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

[Glencky]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and new to contracting, having taken the well-worn route from permie-dom via redundancy earlier this year! I've been in my first contract (well, actually my first, second, third, fourth and fifth contracts) since January but it was a former boss, so I had no interview process or anything and therefore it's really only now I'm starting to 'do this contractor thing properly'. I've had a search, spent some time reading other interesting, useful and diverting discussions (!) but not found one on this subject. Sorry if I've missed something.

Current contract ends early September -interview on Monday for a possible new one I'm very interested in. I could start immediately after current contract ends and have flexibility in current contract to do a few days earlier if they're desperate.

BUT

I've got a 2.5 week holiday booked from the end of October - can't move it, close family wedding in Australia. It would be 6.5 or max 7 weeks between starting my new contract and disappearing for 2.5 weeks and I'm worried this will cause problems.

From what I know, contract duration is 6 months (though I'm wary as having been on the other side of the desk for a long time I know - to put it politely - agents don't always get stuff like this right!) Realistically they will obviously expect any candidate to have some time off during that period but not ideal to have it so soon.

How big an issue do you guys think this is? And at what point should I divulge the holiday, and to whom? I'm generally open, but I don't want to put anyone off. (I wouldn't lie in response to a direct question). So far, my CV was picked up from LinkedIn by a random agent (who seems good but I've only had limited contact). He passed me on as a candidate to the potential client, they are keen to interview. Agent hasn't asked me anything on this subject and I've not proactively divulged.

Do I mention at interview? Are they likely to ask me about stuff like this? To count my chickens for a minute, if it doesn't come up before, would you mention at the point they offer? Only after signing? First day???!

Suspect commercially the right answer is don't mention unless in response to a direct question... but I don't want to start any new client relationship off on the wrong foot.

[jmo21]

You've got the interview already so that's good. If you hadn't, I'd have said don't tell the agent as they probably will not put you forward for it.

Do the interview. Wait and see if they offer you it.

Then you can tell the agent. If they withdraw the offer, which I think is unlikely for a 6 monther, hard luck.

I wouldn't wait til onsite and tell them as it might get things off to a bad start. That being said they might just have to swallow it

[Glencky]

Thanks JMO21, thanks for your response - pretty much reflects where my head is already. It's a very annoying situation I wish I could change, but I can't. There's one positive: the hiring manager is apparently going off on holiday (not unusually for August) 24 hours after the interview. I am hoping they'll be motivated to do the deal in order to have certainty in place before they go, rather than pick it up on their return and potentially have a further delay in getting somebody in the role... I'm hoping 'a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush' might lead them to accept the position where otherwise they might not (if they like me, I'm getting nervous about all this tempting Fate by talking about it as if it's a done deal when clearly it isn't!)

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

I think it's a reasonable professional courtesy to let clients know if you're going to be unavailable for a certain period for the contract.

You should tell them before you accept the contract. You could tell them afterwards and they can just as easily turn around and drop you anyway.

Simply let them know you're unavailable between whichever dates and offer to provide a substitute on behalf of YourCo to cover you while you're away. They may decline but it's always worth offering IMO.

[northernladuk]

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.

[PerfectStorm]

I had a similar issue, told my agent in good faith who told me "not a problem, wait til you're onsite and book it, as is your right". I did - politely - and had no issues.

Remember - having to request (and have approved) leave is a bit of an IR35 tickler!

[SueEllen]

Tell the client NOT the agent.

If the client is happy with it then you are OK.

The agent may not be happy with it as they lose income from you being off, but if the client is happy with you then they will leave it.

[Glencky]

Thanks, folks, for your further replies. PerfectStorm - yes, understand it's no about 'requesting holiday' (and the IR35 implications if it were) but rather making it clear the terms on which I'm available to provide services.

Also yes, fully appreciate it depends what's lined up. I have reason to believe any go-lives would be into 2015 and hence out of the way. Doesn't mean there aren't already known and committed deadlines during the relevant time period that could still cause a problem, of course, and over and above that it's never no-impact to have somebody out for that long.

That said, I think this is probably very dependent upon environment. I am applying for a role in a very similar environment to that in which I was a permie for over 10 years. I used to employ a lot of contractors like me and it was pretty common for them to take a 2 week, or slightly more, absence to go on holiday.

So I think the consensus is probably:

* fingers crossed no critical deadlines during that time
* hope they don't specifically ask me this at interview (because if they do I would of course answer honestly)
* hope they offer
* divulge to agent when they do
* and by then, hope they want me to the extent they are prepared to accept the constraint

Fingers crossed!

PerfectStorm - I can see the merit in your idea to wait until onsite and book. It's a judgement, isn't it? If it was a little later into the contract I might well do that, say 3 months plus. But I'm a bit uncomfortable doing it with a holiday inside 7 weeks after I start. Feels like failing to declare something relevant.

Of course it might be interesting to see what notice period they would offer. If notice on my side is short then arguably they shouldn't care because I could walk away at that short notice at any point anyway. However I would guess it will be at least a month. And still I get back to, I want to act in good faith, so best to divulge at point of offer.

And again, I might have no problem at all as they may not think I'm suitable anyway!! *cue 2 months on the bench and a panicked return from holiday*

[Contreras]

So I think the consensus is probably:

* fingers crossed no critical deadlines during that time
* hope they don't specifically ask me this at interview (because if they do I would of course answer honestly)
* hope they offer
* divulge to agent when they do
* and by then, hope they want me to the extent they are prepared to accept the constraint

That being the consensus of the few that cared to reply, and even then I'm not sure the above accurately summarises the advice given.

Fwiw, I would be uncomfortable concealing it from the client at interview. You need to play it by ear and think on your feet at interview time and decide which is the least damage approach. I agree definitely do not discuss this with the agent or there is a good chance they may try to sell someone in your place. Let the agent hear it from the client (disagree with your point 4. above). If the subject isn't approached at interview be sure to get the client's details so you have a route to approach it later. Also what SueEllen said.

[Glencky]

Thanks, Contreras.

To be fair, I'm not sure I can be expected to summarise the view of those who didn't care to reply..!

Your points noted, and yes you're right: it really will depend what happens at interview. As I said from the start, I'm all for full disclosure as a general principle, so the closer I am to that the happier I will be. Thanks for your reply.