Out for 2 years...what's happened to rates?!

[bluetoaster]

I also started out in COBOL and know there are COBOL shops around, I just don't see roles advertised.

[escapeUK]

Bear in mind - it's an ageing, Jurassic period skillset, being MF Cobol...................

Any ideas?

And therefore rare and valuable. Dont sell yourself short.

[darmstadt]

Not in COBOL !! Maybe Java or C#. Many of those chaps may not even have heard of COBOL.

Oh definitely in COBOL! As the worlds supply of COBOL programmers slowly started decreasing, the sub-contintent outsourcing firms saw a ready market and trained a lot of students and graduates in COBOL, primarily for the USA market. Due to the fact that none of these people had any business knowledge, the coding is pretty tulipe. You only need to look at some of the forums where MF'ers hang out to see the problems.

[fullyautomatix]

be prepared to accept a lower rate. We've had a lot more contractors come in from India. I've found that these guys are willing for accept reduced rates to get their foot in the door. As a result they influence the overall market rate.

Not in COBOL !! Maybe Java or C#. Many of those chaps may not even have heard of COBOL.

[GB9]

Headline rates

Don't think headline rates have moved much in the 12 years I have been contracting. I have done ok in the last 6 years, but mainly from having a lot of experience and a fair chunk of luck. Still seeing PM jobs advertised at £350 and BA jobs at £250 though. Still, you get what you pay for IMO.

[knight007]

be prepared to accept a lower rate. We've had a lot more contractors come in from India. I've found that these guys are willing for accept reduced rates to get their foot in the door. As a result they influence the overall market rate.

[whitehart]

Look at jobserve et al and DYOR?

Try itjobswatch for your skills?

Thanks for the replies, chaps! I'd done some research, but hadn't come up with much...South Wales rates are a bit more difficult to discover...but the contract's within half a mile of my house, so I'd be quite happy with the same as the old rate!

[northernladuk]

Look at jobserve et al and DYOR?

Try itjobswatch for your skills?

[JoJoGabor]

Mine have gone up over 25% in the last 2 years in London. That did include a move from Investment Banking to non-Investment Banking though

[cojak]

But congratulations for still being able to earn money out of MF COBOL, I stopped teaching it in 1999 and coding in it in 1997!

[mudskipper]

If they offer the same rate as 3 years ago then bite their hand off.

Many contractors have had to accept a 10% cut per year for the last 2 years...

WSS. No harm in trying your luck though!

[cojak]

If they offer the same rate as 3 years ago then bite their hand off.

Many contractors have had to accept a 10% cut per year for the last 2 years...

[whitehart]

Hi

I was a contractor for nearly 20 years up until the end of 2010. At that point, I was working in South Wales, at a rate of £40/h. I took a year out, then went permie for 12 months elsewhere, until I saw the light, and left last month!

Anyway - I received an email today from the client I was working for in 2010, and they've asked me to return...however - I'm completely out of touch with what's happened to rates in the interim, so could do with a bit of guidance so that I know a) where to pitch my rate, and b) that the agency aren't giving me a load of bull!

Bear in mind - it's an ageing, Jurassic period skillset, being MF Cobol...................

Any ideas?