Taking time off contract

[maxedvolume]

To avoid bench time, you'd most likely be looking for your next role whilst you are currently in one.

How do you get away with not pissing off the client? Taking regular phone calls from pimps, taking time off work, sneaking out for a long time for telephone interview...

Taking time off work is probably the hardest thing... sacrificing half a day of rate.

Is this somewhat expected if you are a contractor?

[TheLordDave]

Your running a business sometimes you need to sacrifice a days pay to secure further work. That being said I have worked with contractors who are constantly fielding agency calls at their desk which tends to piss the client off.

[northernladuk]

Losing 200 quid to secure 30k + future work is hardly a sacrifice. It's goods business.

I only look for roles in the last 2 weeks of a gig. Even that can be too long when they want quick interview and immediate start. I plan my first interviews to be after I have finished unless something rather juicy comes up.

[CheeseSlice]

Your running a business sometimes you need to sacrifice a days pay to secure further work. That being said I have worked with contractors who are constantly fielding agency calls at their desk which tends to piss the client off.

Happens to me all of the time when I start a new contract. Also happens mid-contract even when I'm not looking for a role, but the market heats up.
Is the clientco annoyed? I don't care, but what I think it does say is that this contractor is reassuringly in demand.

edit: I must add that I don't spend long on each call, its just a case of "I'm not looking, sorry"

[Eirikur]

Losing 200 quid to secure 30k + future work is hardly a sacrifice. It's goods business.

Now we know NLUK's rate is 400 per day

[northernladyuk]

Now we know NLUK's rate is 400 per day

He likes to take the whole week off for preparation.

[northernladuk]

Now we know NLUK's rate is 400 per day

My client doesn't do half days. It's a whole day or nothing

[BolshieBastard]

Bench time never bothered me so only started looking in the final week or after I'd finished.

Didn't take time off during contracts so the search time was a welcome break.

[mrdonuts]

i would not worry the bobs spend hours on the phone everyday and clients dont seem to care

[RSoles]

i would not worry the bobs spend hours on the phone everyday and clients dont seem to care

I have to say I've seen this. Even to the extent of managing a coffee shop by phone.

I'm too old to be afraid of bench time between contracts.