Two months contract - is it worth it?

[Relaxed]

Have you ever been approached regarding a one, two or three month contracts (surely "with a huge prospective to extend")? Did you agree to apply and if you have done such a short contract did you have trouble explaining why it was so short to new clients? Is it just better to say no in the first place?
Another option is probably not to put this experience on your CV at all but then how would you explain a same size gap?

[DaveB]

Have you ever been approached regarding a one, two or three month contracts (surely "with a huge prospective to extend")? Did you agree to apply and if you have done such a short contract did you have trouble explaining why it was so short to new clients? Is it just better to say no in the first place?
Another option is probably not to put this experience on your CV at all but then how would you explain a same size gap?

Yes, done a few of these. Never had them questioned, thats a permie mentality. Just describe them as short term or one off consultancy jobs to produce specific deliverables for the client. You can throw in some good stuff about working under time constraints, tight targets etc.

[clearedforlanding]

Also worth mentioning that very short contracts can often be extended (though no fault of yours of course!) and can be a good source of further contact from the client.

A good manager will remember the guy who came in to cover a short contract and delivered, when recruiting in the future.

[cojak]

Two months contract - is it worth it?

When I've been questioned I've just looked the interviewer in the eye and said 'I'm a contractor - that's how contracting works'. You must have had extensions in the past. Point to those (if they're the same type of work) and say you that your skills haven't got worse, the client's requirements have changed in the past year.

[BolshieBastard]

Have you ever been approached regarding a one, two or three month contracts (surely "with a huge prospective to extend")? Did you agree to apply and if you have done such a short contract did you have trouble explaining why it was so short to new clients? Is it just better to say no in the first place?
Another option is probably not to put this experience on your CV at all but then how would you explain a same size gap?

I wont touch a contract that's less than 13 weeks \ 3 months. Some will and some will say they took a chance on a 4 weeker that turned into 2 years or whatever.

Each to their own. More info here

[Boo]

Have you ever been approached regarding a one, two or three month contracts (surely "with a huge prospective to extend")? Did you agree to apply and if you have done such a short contract did you have trouble explaining why it was so short to new clients? Is it just better to say no in the first place?
Another option is probably not to put this experience on your CV at all but then how would you explain a same size gap?

Don't put dates on your CV.

Boo

[BolshieBastard]

Don't put dates on your CV.

Boo

Yeah, great idea. Then any prospective client has no idea whether you've had loads of 4 week contracts or not.

[northernladuk]

Yeah, great idea. Then any prospective client has no idea whether you've had loads of 4 week contracts or not.

This. Every time you put a blocker in the way it moves you down the pecking order.

[jmo21]

I wont touch a contract that's less than 13 weeks \ 3 months. Some will and some will say they took a chance on a 4 weeker that turned into 2 years or whatever.

Each to their own. More info here

For what it's worth, I'm generally of the same opinion as BB here.

Maybe if it was a really worthwhile client/project, then I might consider it.

[Boo]

Yeah, great idea. Then any prospective client has no idea whether you've had loads of 4 week contracts or not.

You can put durations without giving dates.

This. Every time you put a blocker in the way it moves you down the pecking order.

For what it's worth, I'm generally of the same opinion as BB here.

IME the clients don't gaf about dates, its only the agents who whinge. And they only do that when there's not really a job there...

Boo