Cancel contract after one week

[diseasex]

Always leave on good terms. If you can negotiate early leave with the client - then go for it. If not then you will have to deliver.
My current client has strict deadlines and if i left them now they'd be nicely f**ed. If i left now I wouldn't be put forward by this agency anymore (and its large).
on the other hand i managed to negotiate an early leave with previous client and left on good terms with both client and an agent.

[psychocandy]

Yes, but you also think its OK to claim Jobseekers while on the bench.
Still, each to thier own.



Why are we mugs if we have a valid set of reasons for not doing this?

Why is it we hear much purile drivel about all the problems you have with clients, contracts etc. pretty much on a daily basis?

Couple of points:-

1. Its perfectly legal to claim JSA while on the bench.
2. In MY OPINION, saying I'd never invoke a contract clause because its not professional is being a mug. Think carefully of the consequences before doing it, fair enough, but saying I'd never do it is being a mug. IN MY OPINION.

With reference to your last comment, bit much in the professional forums I think.

[MrMarkyMark]

Couple of points:-

1. Its perfectly legal to claim JSA while on the bench.
2. In MY OPINION, saying I'd never invoke a contract clause because its not professional is being a mug. Think carefully of the consequences before doing it, fair enough, but saying I'd never do it is being a mug. IN MY OPINION.

With reference to your last comment, bit much in the professional forums I think.

No one said it was illegal to claim JSA.

Hmmm, coming from someone whos posts in the professional forums, then gets the posts moved to General on a regular basis.
Also, calling people mugs, in your eyes, in the professional forums is perfectly fine.

[Chuck]

I find myself in a situation relevant to this thread.

I have let myself become completely de-skilled and roles in my speciality are getting harder to come by. In my current role, I am not really developing anything, more like hand-holding some testing with a little bit of dev thrown in.

The client, who have been very good over the years, have made it clear that when this project goes live my contract will no longer be renewed. Fair enough, that's the way contracting works.

However, there is a role that has come up elsewhere, that is a strong development role in my skillset, with the possibility of getting exposure to some newer technology as well. I have no idea what the rate is, higher or lower than I'm currently on.

I am torn between seeing out my current contract or going for this other role (with no guarantee of getting it of course). If I get it, I would have to give notice on my current contract. There are others here doing the same stuff, so my client wouldn't really be left in the lurch if I did leave. I doubt they'd be happy, but they would cope.

What would the panel do in my place?

[psychocandy]

But you've carried on to try!

You paint a sugar-coated picture of the contracting world. Simple fact is that we're at the thin end of the wedge when it comes to holding any power. They pull the plug, you've got no money. You jump ship and unless you're jumping with the same agent, you'll get a reputation for being a jumper. We're not in true business-to-business relationships while agents are involved. When you have a third party who can significantly influence who goes forward to clientco then you've not got a level playing field. Similarly if there are two fairly even candidates and one has a record of seeing the job out while the other doesn't, guess who wins?

Of course, its a risk jumping from contracts. I get that. There is a SLIM chance it will make a difference but I think its overplayed just a bit.

Yes fair enough, chances are if you invoke notice then client may never have you back. It all depends. I know of clients who'd just say, sorry to hear that, we understand, all the best to you, let us know if you're ever keen to return.

The agent thing. Come on - they'll be wassed off for about a day then the next gig will come in that you're a perfect match for and the £ signs will light up again.

As for clients, fair enough if you've got a few two week gigs on your CV then client is going to be suspicious but surely people cover these up on they're CV.

At client X for 3 months and thats it. How do they know whether:-

1. It was only ever a 3 month gig.
2. It was 6 months and you invoked notice and left after 3 months.
3. It was 3 months, then they offered an extension and you turned it down.
4. It was 3 months and they didn't offer an extension because you were crap.

No-one is ever going to know. I've done a 6 week gig that was NEVER EVER going to go past 6 weeks due to its nature. It would be very short-sighted of a client to pick up on this and raise it as an 'issue'.

[LondonManc]

If they've in effect given you notice, then you're a free agent from x date. If you can dovetail this other contract to start around that date then that's ideal. Nothing to lose to see if you can get offered the other gig. No saying you have to take it after all.

[Montyuk]

Never understood how its perfectly legal to claim JSA whilst on the bench, you are still employed by your company and most lightly getting a salary from it, plus surely you would have a war chest and therefore would have more than 6k in savings.

Couple of points:-

1. Its perfectly legal to claim JSA while on the bench.
2. In MY OPINION, saying I'd never invoke a contract clause because its not professional is being a mug. Think carefully of the consequences before doing it, fair enough, but saying I'd never do it is being a mug. IN MY OPINION.

With reference to your last comment, bit much in the professional forums I think.

[psychocandy]

I find myself in a situation relevant to this thread.

I have let myself become completely de-skilled and roles in my speciality are getting harder to come by. In my current role, I am not really developing anything, more like hand-holding some testing with a little bit of dev thrown in.

The client, who have been very good over the years, have made it clear that when this project goes live my contract will no longer be renewed. Fair enough, that's the way contracting works.

However, there is a role that has come up elsewhere, that is a strong development role in my skillset, with the possibility of getting exposure to some newer technology as well. I have no idea what the rate is, higher or lower than I'm currently on.

I am torn between seeing out my current contract or going for this other role (with no guarantee of getting it of course). If I get it, I would have to give notice on my current contract. There are others here doing the same stuff, so my client wouldn't really be left in the lurch if I did leave. I doubt they'd be happy, but they would cope.

What would the panel do in my place?

Without a doubt - invoke notice if it comes off. Then do your best to handover during notice period.

Current client has been fair enough to advise you that its all coming to an end. Any decent person would understand where you're coming from IMHO with sorting out an alternative.

Out of interest, how long left on the contract anyway? So how short would you cut it if you gave notice?

If you're only lopping off a few weeks/month or so then I can't see how client can be too annoyed.

[northernladuk]

Of course, its a risk jumping from contracts. I get that. There is a SLIM chance it will make a difference but I think its overplayed just a bit.
.

I'm sitting on a gig that has turned two candidates down this week that have applied for a gig and are looking to leave their current client. It does happen and you won't know it.

The fact most people don't make a habit of this makes it less visible. If more people did it then it would make a much bigger different. It's like driving. A couple of dicks don't think lane markings apply to them and they get away with it because other drivers are more considerate. If we all did what they did it would be mayhem. Doesn't mean being an inconsiderate dick is a good thing cause he gets away with it.

[northernladuk]

Without a doubt - invoke notice if it comes off. Then do your best to handover during notice period.

Current client has been fair enough to advise you that its all coming to an end. Any decent person would understand where you're coming from IMHO with sorting out an alternative.

Out of interest, how long left on the contract anyway? So how short would you cut it if you gave notice?

If you're only lopping off a few weeks/month or so then I can't see how client can be too annoyed.

So next time the client will treat the contractor like dirt and promise extensions and then not deliver them just so the contractor doesn't leave. You'd be happy with that wouldn't you.

Leaving in the last few weeks can be much more damaging that leaving mid gig as there is no time to finish off what was being done and can't get anyone to finish it. PM's leaving in the last few weeks of a project can break the whole thing.