How do you feel when you turn a job down?

[curtis]

When I first started contracting I had an offer of a 3 month contract, my gut feeling was I did not want it but felt crazy for turning it down (especially as my 1st contract offer) but then luckily I had another offer the following day for a month contract in a job I preferred but even though I wanted the month one I felt so guilt turning the 3 month one down even though I didn ot want it.

I'm in the same situation now I've been offered a 2 month extension where I currently am but also been offered a 3 month contract, the one one i'm in is not the best job in the world but I have that gut feeling again with the other one that I just don't want it, its not right so have decided to take the 2 month renewal but yet again i feel really guilty about not taking the other as it was 3 months so 1 month longer.

The stupid thing is I got into contracting to have more choice and do what I want to do so why do I feel so guilty on these decisions, I keep telling myself if I wanted a job based on how long the contract was I would get a permie job. I suppose I always wonder did I make the right choice!!

When you have turned jobs down do you feel anything or is that your decision and thats it you forget about it, I always wonder 'what if' for the next week!

[northernladuk]

I don't think you would be human if that thought didn't cross your mind. You do have more flexibility contracting but you are always balancing a level of risk and the unknown. Maybe after 10's of years doing it you might get more hardened or blase about it I guess but it should never go away. If nothing else it helps your learning curve by making analysing what happened and understanding if you made the right decision etc. Next time the same situation comes up you will make a better informed decision based on what happened in the past. Saying that nearly every situation will be different as well affecting the outcome. That level of the unknown is bound to make you think.

What you can't do however is go through regretting decisions. You made them so stick with it, quicker you get your mind on what you are doing and plough on the better, especially in situations where you took an option which ended up being tougher than the one you turned down. Guilt is also something to get over though. Feeling guilty won't help at all. It's a tough world out there and you have to think of number one.

[d000hg]

If you've gone through the interview process taking client's time, and told agent you wanted the work to get that far, then a smidgen of guilt for wasting their time is a good sign you're not an arsehole. Turning work down is totally normal but appreciating you're (however mildly) inconvenienced someone else is common decency. Just because when it's the other way round you don't get the same level of respect, that's no reason to sink to their level.

[xchaotic]

It depend how whether the contract really is 1 or 3 months or is just a review period.
I had a '3 month' contract last 15 months and '24 months' contract last 6 months, all you should really care about is whether it's a good fit for your current or desired skills (to make you and the customer happy) and how much you profit in a given fiscal year (to make you rich?)...

[Sausage Surprise]

When I first started contracting I had an offer of a 3 month contract, my gut feeling was I did not want it but felt crazy for turning it down (especially as my 1st contract offer) but then luckily I had another offer the following day for a month contract in a job I preferred but even though I wanted the month one I felt so guilt turning the 3 month one down even though I didn ot want it.

I'm in the same situation now I've been offered a 2 month extension where I currently am but also been offered a 3 month contract, the one one i'm in is not the best job in the world but I have that gut feeling again with the other one that I just don't want it, its not right so have decided to take the 2 month renewal but yet again i feel really guilty about not taking the other as it was 3 months so 1 month longer.

The stupid thing is I got into contracting to have more choice and do what I want to do so why do I feel so guilty on these decisions, I keep telling myself if I wanted a job based on how long the contract was I would get a permie job. I suppose I always wonder did I make the right choice!!

When you have turned jobs down do you feel anything or is that your decision and thats it you forget about it, I always wonder 'what if' for the next week!

If it bothered me this much every time I got a contract offer I'd begin to wonder if I was cut out for contracting.

[Boo]

Well, if i turn a contract down because I've just started another at a higher rate I feel just fine

But if I turn it down because the rate is Tulipe and I've nothing else in place I feel Tulipe, innit ?

Boo

[curtis]

NothernladUk great response and just the kind of response I was looking for. I did not know really what reponse I would get but its nice to know I'm human and have morals!! Sometimes its good for someone to tell you what you know is the answer!

If it bothered me this much every time I got a contract offer I'd begin to wonder if I was cut out for contracting.

But I would get the same if I had the choice between 2 permie jobs it not just contracts, does this then mean I'm not cut out for work full stop. RESULT!! I will retire now! (I wish)

[BolshieBastard]

If it bothered me this much every time I got a contract offer I'd begin to wonder if I was cut out for contracting.

WSSS+1

Just move on!

[117MilesToGo]

You'll worry yourself into an early grave.

I had one contract cut short early, got another one before the week was out and was much better than the one I had previously.

Sometimes a door on a crappy studio flat shuts, while one on a 10 bedroom mansion opens .......

[Mr.Whippy]

WSSS+1

Just move on!

Is that what you eventually decided to do after your How to tell client refusing extension dilemma then?