So got a bit of a dilhemma, albeit a nice one. Apologies in advance for rambling nature, I'm up at 0300 in the week so my eyes are just as sore as yours will be after reading this!
Left my Permy Job in September with some savings and began applying for contracts in my notice period and accepted a 6 month (Client A) in Scotland, all well so far. Several weeks of chasing later and I still didn't have a Contract or start date. Turns out there was some internal politics going on behind the scenes but I didn't find this out until later and so lost hope.
Anyway, I'd been applying for other roles in the meantime and got the offer of something in Kent with an immediate start date (Client B), on £75 less a day and for 3.5 months but still good money. This agent also did weekly invoicing, which was useful as I was coming from a Permy job.
There was still no sign of a start date and the agent from Client A had gone quiet so decided to to take Client B, been there a few weeks now and all going well.
Got a call out the blue from agent representing Client A today saying all internal issues resolved (some 6 weeks after the offer) and start date can be arranged for as soon as I finish assumed notice period with Client B, which if I go for it will be on the 21st of this month.
More info:
- Hours at Client B are a bit unsociable, I'm on a project which starts in the early hours. Works in my favour when I finish at midday on a Friday for my train home.
- Notice period at Client B is two weeks
- Enforced Christmas break at Client A for most of December into early January so obviously no invoices during this period
- I live in NW England so both places are a similar-length train journey away. I'll be in digs through the week at both.
- I'll be able to WFH two days a week at Client A once I've settled into the role
- Agent from Client A is pretty big, Client B's agent is small but they've been great with me
- Project at Client A is more out of my comfort zone than what I'm doing at Client B but should be a great experience
- Contract at Client B due to finish in 3rd week of January
- Have asked Client A about not starting until January but this would be a deal-breaker for them
In my position would you:
1) Stick out Client B until contract-end in Jan and don't burn any bridges. Find something else in New Year.
2) Give notice to Client B and accept Client A to start on the 21st. Take the hit of not working through December
Sneakiest one, morally bankrupt and possibly illegal:
3) Accept Client A, tell Client B I was unavailable for two weeks or so while starting at Client A and then work back at Client B during the Christmas break from Client A and give notice to Client B in time to start back again at Client A in January.
Left my Permy Job in September with some savings and began applying for contracts in my notice period and accepted a 6 month (Client A) in Scotland, all well so far. Several weeks of chasing later and I still didn't have a Contract or start date. Turns out there was some internal politics going on behind the scenes but I didn't find this out until later and so lost hope.
Anyway, I'd been applying for other roles in the meantime and got the offer of something in Kent with an immediate start date (Client B), on £75 less a day and for 3.5 months but still good money. This agent also did weekly invoicing, which was useful as I was coming from a Permy job.
There was still no sign of a start date and the agent from Client A had gone quiet so decided to to take Client B, been there a few weeks now and all going well.
Got a call out the blue from agent representing Client A today saying all internal issues resolved (some 6 weeks after the offer) and start date can be arranged for as soon as I finish assumed notice period with Client B, which if I go for it will be on the 21st of this month.
More info:
- Hours at Client B are a bit unsociable, I'm on a project which starts in the early hours. Works in my favour when I finish at midday on a Friday for my train home.
- Notice period at Client B is two weeks
- Enforced Christmas break at Client A for most of December into early January so obviously no invoices during this period
- I live in NW England so both places are a similar-length train journey away. I'll be in digs through the week at both.
- I'll be able to WFH two days a week at Client A once I've settled into the role
- Agent from Client A is pretty big, Client B's agent is small but they've been great with me
- Project at Client A is more out of my comfort zone than what I'm doing at Client B but should be a great experience
- Contract at Client B due to finish in 3rd week of January
- Have asked Client A about not starting until January but this would be a deal-breaker for them
In my position would you:
1) Stick out Client B until contract-end in Jan and don't burn any bridges. Find something else in New Year.
2) Give notice to Client B and accept Client A to start on the 21st. Take the hit of not working through December
Sneakiest one, morally bankrupt and possibly illegal:
3) Accept Client A, tell Client B I was unavailable for two weeks or so while starting at Client A and then work back at Client B during the Christmas break from Client A and give notice to Client B in time to start back again at Client A in January.
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