How soon do you start looking for new role?

[northernladuk]

Thank you guys for your replies - been away for few days.

Although I have been contracting for 5 years now - its only my second gig. While it make complete sense that you would be expected to start asap, my last role required me to go through all the checks (incl. Disclosure Scotland etc), which took 3 weeks.

Where my question really comes from is - I am certain that I'll be offered an extension but at a lower rate (this is a across the board reduction client is going through), and I want to walk away - although I'll prefer to have a ready option in hand when I do so. 8 weeks certainly seem too soon - yet 2 weeks seem too late from my previous experience.

Oh dear. You could argue this will be your first contracting gig

[Nirajn123]

Oh dear. You could argue this will be your first contracting gig

Well, it seem to be norm in some places, saves me going back to market every 6 months.

[Yonmons]

Contracting mate of mine says he starts looking for his next contract the day he starts his present contract !

I am not so serious, I think we always know if we are likely to be extended, but if thats not the case and we are approaching the end of the line buffers, a few weeks to go I start to look for work. What I do though is keep my eyes on the market throughout the my contract. This year for me intially was very slow, perhaps as slow as when the crash first happend. Fortunately I managed to get a 6 months contract for a previous client. I found that without the help of an agent, and take pride in telling them that when they occasionally call me still. I had to many false dawns on agents promises this year. (I trust them as much as I trust a double glazing salesman, or a charity chugger that accost you on the shopping precint)

[VillageContractor]

I'm in a contract but still keep an eye on the market, what the rates are like, which agents have decent roles, which agents are fishing for CVs etc. Hopefully that will help me when I'm looking for my next contract

[stek]

Contracting mate of mine says he starts looking for his next contract the day he starts his present contract !

Historically I've done the same, but as my war chest has grown I've not bothered so much last few years. In fact it's ages since I actually applied for anything come to think of it. It's what happened when you get old and have been contracting since Adam were a lad, you get 'known' - good or bad lol!