4th week in - done about 1 days actual work so far :-(

[alreadypacked]

Same with me - different office which does cause problems...

Can you find someone to work with?
I found someone else who was working on the same project and did a bit of pair programing on some libraries that would be used by the team.

If you stay a contractor this kind of thing will happen all the time, you need to develope a way of handling it that gets results and makes you look good. I travel a lot and its the same all over the world.

I arrived in India to give some training, company did not allow USB sticks, burnt CD, found all PC had CD reader disabled to stop staff from watching movies.

Smile even when you get to plan Z

[Hex]

I've frequently had what I call £20 dumps..... :-)

A contractor friend of mine had a little program he'd written which he would start up whenever he went to "the bathroom" and would then press a button on it when he returned. It would tell him how much he'd earned while he'd been away!

[darrenb]

Just starting my 4th week, and still no proper PC, login, email address etc.

The thing is they dont even seem bothered! Ive tried and tried to get something productive to do but I get the impression I'm just seen as a bit of a PITA because I keep hassling. I think the project people are waiting for the IT people to sort something out before they even bother !!!

Anybody ever get the feeling these organizations are not places of work but containment facilities?

[teabag]

Anybody ever get the feeling these organizations are not places of work but containment facilities?

I've certainly wasted away many a work year in government containment facilities : )

[psychocandy]

A contractor friend of mine had a little program he'd written which he would start up whenever he went to "the bathroom" and would then press a button on it when he returned. It would tell him how much he'd earned while he'd been away!

I might write one today !!!!

[billybiro]

Sounds like fun being money for nothing but its starting to my chunk in now....

Just starting my 4th week, and still no proper PC, login, email address etc.

The thing is they dont even seem bothered! Ive tried and tried to get something productive to do but I get the impression I'm just seen as a bit of a PITA because I keep hassling. I think the project people are waiting for the IT people to sort something out before they even bother !!!

Anyone else had anything similar ever? Like I said, sounds great but there's only so many manuals you can read and I'd much rather be doing something !!!!

Like many others replying here, I too have had this situation arise many times. I've also noticed that many clients really don't seem bothered by my inability to do anything productive during that time.

BUT - The most infuriating part of all of this is that when we apply for these gigs, we're told by both the agent and the client that it's really urgent that the role is filled right now. Can't hang about, must have someone to start RIGHT AWAY! !!

They can't wait 1 or 2 days for you to be able to interview/review contracts etc, it must be done right now, but then they have you sitting on your arse twiddling your thumbs for 3 weeks when you start the contract! WTF?

[SueEllen]

Like many others replying here, I too have had this situation arise many times. I've also noticed that many clients really don't seem bothered by my inability to do anything productive during that time.

BUT - The most infuriating part of all of this is that when we apply for these gigs, we're told by both the agent and the client that it's really urgent that the role is filled right now. Can't hang about, must have someone to start RIGHT AWAY! !!

They can't wait 1 or 2 days for you to be able to interview/review contracts etc, it must be done right now, but then they have you sitting on your arse twiddling your thumbs for 3 weeks when you start the contract! WTF?

Actually I find it's the agent who insists the role has to be filled RIGHT NOW.

If the client says the role has to be filled right now (and you aren't direct) you find that it's all to do with ensuring their budget is spent.

[northernladuk]

BUT - The most infuriating part of all of this is that when we apply for these gigs, we're told by both the agent and the client that it's really urgent that the role is filled right now. Can't hang about, must have someone to start RIGHT AWAY! !!

Look at it this way. There is a client->agency->contractor chain. One person in this chain is on commission..... that clear it up?

[Scrag Meister]

I've frequently had what I call £20 dumps..... :-)

You were in there for an hour and a half? :-)

[eek]

You were in there for 3 hours :-)

FTFY