contract offer

[jmo21]

I'd disagree with the points about contractors not needing loyalty. Over the years, at least 2/3rds of my work has come from repeat work, referrals or interviews swung by name dropping people the interviewer knows who he can have an informal chat about me with. If you repeatedly jump ship or leave the client high and dry for a few extra £ a day then it gets known, especially if you're in a small market or go for one particular client type.

That said, I've always believed contracting is the best way to get what you want out of life, if that for you is being able to chop and change jobs as you please then leaving a contract for a better one may be the right choice.

I agree with this, especially in a depressed market.

I always prefer to extend a contract if the client wants to, even if it means waiting til the last minute, and it would take something extreme for me not to (or leave a contract early).

[zamzummim]

Loyalty to companies? My contract is ending on Friday, I had several emails from the client (top IB) reassuring me I am to be extended, the agency prepared all the paper work and was told its all going through, suddenly on Thurs I was told they are changing their mind, lovely, only few days notice and I didn’t bother looking for roles all this time as I had several promises both verbal and in writing.

I learnt a long time ago that companies have no qualms about getting rid of anyone, so I have no idea why contractors feel so guilty about giving a proper (professional ) notice for dissolving the contract, companies would do this without any hesitation, why should we as the other parties in the contact not be entitled to the same thing? They put their company’s interest first, and should we.. we need to put the interest of out Ltd company first too.

[zamzummim]

In fact what they did with me is not as bad as the other developers (I am a BA) for the developers both of them their contract expired, and both got renewed for another 6 months, then within 2 into their renewal both got notice served, the end of the notice coincided with the going live date!!

[craig1]

Loyalty to companies? My contract is ending on Friday, I had several emails from the client (top IB) reassuring me I am to be extended, the agency prepared all the paper work and was told its all going through, suddenly on Thurs I was told they are changing their mind, lovely, only few days notice and I didn’t bother looking for roles all this time as I had several promises both verbal and in writing.

I learnt a long time ago that companies have no qualms about getting rid of anyone, so I have no idea why contractors feel so guilty about giving a proper (professional ) notice for dissolving the contract, companies would do this without any hesitation, why should we as the other parties in the contact not be entitled to the same thing? They put their company’s interest first, and should we.. we need to put the interest of out Ltd company first too.

I see where you're coming from there and I always start looking seriously a month before contract end unless I've had a formal extension offer. What the thread is talking about though is walking out mid way through a contract. Contractors will always have a rougher time going up against big companies but, for me, much of what makes a well-paid, well-utilised contractor is reputation, they hold all the shots, if they get rid of you then that's expected, if you walk early then it's a black mark against your reputation unless you've got a better excuse than "I wanted more money closer to home".

That said, reputation also works against companies though. Come the market revival, I can name a good few very large companies that are going to desperately struggle to find part-way competent contractors who want to work for them because their reputation is so poor. I'm already fed up of agencies calling me almost pleading with me to allow them to send my CV to one such company based in Norfolk.