RE: Ethics of Jumping To Another Contract Job

["James Barrow" <vrfour -at- verizon -dot- net>]

>Gene Kim-Eng said:
>>John Posada wrote:
>>
>>The rate was agreed on for the term that was agreed on. When the term
changes, >>why shouldn't the rate be considered? After all, you now know
more, so you are >>more productive...you are more valuable and they should
be prepared to pay for >>that additional value.

I'm really not following this logic. 'Knowing more' just means that a
contractor wasn't sub-par during the initial term and there wasn't a huge
learning curve. Now, if the contractor was an absolute superstar and went
above and beyond the call of duty, a rate increase after the initial term
seems appropriate.

>>Also, probably the reason that it is being extended is the scope of the
project has >>changed. You might have given a different rate if you had been
presented with this >>scope in the first place.

Er...that's one possible scenario.  Most of the contracts that I have been
involved with were labeled "3 months, with the possibility of extension."  I
always took this to mean, "We'd like to see how you work out and, if you
don't goof off to the point that others have to pick up your slack, we'll
probably keep you around a bit more."

>>You're not saying you WILL change your rate, you just want them to know
that if >>they reserve the option to change something, so can you.
>
>When I use contract writers, I select them on the basis of what I expect to
get out of >them as far as knowledge and productivity once they're up to
speed, not on the >basis of their shortcomings at the time of the interview,
so assuming they've lived up >to my hopes, they're already getting the "more
valuable" rate (and I always try to get >the best talent I can for my full
budgeted amount, it's not as if I get a percentage of >the savings if I hire
cheaper contractors).

This is the criteria that I used when I hired my last two tech writers.  The
first writer had above-average experience with the tools of the trade
(Framemaker, etc.) and came with some industry experience.  Her rate was 75%
of the maximum.  The second tech writer, after only five minutes of the
interview, asked the right questions, understood our project needs by
expressing them to me in terms of what he could offer, and seemed to know
where I was going before I could tell him.  He got the maximum.

If, at the end of their respective contracts, they have both performed
better than expected, then I'm in a situation.  My budget allows for me to
pay the first writer a little more, but I cannot give the second any more
money, and there isn't any open slots in the head-count until October of 08.
What do I offer the second writer if he isn't happy with this and hints at
leaving?

- Jim 

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