Reply to: 2 Day Contracts (Rate Premium)

[Wanderer]

I guess the moral of the story is that if it's a two day contract then you word it such that you get paid for two days even if the client cancels it....

[MPwannadecentincome]

Update


In total I wasted about 8 hours (unpaid) prep & resolution.

The Agent said they would try and get their Client to cover any cash losses, but basically the entire venture into 2 day Gigs has left a bad taste in everyones mouth.

Good luck to anyone else who tries it.

Sorry to hear that - looks like Wanderer was right - bad luck

[GWilliy]

Update

15 minutes before catching the train to london for the 2nd 2 Day Gig I got a phonecall canceling it for a month/indefinately.

2 Day Gigs are vulnerable to last minute cancellations.

It sure was fun getting the £368 GBP back from the Hotel Booking that I had to cancel. Thank Crunchie I didn't pre book the train.

Took sodding hours to find a suitable London Hotel as well.

In total I wasted about 8 hours (unpaid) prep & resolution.

The Agent said they would try and get their Client to cover any cash losses, but basically the entire venture into 2 day Gigs has left a bad taste in everyones mouth.

Good luck to anyone else who tries it.

[Wanderer]

Whilst on the Bench what kind of premium would you put on your normal daily rate if you had a chance of a few (2 or more?) 2 day gigs all over the UK, some with overnight aways (expenses paid).

If it's in an area which is a PITA to get to then I wouldn't bother - by the time you've done all the messing around travelling it might not be worth it.

Who knows, you might get a longer contract offer out of it. I've seen companies get people in to do a few days work and they stay for months or years...

[GWilliy]

d000hg the reality for me is that

I spent the day before

1: planning routes
2: discussing deliverables with client
3: reading, understanding, signing, posting contracts
4: skilling up & thinking about the gig approach
5: etc

The two days during

6: trying to find the gig & not be late (setting off earlier)
7: hit the ground sprinting in a foreign environment
8: looking out for anything that may cause a delay achieving results ie requesting logins/security access etc. (no time for delays)
9: asking for key fobs to get to the toilet/coffee machine
10: hitting jobserve when u get home making sure you still apply for real contracts (easy to get distracted)
11: etc

The day after

12: covering Phonecalls from agent
13: covering phonecalls from client
14: generating & posting/faxing a 2 day invoice
15: logging company mileage, expenses, paperwork filling.

A tad more hassle than doing a solid 12 monther 9-5 at the same day rate don't u think.

Anyone can be a busy fool

I'm doing it because I'm not afraid of a bit of hard work & as you say there are a couple of pro's

But no one should assume it's easy. especially you agents reading this.

[d000hg]

Charging a premium for very short contracts and sporadic work only makes sense if you're having to turn down other work as a result. If you have no other work, why aren't you glad of:

a)the money
b)a bit of variety in your life
c)chance to make some contacts

[HeadOfTesting]

First of all in my previous post I meant to say "what do I know?".

Bolshie - yes I am still active although increasingly my focus is switching to plan B.

I'm pretty relaxed about my CV gap because:

- I had 15 months on the bench in the 2001/2 collapse albeit not in one contiguous block like this time.
- Unlike 2001/2 I'm a senior manager and I think people are more tolerant of CV gaps amongst such people for various reasons.
- I went in to this recession with a net £300k war chest which I've not dented too much
- I have no family or debts to consider
- Having achieved "Head Of Testing" status in a large organisation I don't feel like testing is unfinished business for me even though I'm only 33.
- During the first 8 of my 14 months out I was actually getting medical treatment so that explains a fair chunk of the gap
- I'm still getting good leads and indeed the last 2 jobs I've gone forward for (which I know were definitely real) were paying more than my last role (in one case 20% more).

My CV talks about my medical treatment up to Sept 09 but sasys nothing after that - although I'm looking to give my CV a bit of a refresh in time for the new financial year for one last push and I may say more as part of that refresh. If that refreshed CV fails to yield anything then plan B will become a full blown plan A.

To be honest I wanted my most recent contract to be the last one anyway as I always intended to progress a plan b with a colleague. For various reasons that didn't work out and I've probably allowed things to drift for too long - but I am now going it alone on that.

I've always operated a zero tolerance policy on agents that ask why you've got a CV gap in market conditions such as these - they know full well why there's a gap. I don't work with/for any agent or hiring manager that fails to acknowledge both the market conditions and their impact. But as I said I've now been out for just over 14 months so maybe I'm not a good person to listen to. That said I honestly think that in the current climate CV gaps - even very large ones - don't need to be explained. Just my 2p's worth.

As I said I'm in a situation where I can take it or leave it but the best of luck to those who urgently need a change in fortunes.

Oh and Bolshie - I've had people ask me if I want to be Head Of Testing in London for £200 a day so hopefully that makes you feel better about the anecdote you've quoted above.

[MarillionFan]

flip me, that is a long time! Are you no longer active?

Just got off a call to an agent about a role in the midlands. £230 a day!!

I asked for £250 as I'd need to stay over but they said they may go to £240. Im beginning to think '**** it' and just accept the rate on offer. The warchest is still brimming but Im starting to feel like I dont want to go back which is, even worse!

Deciding whether to drop below the rate you want is a tricky one. I've been shortlisted for 4 £500-£600 contracts in the last month and they all came to nought. For the £300-£350 range I was told I was over qualified(!?!?!) and wasnt put forward(!?!?!)

I really don't need to work in IT but enjoy it. For me I have decided to take a contract to get of the house and get the moolah rolling in, while ensuring I dont have a massive gap on my CV. As it's my first contract for a number of years I am looking forward to working less hours than I was (dropping from 60/70 to 40) and it gives me a chance to get some studying in while ensuring I dont stagnate.

By your own decisions, you can perpertuate your own downward spiral.

[GWilliy]

Result = "take whatever you can get - BUT TAKE IT"

All sounds like excellent advise to me, many thanks for your help.

(Warchest > needed) + (Confidence < Medium) after 5mths on the bench as a 12yr+ MS SQL Developer that never previously failed an interview (failed 6 up to yet & have had many extensions & repeat work). Trouble is it's not just about the warchest, it's about the dwindling pension pot.

I never bothered with LinkedIn or Networking as I didn't have to, maybe I should?

One possibility is to top up with a Masters (1 year Academia) in September. A 6 mther before then would be jubbly.

If only I had gained DataWarehouse & major ETL SSIS previously the market is good for those Skills, but clients demand good experience. High confidence in own ability seems worthless & I don't like gilding the lilly too much.

Oh well, 2 day gigs are really hard work but it's better than nothing & at least I can still keep looking.

Thanks again to all & good luck to all benchers (especially HeadOfTesting)

[BolshieBastard]

I agree - whilst logic may suggest a premium is appropriate in this market such logic goes out of the window.

It seems common for agents to expect people to work away from home for less than they would work for locally. I suppose the logic is that someone who is willing to work away from home is - by implication - more desperate.

What do you I know? I've just started my 15th month on the bench

Feck me, that is a long time! Are you no longer active?

Just got off a call to an agent about a role in the midlands. £230 a day!!

I asked for £250 as I'd need to stay over but they said they may go to £240. Im beginning to think '**** it' and just accept the rate on offer. The warchest is still brimming but Im starting to feel like I dont want to go back which is, even worse!

[Moscow Mule]

I pitched a healthy rate & the agent immediately asked if I would do it for £x per day (21% less), which was sort of what I was getting a couple of years ago.

I would do it for the rate, when given a written confirmation from the agent what their markup is (and that it is not taking the piss).

It's a good chance to make contacts & boost your profile. If you can get a good linked-in recommendation out of it, more the better.

[HeadOfTesting]

I'd say market forces drive this. In the current market, clients can pick and chose even for a 2 day contract, so would probably not pay a premium.

I agree - whilst logic may suggest a premium is appropriate in this market such logic goes out of the window.

It seems common for agents to expect people to work away from home for less than they would work for locally. I suppose the logic is that someone who is willing to work away from home is - by implication - more desperate.

What do you I know? I've just started my 15th month on the bench

[BolshieBastard]

What do you Guys think?

Whilst on the Bench what kind of premium would you put on your normal daily rate if you had a chance of a few (2 or more?) 2 day gigs all over the UK, some with overnight aways (expenses paid).

I'm not quite sure how to pitch this & wonder what the market premium would be for this knd of thing.

I pitched a healthy rate & the agent immediately asked if I would do it for £x per day (21% less), which was sort of what I was getting a couple of years ago.

Anyone got any ideas?

I'd say market forces drive this. In the current market, clients can pick and chose even for a 2 day contract, so would probably not pay a premium.

[cojak]

Some guys on here are getting the same rate they were 10 years ago for a full time gig.

It'll look good on your CV. Provided you make a profit, take it.

[Drewster]

How much do you need it?

(Warchest > needed) + (Confidence > High) = Premium/Play Hard Ball
.........
(Warchest < pitiful) + (Confidence < Low) = NoPremium/Offer them your wife

Seriously only you can negotiate for your requirements.... I would think that pushing for much of a premium in this market would require "balls of steel".
The fact that you are asking implies that you are not brimming with confidence at getting a premium.....