1 Month Notice Period - A problem going from Permanent to Contract

[yasockie]

I've been offered two contract roles starting October, so definitely not asap.
The downside to this by the time you quit, they may change their mind and the roles disappear or the start date is moved - welcome to contracting

[BolshieBastard]

Hi

Ive been a permie for the past 5 years and then a contractor for the past 8 years before.

I want to go back into contracting but I have a notice period of 4 weeks which Ive got to stick
to.

Unfortunately given the nature of many contracts which need a start ASAP, im at a bit of a dead end!

Question is have you found clients out there who are willing to wait the 4 weeks for someone to start?

Also what would you do in my position, sit and wait for client that will wait...
or take the plunge hand your notice in and hope you find somethng quick!

No, in the current market agents only want someone immediate. You'll be extremely fortunate to find any role where the client will now wait 'for the right person.'

As has been suggested, build up your holiday, secure the contract and leave.

[Wobblyheed]

You're a permie.....go on the sick

[SueEllen]

No, in the current market agents only want someone immediate. You'll be extremely fortunate to find any role where the client will now wait 'for the right person.'

As has been suggested, build up your holiday, secure the contract and leave.

The agent says they want someone immediate but it doesn't mean the client does.

Tell the agent you are immediate but find out exactly at interview when the client wants you.

[swamp]

You have two choices:

1. Man up and quit. -- If you can't do this you probably haven't got what it takes to be a contractor.

2. Tell the agent you are available in two weeks. Sign the contract and either get time off work, phone in sick, tell the agent you're going on holiday, whatever. Chances are the new contract won't start on time anyway. -- If you can't do this you probably haven't got what it takes to be a contractor....

[Worzel]

Lot's of gung-ho advice coming through here! Very easy to dish out if you're tucked-up in a cozy 12 monther but perhaps not that relevant to the OP's situation.

If you have a significant war-chest plus skills that are definitely in strong demand then maybe you should consider taking a leap of faith. Otherwise I'd just start applying for a few contracts and see what happens.

One other thing, have you noticed how much easier it is to find work when you already have a job? Don't underestimate unemployment discrimination - it happens to contractors too and some clients might consider it reckless to jack in a permie role in just to get a contract. I agree this is how it used to work though - but times were very different then!

[Kelstar]

Hi

I was recently in your shoes. I was a consultant with a Big4 for 6 years and was getting a lot of interest but my notice period was a problem. May recruiters would just skip my CV because I wasn't immediately available.

I eventually found a 3 month contract and they were willing to wait for me. It took about 3 months and ALOT of phone calls and applications. In the end I negociated my notice period down to 2 weeks. I was shock at how accomodating they were. I clearly stated the date I wished to finish up in my regisnation email and more or less told them thats when I was leaving. I think the language you use is key. Assertive. I guess from their point of view it was better to have someone leave rather than be dead weight and an expense.

My tips would be apply for immediate jobs anyway, in my case they recognised the skills I had and where I could add value in their team. I must have applied for 100 jobs however to get 3 interviews. One job fell through - they were also willing to wait but luckily I hadn't handed my notice in yet. 1 tried to negociate down the rate and the 3rd offer came in at the same time as the 2nd. They offered me more money and better terms so happy days - told 2 polite no thank you and went with 3.

Stay determined. Find a good recruitment consultant via just applying for everything suitable, you never know what they may have coming down the line. My recruiter got me the job, he seem my CV when I applied for something else (which I wasnt suitable for) and eventually got me a job which was unadvertised via a contact within the business they knew so they sold me in.

Hope this makes sense, and good luck!!!

[swamp]

Lot's of gung-ho advice coming through here! Very easy to dish out if you're tucked-up in a cozy 12 monther but perhaps not that relevant to the OP's situation.

OK my solutions may be a bit aggressive, but I do believe you should be prepared to take a cold bath at least once since that is the very nature of contracting. If you start your contracting career (potentially) on the bench, then at least you know what it will be like next time.

In answer to the OP, I have twice had clients wait a month for my previous contract to finish. In both cases I moved from contract to contract. It can be done.