Landing a new job mid-contract

[Robster]

Hey guys,

I'm currently mid-contract in my first contracting role which is 3rd line desktop support and the contract runs til next august.

Basically I'm looking for something new because in my current role I have nothing to do most of the time, and my role is very strictly desktop support. In this situation I'm not learning anything and in fact I think i'm forgetting things in knew before. It's also a long commute, which I admit I was aware of when I took the role on but its still a factor.

My situation at the moment is that the notice period on my contract is 4 weeks but most of the calls I get about work wan't someone to start striaght away, and as soon as I mention giving notice they are off the phone like a shot. So i'm sort of stuck, and at the moment I can't afford to quit and hope something comes up.

Any thoughts?

[malvolio]

You signed a contract for services to be provided until next August. You don't walk out in the middle just because something better has turned up. And assuming it was a one-year gig initially, it didn't take you too long to get bored, so what's the chances that'll happen again.

Anyway, start thinking like a business - go find a substitute for your current job, offer them to the agency to replace you with your client, and walk out the next day.

[lukemg]

I can understand your situation but think last poster has a point. 12 monthers sound good at first for stability but can seem forever if the role turns out dull.
Personally, I have never walked off a contract that I have agreed to and would only do so for exceptional circumstances e.g. personal abuse.
I would get together details of workload over the space of a couple of weeks, in terms of numbers of incidents and hours spent resolving. Arrange a proper meeting with the client and indicate the lack of work (just saying there isn't much to do = whinger and gets no attention) . Tell them you realise the 3rd line stuff takes priority but is there any project work or other work that you can take on or help with. They should love you for this and a good client will say leave it with me and I will see where we need some extra resource. A bad client will say - yeah but I need you here just in case.
Give it another couple of weeks to see if things change or if you just get lumped with other dull work no-one else wants.
Consider also - is there on-line training you can do to upskill - technical or procedure e.g. ITIL or Prince2 ? If queried, indicate you have already notified the client of workload.
Consider giving in notice and taking your chances.

[DBA_bloke]

You'll end up on the tulip List if you bail, like that.

[Lewis]

You'll end up on the tulip List if you bail, like that.

Rubbish there is no such thing !

I have left mid contract twice in 10 years and it has had no effect whatsoever on anything. If anyone ever asks I say I didn't enjoy it and life is too short. Simple as.

[King Cnvt]

I once bailed an absolute sh1te contract for a peach of a contract.

Doubled my rate, picked up new skills and enjoyed every minute of it.

Fook em.

[mace]

Ditch em

At the end of the day, the client would have no qualms about ditching you if he found somebody cheaper to do your role. Of course, they'd pay the 1 week notice period then you'd be out on your ear.

Lots of people will give you this line about it being unprofessional. It's mainly agents who spin this line because it's them that lose their loot. I don't know what other 'professional' people are signed up for 3 month's at a time. Big consultancies ditch IT contracts when they don't like the terms e.g. Accenture on the NHS project. People are still using Accenture, so why wouldn't they use your company? Nobody says Accenture's unprofessional.

Don't ditch contracts too often, however. Not all contracts are advertised through multiple agencies and the agency you ditched will keep a note about you on their records. That's not to say they won't use you again, however, as if you're the best/only candidate they'd rather have a bit of money than no money.

Finally, remember that the shorter the term of a contract the better, not the longer. Most agency/candidate contract say that a client can get rid of you immediately (so what you regard as a 1 year contract is really no contract at all). The same contract more often than not provides no notice period or a long notice period for you to comply to. Contracts tend to get rolled over if you're filling a role in which the client just couldn't find a permie (usually because it's a niche skill set).

[thunderlizard]

If as you say, you've got the option of giving notice, then there's nothing wrong with taking it. You've got 2 options: either save up some cash until you can survive as many weeks as you think it'll take; or just be risky, hand in notice and hope for the best.

[TheFaQQer]

Look for a substitute, and pay them less than you are getting. Then look for other work. If it takes a while, at least you're making some margin on the substitute.

[DBA_bloke]

Rubbish there is no such thing !

I have left mid contract twice in 10 years and it has had no effect whatsoever on anything. If anyone ever asks I say I didn't enjoy it and life is too short. Simple as.

Twice in 10 years. Hardly a catalogue of derring-fecking-do, is it?