Signing a contract extension

[northernladuk]

Thank you guys for such prompt responses. How long before the contract ends do you usually sign extensions? I think a month is quite a long time and I was under the impression that they all decide within the last two (maybe one) weeks?

One thing you have to learn about contracting is there is no 'normal'. My PS client were discussing renewals in the first month of a three month gig. If you knew the right people you'd have a couple months of knowing one is coming. I've done a gig where they kept finishing me on a Friday and then calling on Monday to say the extension was though can I come in. There is everything in between....

Anything from four weeks in advance through to the last hour of the contract. I'd never work without a contract because I'd be in breach of my insurance policy - quite often you can't because your pass and access get revoked over night when you finish.

This....

[LondonManc]

It is a 6 months contract. I had a conversation with my agency, they said that the client asked for an extension, but haven't pushed for a reply and that I have "a week or a bit more" to make up my mind. Thank you guys, for your answers.

Be careful what you say to the agency - they may well already be lining someone up to fill your boots if they get a whiff of you not extending. They'll want to continue their income stream, regardless of which contractor is doing that for them.

[northernladuk]

It is a 6 months contract. I had a conversation with my agency, they said that the client asked for an extension, but haven't pushed for a reply and that I have "a week or a bit more" to make up my mind. Thank you guys, for your answers.

So we are getting through the muck of this now.. So.. You know the client wants you now and the agency is working on behalf of the client as expected.

What about your situation? You want to leave.. but you'll stay if you've got nothing? Is that right?

[ndl]

So we are getting through the muck of this now.. So.. You know the client wants you now and the agency is working on behalf of the client as expected.

What about your situation? You want to leave.. but you'll stay if you've got nothing? Is that right?

I'll be honest - that's correct.

[northernladuk]

I'll be honest - that's correct.

Cool.. So your options are to delay signing as long as possible yet hope the agency doesn't get wind of what you are doing and replaces you.

Or make decision to either sign and stay or don't and don't.

Bearing in mind you've cited reasons to go but we don't know what they are then it's your call.

[SueEllen]

I'll be honest - that's correct.

You should put some feelers out e.g. find out for the client the timeline of the project you are working on.

To be honest you should do that before you accept the contract and regularly through out the contract. That way even before the agency speaks to you you know roughly how the project is going.

[ndl]

You should put some feelers out e.g. find out for the client the timeline of the project you are working on.

To be honest you should do that before you accept the contract and regularly through out the contract. That way even before the agency speaks to you you know roughly how the project is going.

This is exactly what I did. I told the agency that I want to speak to my manager (which I honestly can't get the hold of) about the future plans and where is the company going and that I will have an answer right after I talk to him. Which should be this week or next.

[LondonManc]

This is exactly what I did. I told the agency that I want to speak to my manager (which I honestly can't get the hold of) about the future plans and where is the company going and that I will have an answer right after I talk to him. Which should be this week or next.

You can't get hold of your hiring manager? Who authorises your timesheets?

[SueEllen]

This is exactly what I did. I told the agency that I want to speak to my manager (which I honestly can't get the hold of) about the future plans and where is the company going and that I will have an answer right after I talk to him. Which should be this week or next.

You don't need to tell the agency that you just do it as a matter of course.

[ndl]

You can't get hold of your hiring manager? Who authorises your timesheets?

This is being done on a monthly basis by my manager's manager's manager's manager. Don't ask.