Just how long is 'The Bench'?

[HeadOfTesting]

Having once not worked for nearly 12 months back in the 2001 / 02 downturn, 6 months really isnt that bad!

I'm still here.

Benched since 19th dec 08. was out for a total of 15 months in 2001/2 but this is the longest single stint of being benched.

not too fussed cos my attentions are increasingly moving towards my new business

[VectraMan]

I guess I'm on the bench, but have have put 4 solid months of long hours into the "plan B" which really is plan A, staying contracting has been the plan B for the last couple of years to get far enough ahead of the game to be able to do this.

Launching the B soon and changing from Analyst Developer to slick suited salesman

Plan C will be looking for another gig by about March if it curls its toes up

6 months on the Plan B/A, but I've decided I really need to get another contract. So really it's 1 day so far of the bench, even though I haven't had an income or reason to leave the house since June.

[rsingh]

I've been benched since the beginning of December. I'm hoping that my next contract won't involve so much more travel. Good luck everyone

[OrangeHopper]

Three months. First interview tomorrow.

[MrMark]

Three months. First interview tomorrow.

I too have an interview tomorrow - one of the ones I failed to attend the Friday before Xmas (on that occasion all trains from London Euston to Hemel were cancelled). Looking at the weather forecast, beginning to look as though I won't be able to make it tomorrow either. Great, only been on the bench since Feb.

[nomadd]

Having once not worked for nearly 12 months back in the 2001 / 02 downturn, 6 months really isnt that bad!

Agree absolutely. TBH, not quite sure how long my longest stint on the bench is, but probably around the year mark, I guess.

[RichardCranium]

Just how long is 'The Bench'?

A funny thing, The Bench. Its length can vary automagically.

According the the bloke that came round in the summer and varnished it, he told me that although the current model has the capacity for 41 million bums, it would probably collapse before it got to 20 million.

Make room fatty!

Pah! I dunno, these Johnny-Come-Latelies that reckon everyone has to budge up! 'Fraid not, Squire, that's not how it works. You have to sit on the far end, with your feet in that puddle and wait for longer serving benchees to shuffle off onto gigs before you can get to sit under the sheltered bit. And if none of us gets a gig, you have to stay sitting in the rain.

I suggest you bring some beers, a blanket, a brolly and a cushion to sit on. You may be here for some time...

[meridian]

Technically not on the bench as I have a barely-over-the-minimum-wage fixed term contract, but have a one-week escape clause so am still looking every day.

Not counting FTC, benched since May. One face to face interview, half a dozen phone interviews, about two or three dozen "your cv looks perfect we'll get it over to the client straight away" and never hear from them agains. Been a rollercoaster.

[OrangeHopper]

... bloke that came round in the summer and varnished it ...

Bloody hard work that was and I'm going to have to start it all again soon with all the wear and tear.

[norrahe]

No one has actually answered the original posters question as to "how long the bench is?"

You never know he might need some measurements to get some more varnish and sandpaper.

We might actually get cushions