Help, Some advice needed...

**thunderlizard** · 18 September 2006, 19:18

Yes, and the sooner the better. The agent will have told the client, but the client won't have done anything about it yet. As long as you call first thing in the morning and stick to your guns without being specific you can get through it without loss of face.

**Tara** · 18 September 2006, 19:32

Hi Thunderlizard,

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, I have to attend the permie role interview first in the morning.

Oh god, I really screwed this up.

To be honest I am not cut out for this contracting lark. Far to indecisive.

Tara.

**TheMonkey** · 18 September 2006, 19:45

Until you've signed something it's not set in stone. You can tell them to b*gger off at any time. In most contracts that are rushed, you don't usually get proper completion on the contract until a week after starting.

Only problem is that you may lose a contact and contacts are a valuable commodity.

Then again, I've p*ssed off nearly every city agent now and I'm still getting contract offers left right and centre.

Don't give up - contracting is a steep learning curve but once you get stuck in, things will seem so much better.

Ironically, I've just been offered a permanent role with the company I'm contracting for which is nice and the money is rather tasty, but I don't like the idea of losing control of my life again.

**MarillionFan** · 18 September 2006, 19:51

Tell them you have been offered another role at £150 per day more. Match it, or you sign elsewhere.

hth.

**TheMonkey** · 18 September 2006, 19:53

Originally posted by MarillionFan

Tell them you have been offered another role at £150 per day more. Match it, or you sign elsewhere.

hth.

Just make sure it's not an S-Three agency first or you'll lose it straight away!

**Tara** · 18 September 2006, 20:01

Hi TheMonkey,

Thank you for your advice. Its good to know, that other people have the balls to tell agencies to bugger off!

The real killer for me is the travelling. A lousy rate I can handle, but 3 hour journey max for 6 months maybe the death of me (On the other hand, I what if I don't find anything!?).

I think I am going to sleep on it.

Tara

**Tara** · 18 September 2006, 20:03

Tell them you have been offered another role at £150 per day more. Match it, or you sign elsewhere.

That seems like a good idea, I might try that MF.

It's not an S3 agency, TheMonkey - although they are quite big in the city.

**TheMonkey** · 18 September 2006, 20:07

Originally posted by Tara

Hi TheMonkey,

Thank you for your advice. Its good to know, that other people have the balls to tell agencies to bugger off!

The real killer for me is the travelling. A lousy rate I can handle, but 3 hour journey max for 6 months maybe the death of me (On the other hand, I what if I don't find anything!?).

I think I am going to sleep on it.

Tara

You don't want to travel too much. I used to travel from Leyton -> Stratford -> Gunnersbury -> Hammersmith every day for a long time for pissy cash and it nearly killed me (ended up in hospital twice with IBS and CFS). I'm now doing a 20 min drive from home which is bliss as i'm heading out of the city.

I went unemployed on the contract side of things for about 3 months this year. There's plenty of OTHER work to do to make some cash if you know where to look. Depends what part of the industry you're in. I spent a month installing PCs in East London NHS surgeries for about £140/day and knocking out crap web sites for people.

PS don't negotiate if it's GCS as well - they tell you to naff off.

**Tara** · 18 September 2006, 20:15

Leyton -> Stratford -> Gunnersbury -> Hammersmith every day

How long did that take?

Help, Some advice needed...