I have started telling recruiters that my inflation adjusted rate is $120/Hr because i refuse to make less than I did in 1990
Sent from my iPhone No one said I could type with one thumb > On Feb 5, 2026, at 13:10, Steve Beaver <[email protected]> wrote: > > I saw that one too. TLMS I didn’t think was still in use > > > Sent from my iPhone > > No one said I could type with one thumb > >> On Feb 5, 2026, at 13:09, Steve Beaver <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> When Indian recruiters call now I start by saying unless you are offering >> $120/Hr W2 then you do not need to be talking to me and you need to tell >> your managers that you are getting push back on the low rates. If we ALL >> push back all at the same time recruiters and companies will get the point >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> No one said I could type with one thumb >> >>>> On Feb 5, 2026, at 12:33, Pommier, Rex >>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Another issue related to this is the fact that some (many/most??) US firms >>> won't hire independent contractors. They require a contractor be hired >>> through an agency. Lets see, less money for the worker, more money coming >>> out of the company's coffers. Lose, lose proposition. >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of >>> Mike Beer >>> Sent: Thursday, February 5, 2026 12:08 PM >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: [EXTERNAL] mainframe skills - was cross posted >>> >>> This problem is not restricted to US projects. >>> >>> I recently was contacted for an Austrian banking project with specific >>> mainframe skills plus agile experience (SCRUM master) plus JAVA development. >>> This skill set is rare - the recruiting firm offered EUR 60/hour. >>> This is ridiculous - on the other hand this bank's software keeps crashing >>> very often. So they will have cheap people, but not the necessary skills. >>> >>> And I agree, most - but not all - recruiters have no clue what they are >>> talking about. >>> >>> IBM does not really help to keep the mainframe business - instead of >>> promoting the stability of mission critical infrastructure, everything is >>> AI. >>> It is good to have at least some people who know what they are doing, >>> instead of having to ask ChatGPT for every task. >>> >>> Regards >>> Mike >>> >>> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- >>> Von: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> Im Auftrag >>> von Steve Thompson >>> Gesendet: Donnerstag, 5. Februar 2026 17:55 >>> An: [email protected] >>> Betreff: Re: Cross Posted >>> >>> Before anyone starts arguments on supply and demand and capitalism, free >>> market and the like, (again) understand this: >>> >>> What Steve and I and others like us are running into is a large number of >>> recruiter/ing firms who are all trying to get the same contracts. So to get >>> the account, they quote low. >>> >>> Then on DICE, INDEED, Monster and the others (some of these are being >>> bought and merged), but the end effect is offering rates that are below >>> what we were making about 1990 and that is NOT adjusted for inflation. >>> >>> Add to this that the majority of the people contacting me do not know how >>> JES2 or JES3 is pronounced. They don't know most of the acronyms we use in >>> the industry. They can't read a tech based resume to understand that one is >>> not a sysprog, but is a software developer. >>> >>> Just wanted to get us on a level playing field before the noise starts. >>> >>> -- >>> Regards, >>> Steve Thompson >>> >>> >>>>> On 2/5/2026 10:43 AM, Steve Beaver wrote: >>>> For the US people, I have been beat to death looking for zOS DB2 >>>> Systems DBA’s and people that know ACF2, RACF, and TSS >>>> >>>> These skills are RARE. Doing my research Recruiters at offering $60 >>>> per hour where the honest labor rate should be $150 per hour or higher >>>> >>>> My suggestion is that if you have any of these skills. Tell the >>>> Recruiter $150/Hr or go away >>>> >>>> As a data point. They pay you $60 per hour and they charge the >>>> customer $150 per hour >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> No one said I could type with one thumb >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send >>>> email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email >>> to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email >>> to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, >>> send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
