Higher Grade Gig for a lower rate

[cojak]

My 1st contract was £150 a day less than the rate I was earning as an established ITIL trainer.

I'm earning considerably more than that these days.

(Thinking about it, I earned £50 a day more than my trainer rate after my 1st extension...)

[darrylmg]

Best gigs for me, so far, are the word of mouth ones.
A friend is working at company A, recommends me, they get me.
The interviews are easy, the rates are good and usually they're not too fussed about the amount of experience I have in xyz, they care more about value for money and whether I can deliver on time.
If it's something new, I buy a book and read it in my loo time.

I'm in this situation now (not the loo) and I've already added about 5 new tech skills to my CV.

[DirtyDog]

+1

Those who come in to contracting purely for the money will only ever judge a contract on the pounds in your pocket, not on the potential to earn more later.

+2

I've taken a lower rate to move into new / different technologies - I always base my rate expectations on the role, the technology and the location. If it's something that I fancy doing, then I'll be more flexible on rate.

[masonryan]

Remember the agencies are going for higher commission from gigs. So turn the tables on them and ask them for your rate to increase and theirs to decrease.