What's your next career move? What's your exit strategy?

[oliverson]

I must have gotten lucky with my teenage jobs. Work experience was with a photographer for a local paper which was great fun. Then while doing an NVQ worked with a local accountancy firm where I was helping the receptionists who were hilarious. Another little job was at a local manufacturing place where I spent all day labelling cables for fitting into some cabinets of stuff - having to look at the drawings to make sure the right cables had the right labels. Simple work but still quite fun. I've done envelope stuffing for a firm that printed out airline loyalty cards. I even enjoyed doing waitressing in a little cafe and later in a little restaurant.

I think the common theme through all of those was that the people were good, the work wasn't onerous and there was the expectation that I was competent enough to get on with the job.

In my teens/early 20's I spent 5 years working for an insurance loss adjusting firm. it was a fantastic time, the people were great and I even had own office, which was the post room. I was an office junior/VDU operator, spending my days copy typing insurance claim reports, which sounds dry but it was very interesting and sometimes hilarious the claims people would submit. I was also responsible for backing up the computer system and taking the discs home with me. Next up was ensuring the mail ended up in the correct pigeon holes from which I'd pack the envelopes and frank them, dropping the mail off at the post office on my way home. Walking up through the City (not London) to get photographs of claim damage developed (old days I know). I did some stints on reception, opening mail, answering the phone, etc. We even played cards for money in the board room at lunchtimes! Great memories. Then I got distracted by the company cars these guys were driving, not the quality of them but the fact they had them, so I became 'one of them', an insurance loss adjuster. My insurance career lasted just over a decade before I realised I'd drifted down the wrong path and so quit in order to study computer science at Uni. The rest is history. All nostalgic now!

[vwdan]

I feel your pain. I got complacent thinking this was easy but had 5 months out just before covid. Put a big dint in the reserves I had in place for just this so financially wasn't a problem but was a proper wake up call and didn't enjoy it one iota. Managed to get a gig 4 weeks before covid hit. If I hadn't I don't know where I would have been. Ever since then I've been more focussed on billing for everything than ever before and made life a lot more stressful for myself than I've ever been contracting. I've been lucky to only have 2 end to end gigs since then but approaching renewal time and end of gig is much more unpleasant than it ever used to be. I used to relish the end to get in to something new and now I dread it.

Near identical experience here, and feeling very much the same. Only difference is my time out was during COVID - absolutely grim, not only being benched but there wasn't even a game being played! Literal radio silence for months

[northernladuk]

Near identical experience here, and feeling very much the same. Only difference is my time out was during COVID - absolutely grim, not only being benched but there wasn't even a game being played! Literal radio silence for months

Jeez. I don't know I would have survived that to be honest. Couldn't even go out and take bar work or anything close to feeling useful. Sorry to hear that.

And as it happens got given a months notice on Friday. Delivered first phase, easier second phase getting taken in house which was half expected. I'm already feeling very anxious.

[edison]

Jeez. I don't know I would have survived that to be honest. Couldn't even go out and take bar work or anything close to feeling useful. Sorry to hear that.

And as it happens got given a months notice on Friday. Delivered first phase, easier second phase getting taken in house which was half expected. I'm already feeling very anxious.

I've had this a couple of times when I was expecting an extension. Partly it's a reflection on you if you've done a good or even better than expected job.

Conversely I've had a surprise extension when things were starting to look more challenging and client wanted me to help them through a difficult period.

[ladymuck]

I've had this a couple of times when I was expecting an extension. Partly it's a reflection on you if you've done a good or even better than expected job.

Conversely I've had a surprise extension when things were starting to look more challenging and client wanted me to help them through a difficult period.

Yeah - friend of mine (programme manager) got a shorter extension than another programme manager on the same overall portfolio because their projects have delivered faster due to being better organised than the others. If you're rubbish at your job and drag out the programme, your contract gets extended, it would seem.

[oliverson]

Jeez. I don't know I would have survived that to be honest. Couldn't even go out and take bar work or anything close to feeling useful. Sorry to hear that.

And as it happens got given a months notice on Friday. Delivered first phase, easier second phase getting taken in house which was half expected. I'm already feeling very anxious.

Bummer. Sorry to hear that.

Hope you find something soon.

[ChimpMaster]

Jeez. I don't know I would have survived that to be honest. Couldn't even go out and take bar work or anything close to feeling useful. Sorry to hear that.

And as it happens got given a months notice on Friday. Delivered first phase, easier second phase getting taken in house which was half expected. I'm already feeling very anxious.

NUK you've been around the contract world long enough to know how things work, so I hope something falls into place soon for you.

I quit contracting after a reasonable 16 year stint, fortunately one that just about got to the other side of Covid. Not really by choice, but I rode the now-dead skillset to the shore, coining it very well while I could. I'd never intended for contracting to consume my entire career but it pretty much did, and it both consumed and ended it. I now potter about in a well paid permie job, unrelated to the contracting skillset, waiting to be found out , but I'm still very good at anything I put my mind to. I just don't have to be held to ransom by clients/employers any more, and that's a very freeing feeling.

I rarely became anxious but largely that's because we always saw contracting as a 'bonus' and we saved/invested something like 80% of post-tax earnings for all those years. I always knew my contracting life was going to end badly and I'm surprised it lasted a few years longer than planned.

And for any youngsters here, remember to save and invest early and continuously while you're flush with the contracting life! Doom-spend a little of course, but be aware of how quickly things can change, and prepare well for that time.

I didn't mean to go on, and I really hope things work out for you and that you also have some side projects or investments that can keep you going. Best of Luck.

[SussexSeagull]

Jeez. I don't know I would have survived that to be honest. Couldn't even go out and take bar work or anything close to feeling useful. Sorry to hear that.

And as it happens got given a months notice on Friday. Delivered first phase, easier second phase getting taken in house which was half expected. I'm already feeling very anxious.

If it is any consolation that takes you into March and not far from the start of the Financial New Year.

[northernladuk]

If it is any consolation that takes you into March and not far from the start of the Financial New Year.

Cor, lots of nice comments from people thank you. I say anxious, as in a bit nervous because it's quiet and some horror stories around on here at the moment. Warchest is healthy, I've 6 weeks notice and the odd thing is popping up so confident at worst it's going to be a little blip with a bit of much needed time off so am in a good position. I think a bit of nerves is healthy, keeps me focussed and not to be over confident like the old days. Always bothers me when a contract it is terminated though. I do a couple of days of beating myself up and then realise its not me. Do the hardwork, put the framework in and then a permie takes over. All part of the game as a few people have mentioned. Past that and now excited for the next gig.

But thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.

[gables]

Cor, lots of nice comments from people thank you. I say anxious, as in a bit nervous because it's quiet and some horror stories around on here at the moment. Warchest is healthy, I've 6 weeks notice and the odd thing is popping up so confident at worst it's going to be a little blip with a bit of much needed time off so am in a good position. I think a bit of nerves is healthy, keeps me focussed and not to be over confident like the old days. Always bothers me when a contract it is terminated though. I do a couple of days of beating myself up and then realise its not me. Do the hardwork, put the framework in and then a permie takes over. All part of the game as a few people have mentioned. Past that and now excited for the next gig.

But thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.

Arguably this is why to some extent (there are other reasons too, obvs) you\we should get the big bucks.

I reckon you'll be fine tbh :-)