How often do you apply for/interview for new gigs?

[northernladuk]

Well - a couple of hours once in a while with the potential to secure a decent rate hike is time well spent in my opinion.

Certainly time better spent than trying to pinch every penny running a business as tax efficiently as possible.

Which means you do have a full on mercenary attitude despite you claiming you've ONLY done it twice. I do believe this will come back and bite you some way down the road so as I've said, the time is best spent doing the work at the rate agreed and you were happy with, getting a good rep so possibly securing more work at a better rate with your client and then moving on to the next one. Read my example of the builder previously. Which is the better run business out of the two?

Only needs one gig you jump ship to to fall out from under you in the first few weeks or before you've even started and comparative profitability of the jumping ship model falls way short. But again, all in my opinion and I've said it before so I'll stop repeating it.

[ladymuck]

I see what you're getting at but I've only ever started the next gig process when either I don't see a renewal coming (sometimes I have been wrong) or I don't want a renewal. I have a tendency to get bored after about 15-18 months.

I agree with NLUK in that clients don't get rid of contractors on a whim if they're doing a good job. I would say the only exception to that is when a client is going for almost total offshoring which you can spot a mile off and plan for accordingly.

[TheDude]

I have a tendency to get bored after about 15-18 months.

Well - there is that as well!

[NotAllThere]

Well - a couple of hours once in a while with the potential to secure a decent rate hike is time well spent in my opinion.

Ok, I get you. I never had anything other than a decent rate. Modesty forbids stating the figure.