Contract Role - should I negotiate?
Received an offer for a 12-month consulting role at Apple. I mean, technically I'm employed by the consulting agency. I'm really excited to work with my new team but was disappointed when I saw the hourly rate ($40) on my contract. I've got 72 hours to sign it, should I negotiate? I'm new to the Bay Area. Although I mostly understand the negatives of contract work (feel free to chime in here too), I am eager to get more experience. Thanks in advance for your help.
That’s pretty low. I’m non technical and the roles I’ve seen have been at least $100/hour.
I'm non-technical too, that's great to know. Thanks
Depends your yoe but $40 is pretty low to survive comfortably. If you can negotiate, you should definitely negotiate
Feeling certain about the need to open in up this thread to any and all negotiation tips. :)
Is the contract with Apple or the third party? With Apple that rate is probably set unless the manager really likes you. The contracting company might have some flexibility. Leverage is going to depend on how specialized your knowledge is and how easily replaced you are.
The contract is with the third party. I know I'm the only applicant who has made it past the 2nd of three interviews and that the apple team lead seems to want me.
$40/hr amounts to 80k per year without benefits. So do your own math backwards for the COL. think practically if you can sustain with that money in Bay Area considering your financial commitments.
Thanks for the help everyone, got it up substantially thanks to your advice!
Contract work is great if you need money right away and don’t need to worry about benefits. But yeah $40/hr is tough in the Bay Area. It depends on your needs, will you still be looking for an FTE role once you sign? And yeah negotiate, but if your desperate, then you’ll probably have to settle.
I've been looking for a while so I'd like to take a break from looking for FTE until I get more experience under my belt. Hoping I don't have to struggle in the meantime
Do you have an alternative option? Like I said, you can ask the question...”can I get more money?” And if they say no then what is your alternative option? You’ll probably need to get roommates and eat lots of ramen. Totally been there (long ago).