Any advice/strategy for ensuring contracts get extended?

[northernladuk]

I will only work extra hours if A) I am paid for them (a ta higher rate) B) I causes a problem that requires me to stay. You are running a business, do you think a Lawyer would work an extra 5 hours a week for a client without charging? Only Pseudo permies work longer hours, they are still in the mindset.

Am sorry but this is utter bollox.

EDIT: Actually I'm not. It's just utter bollox.

[FatLazyContractor]

I will only work extra hours if A) I am paid for them (a ta higher rate) B) I causes a problem that requires me to stay. You are running a business, do you think a Lawyer would work an extra 5 hours a week for a client without charging? Only Pseudo permies work longer hours, they are still in the mindset.

Nature of business isn't it?

While quality of work, enjoying work and all that bollox is one side of the story, when times are desperate you do what is good for your business even if it means working for a few extra hours without billing the client (if you can see some long term yield out of it). Yes, one may call it arse licking, provided it keeps you going for a few months more. Situations, desperation and all that tulip.....

[psychocandy]

Am sorry but this is utter bollox.

EDIT: Actually I'm not. It's just utter bollox.

Sort of agree with nuluk.

If you're on PWD then surely if things go belly up they are paying you to work? Albeit maybe more hours than normal.
The rights and wrongs of PWD are a different issue.

Most clients IMHO wont be impressed if you disappear out of the door at 7.5 hours if its all going off. Most will be flexible the other way if you do end up working late but not all. Current client is good like that. Not a fan of TOIL because its just too much hassle but it nice when you're taking a day off anyway when client says you can bill for a day to take into account the fact that you did two 12 hour days over the weekened (billed at standard day).

But extra hours are a necessary evil with PWD. Not that I like doing them and I will never in a million years hang around to look good. If client wants someone like that they can find someone else. At the end of the day I'm paid to do a job but I'd rather be home with the family.


I do disagree with the working for the sake of it though. Pointless.

[northernladuk]

Let's get one thing clear. Arse licking has absolutely nothing to do with working extra hours. You can arse lick your client manager doing 9-5. The only person that thinks arse licking has something to do with the time you work is Psychocandy and his god awful attitude towards his work and his clients.

We are suppliers delivering a service. If you want to put the extra hours in to delivery above and beyond the normal service then that is your right and will define your offering. If I got a builder in and he worked a bit extra to do the job I would be over the moon, same as if a garage worked late to finish your car. It's value add, not arse licking.

Let's also be clear the amount of time you do isn't really the be all and end all. You can do 8 hours and be great at your work, you can put 10 hours in and be crap. If you can combine good work with a bit of above and beyond you have a winning combination and have the best chance at that extension.

I do disagree with the working for the sake of it though. Pointless.

Not that I like doing them and I will never in a million years hang around to look good

This, though is short sighted. If you want to sit happy on JSA because another guy did see the point in it and got extended then that's your call. It isn't always pointless. I know for a fact I will be getting an extension at current gig to take over the work another contractor is doing because there is only budget for one guy and I delivered a better service than him. Pointless? I don't think so.

All that said there is a balance here as with everything. There are clients that will demand every minute of every day just because he thinks he can and it won't add anything to the chance of an extension. We all come up against this from time to time. It's a business call per client. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but IMO it isn't plain pointless.

[psychocandy]

NLUK. I never said being better does not get you anywhere. I agree with you.

I said working extra hours for the sake of it is not for me. If there were two contractors, me and another guy who sits there for the extra two hours per day just because it looks good then if client wants to make a decision based ONLY on hours worked then crack on its not for me. You must admit there are people out there who will do this.

That's slightly different.

[psychocandy]

This, though is short sighted. If you want to sit happy on JSA because another guy did see the point in it and got extended then that's your call. It isn't always pointless. I know for a fact I will be getting an extension at current gig to take over the work another contractor is doing because there is only budget for one guy and I delivered a better service than him. Pointless? I don't think so.

All that said there is a balance here as with everything. There are clients that will demand every minute of every day just because he thinks he can and it won't add anything to the chance of an extension. We all come up against this from time to time. It's a business call per client. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but IMO it isn't plain pointless.

If someone else got extended because he'd sat there for the extra 2 hours per day then I'd happily go and get a gig somewhere else. (or even JSA as you say).

Also, even if I was 100% sure if worked and would get me and extension. 13 weeks x 5 days x 2 hours = 130 hours when Im in work and not with my family. Sorry again not for me, lifes too short - would rather take my chances with something else.

[northernladuk]

If someone else got extended because he'd sat there for the extra 2 hours per day then I'd happily go and get a gig somewhere else. (or even JSA as you say).

Also, even if I was 100% sure if worked and would get me and extension. 13 weeks x 5 days x 2 hours = 130 hours when Im in work and not with my family. Sorry again not for me, lifes too short - would rather take my chances with something else.

Fine. Sounds silly to me but I can see you are just doing what's important to you so fair enough. I wouldn't rule out going that way sometime in the future but it's just not me at the moment.

Put like this I can see the choice and it makes sense. All this general talk about arse licking and being pointless I just don't get.

[TheFaQQer]

I know for a fact I will be getting an extension at current gig to take over the work another contractor is doing because there is only budget for one guy and I delivered a better service than him. Pointless? I don't think so.

There are a few sure-fire ways to get an extension, most of which have been mentioned already.

So combine them all - provide the best service (which may or may not require being flexible about working hours) and make yourself indispensable on a project that has oodles of cash to fund it. If you do this for a client who can't make up their mind about what they are doing, then you're on the path to riches.

Simple.

[Unix]

If you can't do the work within the 7-8 hours in a working day then you are incompetent and will most likely burn out from a bad work/life balance. I usually complete my work in a few hours, the rest is spent on CUK

[FatLazyContractor]

There are a few sure-fire ways to get an extension, most of which have been mentioned already.

So combine them all - provide the best service (which may or may not require being flexible about working hours) and make yourself indispensable on a project that has oodles of cash to fund it. If you do this for a client who can't make up their mind about what they are doing, then you're on the path to riches.

Simple.

Add to it the condition that all planets should also be in a straight line.