the end goal of the project is and therefore enderstand what the system is trying to achieve and use that information when coding to ensure the coding is geared towards achieve the end goal?

would I get the above from some one on £400 per day as opposed to someone on £200 per day

or woud the £400 per day person end up being a cocky now it all who felt their sole job was to point out how everyone else is failing as opposed to just getting on with the damn job?

just wondering!

[Shimano105]

and by people actually accepting low rates they stop being low rates and become normal rates.

[SuperZ]

Trolls would not get out of bed for £200 @day

Me either unless it was on my doorstep and they paid overtime at double time for any extra hours I worked over 4 std hours a day.

Here are some downsides to a low paying contract:
1. The rate is sh**
2. Probably a c*ap job and won`t be good for the CV apart from a gap filler
3. You won`t feel very motivated and will jump ship as soon as you can which the client could view negatively meaning you`d never go back and you you have a very short contract on your CV
4. You might end up working with other contractors moaning about the rate constantly, with maybe some jumping ship potentially leaving you with more work or a failing project.
5. Might end up working with a bunch of numpties - 200 a day even today will attract the wrong crowd in my opinion. By 'wrong crowd' I just don`t mean skills either

My first contract was 240 a day back in 2003 but was an hourly rate and I could work overtime so I often bumped that to at least 300 a day. A guy started who kept bragging about his previous £330+ contract and moaning constantly about the rate and how many hours he had to work now to make up the money to his previous rate. Basically he was a grumpy whinging git and did a crap job because he couldn`t be ars*d and because he was constantly on the phone to pimps. He left quite a bad impression with other contractors and management. He even left without handing over any of his work apart from "it`s all in the **** directory on the network, bye lads" and the work had to be ditched. Think he was with us for a month max. I know someone who had worked with him in the past and was full of praise.

More downsides than just a cr*p rate

[Troll]

I know but you have to be careful how you word these hypothetical questions otherwise it's open day for the trolls.

Trolls would not get out of bed for £200 @day

[MGM]

This is exactly what I've done...

On the bench for 6 months, took a £200 / day contract, (200 miles away from home - so it's Travelodge time) and still looking for positions after 2 months... However, I've billed £10k and am not eating through the warchest

Downsides - it's 200 miles from home and less than half my previous rate

Upsides - I'm working, (4.5 day week - still billing 5 days) getting into a new sector, learning SAP and there is money coming in again!

Early on in my job search, I scoffed at £350, then £300, then £275 daily rates - how I wish I'd taken them now

[TheRefactornator]

He must be a coder.




IGMC.

A switch statement would be much more appropriate in that context.

[Gonzo]

There's an awful lot of if's in that statement. OK if there are a lot of contracts but too many if there aren't...

He must be a coder.




IGMC.