Any advice/strategy for ensuring contracts get extended?

[psychocandy]

What the **** has how a permie treated got to do with us. This sums up both and Unix's approach to this issue. Disgruntled permies both of you.

Merely pointing out an example where putting your employer/client before your family because, for some reason, you think its going to gain you an advantage is a stupid thing to do.

In fact, I'd say even more so in a contract setting where you're going to be history more than likely in a few months.

[vwdan]

Take pride in your work and what you do and be proud to have your name stamped on it when you leave. IMHO, everything else flows from that whether you get extended or not.

I know, hand on heart, that I did an excellent job (Within the usual constraints) on every project I touched last year. Some get you repeat work, some don't. Some will be slow burners, some will be outright extensions.

Ultimately it doesn't matter. I don't know of any other trade that focusses on staying on one job for an indefinite amount of time - rather you should be building up your reputation and network of contacts, while ensuring you choose work which uses technology that's likely to be helpful in the future.

Doing 12 hour days for no good reason is a mugs game. Clockwatching makes you a jobsworth. Turning up, doing a solid day and producing something of quality makes you a professional.

[NotAllThere]

...I tend to work more than 8 hours, I don't know why, ...

It's because you're inefficient.

I tend to do 7-8 hour days. If I have no work pending, I'll leave the office. If there's an issue or there's some urgency, I might well work 10 hours or more (though by then, I'll have gone home and be logging in remotely).

My clients are aware of the fact that I don't clock watch, that I leave when I feel ready to go, and when necessary I put the extra hours in without fuss. I charge according to the half day - maximum 1 day charged . That's why I've been in contract with various departments of the client for the past eight years.