What to make of 2 month extension?

[yasockie]

Not sure what to make of it, the project is pretty much guaranteed and budgeted to run at least until the end of the year, yet all the contractor have only been extended until mid july as that is what the agency contract is signed for.
If you had ready (but slightly inferior) options (as in other roles, where you've already successfully gone through the interviews) what would you do?

[PerfectStorm]

A bird in the hand.

[BolshieBastard]

Not sure what to make of it, the project is pretty much guaranteed and budgeted to run at least until the end of the year, yet all the contractor have only been extended until mid july as that is what the agency contract is signed for.
If you had ready (but slightly inferior) options (as in other roles, where you've already successfully gone through the interviews) what would you do?

Why the worry over 8 - 9 weeks as opposed to 13 weeks? FFS life's too short.

[uk contractor]

Take the 2 months then look for something else. Clients are frequently not honest & upfront about background options they have like other agencies, outsourcing, managed service provider's etc etc


Some clients like to keep their contractors on their toes by not offering extensions until the last few days. I have worked at several well known banks who do that all the time its nothing personal just the way they like to operate.

[yasockie]

Take the 2 months then look for something else. Clients are frequently not honest & upfront about background options they have like other agencies, outsourcing, managed service provider's etc etc


Some clients like to keep their contractors on their toes by not offering extensions until the last few days. I have worked at several well known banks who do that all the time its nothing personal just the way they like to operate.

I guess I can realte to that - after all that's what contractors are for - flexibility etc

[gigahoe]

My current client also offers very short extensions. The longest they offer as standard is 3 months, but once you've been there for more than 3 months it has to go very high to extend again as they really use Contractors to plug gaps rather than as resourcing method, which of course is their choice. However, I've also had a 1 month extension (when they offered a perm position, obviously assuming I'd take it) and all the other contractors have now been offered 2 months on this most recent extension.

In terms of how to take it all of the contractors here I know are actively seeking other roles, so read that how you will.

[Tasslehoff]

Recently happened to me. Nearing the end of project. 10 days to go till end of contract nothing heard.

So I look around and score a much better contract.

Now they are all panicking a bit. So it works both ways.

[BrilloPad]

Probably some internal budgeting thing.

[NickNick]

Not sure what to make of it, the project is pretty much guaranteed and budgeted to run at least until the end of the year, yet all the contractor have only been extended until mid july as that is what the agency contract is signed for.
If you had ready (but slightly inferior) options (as in other roles, where you've already successfully gone through the interviews) what would you do?

Take the extension. I was on site at a client's place for about 18 months on 1 & 2 month extensions to an original 6 month contract. After the first few you get used to it. The project was just always running into delays.

[jmo21]

It's been pretty common over last few years for me, except my last extension.

Was told it would be 2 months, when it came through, it was 6.

3 years ago, was coming to end of a contract, budget totally gone. With a week to go, any chance you can do 2 more weeks? Yeah fine.

Ended up getting extended again numerous times for nearly another year.

So you never know. And that's also why I always give my clients every chance to extend, assuming I'm happy to stay of course.