Reason to turn down an extension

[robin]

Now I know its a simple thing of 'Thanks but no Thanks' if offered an extension if you don't want to take it but this is the sort of place that would ask questions as to why I'm not taking it and I would expect the agency to ask also.

Basically I have not been here long and the jobs not very good at all and I wish I could leave now, I have nothing to do (I have asked but most of the time just sat here) the atmosphere is horrible and long story short will grin and bear it till the mid Jan when it ends to get me over the 'quiet' period but then thats it.

The company have already mentioned they are looking into getting the contract renewed further into next year. If I get asked I will say I have a new job but then I can't help thinking what if I then don't find a job straight away and the same agent comes to me and says 'umm I thought you had a job to go to?' and it may be awkward but then can't think of another reason to give and although I don't want to come back don't want to burn bridges either just in case.

What reasons have other people given as to not taking an extension?

[chef]

I'm about to do the same thing but my reasons are fairly straight forward, I want to improve my language skills and take a 5 day a week 3 month course and after 2 years of being away Mon-Fri I want to work closer to home and have a warchest big enough to sit it out, improve my language skills and wait for daily commutable to come up.

[SizeZero]

If I get asked I will say I have a new job but then I can't help thinking what if I then don't find a job straight away and the same agent comes to me and says 'umm I thought you had a job to go to?'

I wouldn't worry too much about this - you aren't going to be blacklisted because you turned down a renewal. In fact the opposite - you have already proved yourself to be a money-maker for the agent, and desirable to their client.

If this is an agent you have a good relationship with and particularly don't wish to spoil it (as opposed to never-spoke-until-I-replied-to-the-job-on-Jobserve-and-haven't-spoken-since-contracts-were-signed) then call him 'for a chat' when you're away from the client site. Explain that you feel under-utilised there and fear your skills aren't being kept up to date. Let him know you're looking for a more challenging role after this contract runs out in <month> and that if he gets any interesting opportunities, to get in touch.

[ChimpMaster]

It's quite simple: be honest, professional, tactful, empathetic. And smile.

People will understand and appreciate you a lot more if you use these principles.

[VectraMan]

You're a contractor. You agree to work to a certain date, and there's no obligation, or expectation of anything beyond that from either side.

[mavster07]

We all get gigs like that from time to time.

I'm surprised there's nothing in there you can't do to pickup new skills or learn new things and take some positives out there.....the more you show you are keen the more they'll give you to do.

in such situations I always try to do some self-learning and demo stuff to show new skills...always helps.....

[robin]

I understand honesty is the best policy but feel if I was to say 'There is not much for me to do and don't feel this is the place for me' (however tackfull I put it) they are the sort of company to say ok we will give you more work to do and try and make it better when the truth is I just do not want to stay even if they did try and change things its just 'one of those places' thats just not nice.

I'm not worried about being blacklisted its just I could imagine my luck the next job I see will be with the same agency as they are quite a big one and they will then maybe get funny as I turned down an extension took away their chance to earn more money and in fact I never did have another job. Still a bit new to all this!! Maybe I'm considering everyones feelings to much at the moment!!

[mavster07]

I wouldn't worry about getting blacklisted - I doubt that would happen.

Just say that you've secured an opportunity that you've been working toward for some time in the sector that matches your skills etc etc ... closer to home...etc etc....pick your reason.....and leave on a good note by saying that you'd like to keep in touch with a view to being aware of upcoming projects that they can use your services on...get some good referees out of it and move on.......never burn your bridge....even not-so-good projects and clients can turn out to be better ones down the road.....just build the relationship..

[walterboy]

I wouldn't worry about it. Just say "thanks for the offer but I need to take some time off (or whatever)".

If its a big agency, it wont matter if they approach you with another job as it will probably be someone else who doesn't even know you worked for them before.

Twice I have had an agency ring me and ask me if I'm available for work and I have said to them, no I'm currently working at xyz co and I'm contracted through your agency!!

[craig1]

If you're on short notice terms, it's an ongoing role and you want to keep the client's good will you could offer to stay on for an extra few weeks on the same rate until they get their recruitment process up and running for a replacement. If you're feeling especially kind, offer to hang around to do a handover.

If you're in a niche or tough market for your skills then it never hurts to have people say good things about you.