Contract ending in Decemeber

[BolshieBastard]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie .NET contractor and my first contract is due to end at the beginning of November. I've just been given the opportunity to extend it a further 4 weeks until the beginning of December. A couple of contractors I work with are discouraging me from accepting the extension as they tell me the job market virtually shuts down in December and finding another contract will be extremely difficult. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience in finding a new contract around this time and if these claims are accurate?

Thanks in advance,
Wilky.

A bird in the hand and all that. They are offerring another 4 weeks when the alternative is nothing. And, they may offer a further extension at the end of the 4 weeks.

My advice is unless you have a concrete offer on the table, do not turn down an extension unless you want to leave.

I'd be very wary of people telling you to turn it down. Perhaps they see one less contractor on site as less competition and the possibility of longer extension for them?

It's dead in December and January but what else have you got in the pipeline? My experience is that it's taking longer and longer to land new contract work despite getting more and more experienced. Maybe it's the high end of the market I don't know. Probably a combination of that and the current market.

Tell them you want more money as it's a short-term contract (i.e less than 3 months).

Marvellous advice. Not!

I dont know where people get this idea that an extension for 4 weeks is worth more money just because the extension isnt 13, 26 weeks or longer!

[Scrag Meister]

As others have said, if you have nothing else concrete lined up, TAKE THE EXTENSION.

[wilky27]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I've taken the extension. Elongated christmas break it is

[lukemg]

WTAS.
Facing this myself, out first week in Dec and I know it will be a struggle to get anything until feb/march next year, renewal this time is very important.