Hello All,I am in a dilemma and would seek your expert advise.I have overall 14 years of experience and have been doing contracting as IT PM from last 2 years (same client, same project) before that I worked 3 years for BIG4.In my current role I am managing an application migration project which involves off the shelf product, BIG infrastructure and massive testing of applicaton. I have budgetry responsibility of circa £8 million and a team of 25 members. So I am responsible for E2E delivery and have been doing a good job.I am finishing with my current contract and have got another contract with a different client but in the same industry and equally big client.The issue is in new contract I will be only managing 1 element of the whole project and that is Infrastrucutre. No application or testing responsibility. AND NO BUDGETERY RESPONSIBILITIES. This contract pays me £50 less then my current rate.So in summary my new contract pays me less and I will be working on 1-2 level below the level I am currently successfully operating in and no budgetery responsibilities!!what are your suggestions, shall I go ahead with this new contract considering we are apporaching year end which is not a good time to look for new contract. Moreover, I have been actively looking for new opportunties in last 3 months but the only offer I secured is this one. The client is damn good and would be a bonus for my CV however, the profile is QUITE low though money is not that BAD.Would you suggest that anything is better than nothing and if I leave this contract I might not get anything for next 3-6 months and that would not look good on my CV? and that non working period would make far bigger hole in my pocket than getting £50 a day less than current rate?How would employer look once I finish with this new 6 months contract? would I be given new roles based upon the immediate role which is going to be low profie or they would also consider my earlier proejcts in which I had far bigger responsibilties. Would they not question why did I compromise on job profile and instead of taking over £10 million proejcts I took projects which has <£500K budget and "no budgerty responsibilities"?You genuine response on this would be highly appreciated.Regardsanon

Hmmm, rock and a hard place...Trouble is, you only look as good as your last role. When your biggest-looking position is one or two roles back, I start to think, was that a stretch role for him/her?Did he not step up?

can you spin the client brand? "I took this role to have a footprint in XYZ with an eye towards future work. Responsibility wise it was below my previous role but I managed to create a working relatonship with <insert client director name> and I believe it&apos;s strengthened my CV in <XYZ&apos;s industry>."Probably depends on the industry ie if I was a FMCG freelancer I might take a level below my current role to do Procter & Gamble, but not Noname Manufacturing Ltd.

urrg stupid tags got removed, was supposed to say:"...I managed to create a working relatonship with [Mr Client Director / B minus 1] and I believe it&apos;s strengthened my CV in [XYZ&apos;s industry]"

Thanks Shoe Polisher and Someguy:Shoe Polisher:whilst your point is valid, would you not think that working at a level below for 6 months is better than not working at all for those 6 months and just look for the right role? After all it is a contract position and one can choose to take all sort of big/small and variety of contracts? Do you think even in contracting employer want to see career progression and that one&apos;s immediate project should have equal or higher job responsibilties than previous project?Someguy, my current client and new client both are $30 billion revenue companies. So brand name is really strong. I agree with your point that this contract will help me establishing my foot and "may" open bigger opportunities within the new client.any other views or suggestions? regdsAnon

Being a contractor is just like being a perm and particularly an MC.1. Bench is BAD2. No concession should be given for free3. All quid pro quos shoud be agreed in advanceergo the route to take (and I have done this myself many times is as follows."Dear new client, I&apos;m willing to take this new role with you even though it is slightly less money and less responsibility than I am used to because I really rate you as a place to work. In return all I ask is that you keep a close eye on me, and should I prove to be as capable as I think I am (and have proven elsewhere) we have a discussion in three months about what extra responsibility I can pick up, for which you&apos;ll pay me the extra 50 a day"Where have you EVER worked (permie or contractor) where the good people didn&apos;t end up picking up more work. Just set the agreemnt from the outset that if that happens (and you want it to) then you&apos;ll be given a small increase to reflect you worth.Seriously, I&apos;ve had numerous small rate increases like this. I&apos;ve also dropped rates to stay in work at certain clients cause I know they have big things int he offing and that way I&apos;m a first on the list of options.