Getting that first contract...

**Murder1** · 19 September 2007, 06:54

Originally posted by uk086242 View Post

Hand in resignation and start looking towards the end of the notice period? Try to negotiate a reduced notice period?

I would say either of those would do it, but I'd start looking with a month to go.

**MikeC1408** · 19 September 2007, 07:43

Was recently in the same situation. Had to take a leap of faith and hand in my notice with nothing to go to.

Took a further 6 weeks after the end of my notice period to land my first contract, still glad I did it though.

**XLMonkey** · 19 September 2007, 07:48

This is something that most people entering into contracting have to get to grips with. Clients generally want a contractor to start within a week or so. People jumping from full-time employment usually have a much longer notice period than that.

One thing is for certain - you will struggle to get an offer of a contract from someone who is prepared to wait for a 3 month notice period to expire. Its doubtful whether any agent would even put you forward for a role on that basis.

Sooooo...... you may need to give notice on the current job before you have that magic first contract to go to. As Alex Ferguson once said - "now we're getting to squeaky bum time".....

**Bright Spark** · 19 September 2007, 08:35

try and negotiate notice period down to a month and then include any holidays to reduce it further, if you go for full 3month notice it will be december by the time your available and the market is very quiet at that time, even Jan is not a good time either.

**uk086242** · 19 September 2007, 08:39

Thanks for the replies all.

Bright Spark? Hmmm, I am sure I have 'seen' you on another website...

**TheFaQQer** · 19 September 2007, 08:40

If you are going to have to wait three months, then this might not be the best time to do it - that would have you becoming available middle to late December, which is a quiet time, generally.

If you can get out of your notice period early, then do it - some employers recognize the importance of not having disgruntled employees kicking around, demob happy.

**jmcdglasgow** · 19 September 2007, 09:05

I've just made the jump from Permanent to Contract and I can tell you that despite what agents will say, unless you have an availability of a week or less they will generally put you to the back of the pile.

I've had a fixed availability date, and only with a week to go in my Permie job have agents started working for me - and up until then the only positive leads that turned into interviews were from companies I had spammed with my CV directly.

Don't rely on agents to get you work is my advice!

**beermeister** · 19 September 2007, 12:02

I went through exactly the same this year - agents won't touch you with 3 months notice.

Essentially, I just lied to the agents (hell, they lied enough times to me) and told them I was on 2 weeks notice. When I got the first contract offer, I resigned from my full-time job and negotiated 3 weeks notice with all parties.

At the end of the day, your employer has to sue if you leave earlier than your contract notice period, but then they can also get nasty and withold outstanding money owed to you, if any - the timing worked out well so that wasn't a big risk for me.

**TheFaQQer** · 19 September 2007, 12:37

Originally posted by beermeister View Post

I went through exactly the same this year - agents won't touch you with 3 months notice.

Essentially, I just lied to the agents (hell, they lied enough times to me) and told them I was on 2 weeks notice. When I got the first contract offer, I resigned from my full-time job and negotiated 3 weeks notice with all parties.

At the end of the day, your employer has to sue if you leave earlier than your contract notice period, but then they can also get nasty and withold outstanding money owed to you, if any - the timing worked out well so that wasn't a big risk for me.

Plus, first contract might require more references - leaving under a cloud is not the best way to ensure that these are forthcoming!

Getting that first contract...