2.5 week immovable holiday 6 weeks into possible new contract - how to handle?

[Eirikur]

The issue really depends on what the client has lined up for you. I know contractors that have 3 weeks off but it has not clashed with any release dates or anything particularly important on the project. If it's around some form of go live date it's going to be a huge issue to the client and pretty unpalatable

I would do as JMO21 says. Get the offer then make them aware. I think accepting and turning up on site and then dropping this bombshell is as poor way to deal with it.

Go live dates move all the time especially in the bigger projects. This sometimes lead to situations you can't go on holiday at all for half a year or longer

[Glencky]

Go live dates move all the time especially in the bigger projects. This sometimes lead to situations you can't go on holiday at all for half a year or longer

Yes, completely get that. This was not a situation I chose, just the way it's worked out. It's not as if that particular aspect is any different as a permie...

But in this case, I'm as confident as I can be, given what I know about the project, that the time period won't cover any implementations, but that's not to say there won't be other critical dates.

Bottom line: dealing with absence from the office for permies and contractors alike is part of project management. Good organisations understand this happens and manage around it.

But of course in this situation, an absence as long as 2.5 weeks and 7 weeks in is obviously a long way from ideal. So we'll see what happens!

[Glencky]

In case anyone is interested/ still watching, an update for everyone.

I had the interview yesterday, which went well. Towards the end of the interview the interviewer said, "anything else I should know? You've not got a round the world cruise booked this side of Christmas or anything?!" Obviously my heart sank! but I just said, "actually I do have a family holiday booked, one I can't move I'm afraid as it's for a family wedding. It's from date X to date y, about 2.5 weeks. Sorry about that, I wouldn't have chosen it like that but as I say, it's immovable."

(by this point I already knew my assumptions about the project from the little I knew before interview were correct and that the chance of any critical deadline happening during that time was minimal to non-existent, which made me feel slightly better).

His response? "that's fine, everyone has holiday and those dates work out OK."

And today I got offered the contract.

I was glad they asked in interview as saved me the angst of whether to bring it up at the end or not! and I'd rather be open and honest.

For what it's worth in case anyone is considering this issue in the future and comes upon this thread, as well as the good points already raised about timing for the project, I think the kind of company might make a difference too. My background as a permie was in a large financial services company with a large business change department. I recruited contracts like me and this holiday, 6.5 weeks out, would not have stopped me offering unless it was the absolute most critical time for the project - if I liked the person. I happened to have some friends who are former work colleagues for dinner on Sunday and they agreed, one had had somebody start for a week, then go off for a week only recently. You just have to think slightly longer term. The company I was interviewing with this time was a similar type and scale of company so I hoped they might take a similar line.

In my case I suspect they're thinking they're glad I've had time off earlier as less likely to have a block of time off later.

So it's all subject to contract negotiations of course but the holiday itself didn't stop them offering. Thanks for your input folks!

[Old Greg]

In case anyone is interested/ still watching, an update for everyone.

I had the interview yesterday, which went well. Towards the end of the interview the interviewer said, "anything else I should know? You've not got a round the world cruise booked this side of Christmas or anything?!" Obviously my heart sank! but I just said, "actually I do have a family holiday booked, one I can't move I'm afraid as it's for a family wedding. It's from date X to date y, about 2.5 weeks. Sorry about that, I wouldn't have chosen it like that but as I say, it's immovable."

(by this point I already knew my assumptions about the project from the little I knew before interview were correct and that the chance of any critical deadline happening during that time was minimal to non-existent, which made me feel slightly better).

His response? "that's fine, everyone has holiday and those dates work out OK."

And today I got offered the contract.

I was glad they asked in interview as saved me the angst of whether to bring it up at the end or not! and I'd rather be open and honest.

For what it's worth in case anyone is considering this issue in the future and comes upon this thread, as well as the good points already raised about timing for the project, I think the kind of company might make a difference too. My background as a permie was in a large financial services company with a large business change department. I recruited contracts like me and this holiday, 6.5 weeks out, would not have stopped me offering unless it was the absolute most critical time for the project - if I liked the person. I happened to have some friends who are former work colleagues for dinner on Sunday and they agreed, one had had somebody start for a week, then go off for a week only recently. You just have to think slightly longer term. The company I was interviewing with this time was a similar type and scale of company so I hoped they might take a similar line.

In my case I suspect they're thinking they're glad I've had time off earlier as less likely to have a block of time off later.

So it's all subject to contract negotiations of course but the holiday itself didn't stop them offering. Thanks for your input folks!

Well done and thanks for the update. It's generally worth doing the thing that you know in your heart you should.

[northernladuk]

Way to go!

[kal]

Banana time!

[Glencky]

Thanks, folks!

I've been doing a fair bit of reading on the forum recently so I'd noticed 'the bananas' thing (thanks!)

But can somebody tell me the origin?! Or is it one of those internet forum things where nobody knows why, they just do it?!

(or maybe it's obvious and I'm being thick!)

By the way the weirdest thing about the interview... there had been a lot of confusion from the agent about names of people interviewing me before I arrived (been on the other side of this, scrabbling around trying to find somebody with time to be a second interviewer - factor in the useless agent and it didn't phase me). But when I got there, the receptionist said, ah yes I was told you would ask for those people but it's actually 'New Name' who is interviewing you. I'll just let him know you're here. 'New Name' was the same name as the CEO of the company I'm currently contracted to (my boss's boss, I'm working with him quite closely) on the other side of the world..! (first contract post-permiedom was working for a former manager who is now in Asia so I've been out of the country most of the year). it's not a common name either ! very strange coincidence.

[Old Greg]

Thanks, folks!

I've been doing a fair bit of reading on the forum recently so I'd noticed 'the bananas' thing (thanks!)

But can somebody tell me the origin?! Or is it one of those internet forum things where nobody knows why, they just do it?!

(or maybe it's obvious and I'm being thick!)

By the way the weirdest thing about the interview... there had been a lot of confusion from the agent about names of people interviewing me before I arrived (been on the other side of this, scrabbling around trying to find somebody with time to be a second interviewer - factor in the useless agent and it didn't phase me). But when I got there, the receptionist said, ah yes I was told you would ask for those people but it's actually 'New Name' who is interviewing you. I'll just let him know you're here. 'New Name' was the same name as the CEO of the company I'm currently contracted to (my boss's boss, I'm working with him quite closely) on the other side of the world..! (first contract post-permiedom was working for a former manager who is now in Asia so I've been out of the country most of the year). it's not a common name either ! very strange coincidence.

Bob Shawadiwadi?

[Glencky]

Bob Shawadiwadi?

Hahahahaha! Something like that!

[CloudWalker]

I'm in this situation too.

My contract ends this month and I'm going to Australia at Christmas.
So need a Contract to plug a 4 month gap between now and then.