Please forward your resume and hourly rate requirements

[choppedwood]

I struggle with a blind auction.  I have a very broad resume, it's partially by design, and it's partially the reality of being on the ground where I spent most of my IT career.  I really have no idea how to set a blind rate on some of the things I get calls for.  For a full-time position I can hit salary.com and at least ballpark it but contracts wind up all over the map and there are no resources like salary.com for contractors. 

Just muddle through, suck it up, and eventually figure it out?  Or, is there some other better way which I doubt.  Also, I get the general idea of how to cost this work as a business, I'm really just trying to get a handle on the market for brokered skill sets.

[Richardk]

I struggle with a blind auction. 

A blind auction? Just decide what dollar amount per hour you need and aim high.

Later, if they want you, you can update your rate after they clarify their needs.

[benali72]

I always forward them my rate without an negotiation (not!)

Actually, I'd try to settle on a rate that is reasonable for the type of work you do and your background. Then stick with it. Most places will come around. Or if they tell you your rate is too high, you'll know it and can adjust it.

[choppedwood]

I think the problem I'm having is one of shell-shock.  I spent 17 years, directly and indirectly with my last employer.  Ironically, the company paid well relative to their industry but poorly relative to the IT industry.  Because I was attached to them for so long, and the economy hit hard, I fell even further behind on the salary scale.  The industry is decimated so you can't switch employers in that industry.  One of our former VP's tried to hire me at $25/hr to see if I was desperate enough to take it.  I wasn't.

So, what just happened was, I had a conversation with a broker about a SQL writing gig, 5 minutes from my home, quoted X and she came back with X+5 (although not final so maybe not).  Yes, you read that right.  I'm assuming I went too low, way too low, maybe something else, but every one of these things is unique so it's hard to value.  If I get it, I'll do it for the couple of months and bump it on the next one.  It's not like I'm heading to the poor house but I hate to be leaving $10 or $15/hr in the broker's hands when I don't have to especially given the erratic nature of the work.

[Richardk]

You must be low if the broker is giving you X + 5. If you really want to know what you're worth, ask the broker the bill rate to the client. (Many won't tell you.)

[ilconsiglliere]

There are a couple of ways to deal with the borks:

1. When I get solicited I ask for rate, client and location right off the bat. If they dont provide it or give me any kind of grief I delete the email immediately. Nowadays they never want to provide the rate up front. Its some kind of sick game where the first person that speaks a number looses.

That being said if they provide a number I tell them its too low. For example I had one tell me that the rate for a big telco was 50-60/hour. I told them it was too low and said I wanted 75/hour and I got 69/hour out of them.

2. The second technique is when they ask for your rate is to come in high. You have nothing to lose by coming in high. The only thing they will say is they cant do it and the next question is what can you do?

Based on what I am hearing from what you did you should be asking for at least 50/hour if you are on the west coast or the northeast.

[choppedwood]

Il, thanks for the reply.  Actually that's the number I tossed out.  I guess what bothers me a bit is that I think I could get that much as a FTE (easily 90K, probably 100K if I was willing to commute).  It just seems like there should be a larger gap.  If there's no gap, other than keeping you busy when you don't have a job, why contract?

[ilconsiglliere]

Contracting isnt worth it today unless you are unemployed. The rates are not good unless you have a very specialized skill thats a niche. Outside of that the rates blow. There is just too many candidates for every job so companies can be picky and drive the rates down. All the big companies in NJ have driven the rates down.

Perm today pays BETTER than being a consultant when you factor in healthcare, vacation, holidays, 401K, etc.... I have a spreadsheet that I can send you if you like that compares them one for one. You just have to fill in the top 2 lines and it does the rest.

Take my last perm gig - I was doing about 100K in base with about a 7K bonus. On top of this I got 4 weeks vacation, holidays, pension, 401K contribution, medical, dental and vision. To make the equivalent as a contractor I need to make 75/hour. There is no way I am going to get 75/hour anywhere in NJ now (ground 0 of the Indian consulting companies). The most I am seeing for PM's is 65/hour and most are less than that.

Welcome to the race to the bottom.