Whats your longest period on bench?

[bluedrop]

OMG! You guys on CUK are awesome!

First time on bench and first time out of work in 8yrs (been contracting for 10 months now), I was close to anxiety attack! Last 2 weeks, I spent most of the day on jobserve. Bugging agents (that put my CV forward) for feedback! Looks like I need to smile and accept this as a very likely part of my life. Thanks again guys you ROCK!

please keep responses coming. I am sure many many newbies like me will LOVE this thread!

[JoJoGabor]

OMG! You guys on CUK are awesome!

First time on bench and first time out of work in 8yrs (been contracting for 10 months now), I was close to anxiety attack! Last 2 weeks, I spent most of the day on jobserve. Bugging agents (that put my CV forward) for feedback! Looks like I need to smile and accept this as a very likely part of my life. Thanks again guys you ROCK!

please keep responses coming. I am sure many many newbies like me will LOVE this thread!

I can't help but read that with an American accent. Are you american?

[quackhandle]

In ten years have had three bench periods, the longest being seven months (2009), wife also got made redundant so not a good time, but you do learn alot about yourself. Did up the house and tried to keep busy. Walked the dog a lot. Always felt I should have done more though; I have a half finished novel and screen play in the loft! Cut back on many things, warchest took a serious hammering but with hindsight shouldn't have paid 3K to have house painted inside and out, but was already booked in. All bench periods due to credit crunch/contract not renewed. Current gig ends this friday.

qh

[Clippy]

There are may new contractors like me here, there are many seasoned contractors too. Can I please ask each of you to share your experiences while on bench?

1. What was your longest period on bench and when was this?
2. WHat did you do on bench?
3. How did you keep your spirits up?
4. How did you land on bench? Contract terminated/ end of contract/ last minute ditch or anything else?

The idea behind starting this thread is to give newbie contractors like me a feel of how contractors manage work, bench etc...it is to give hope, encouragement and motivation to keep trying !

Thanks,
Bluedrop

FTFY - Gives the question and answer some context.

[northernladuk]

Unfortuanately you are not getting the feedback from the guys that have suffered though. Not nice or what you want to hear I guess but if you after the reality then you need it. The guy the other day that has been out over a year (which is a bit weird) other people that have had to sell cars, eaten warchest up, 6 months + on the bench.

Cheerful type aint I... but its reality.

[nomadd]

Dear all,
I am approaching 'bench' in less than 10 days...

1. What was your longest period on bench? 7 months (in 2009). Didn't bother me too much, as I've taken at least six, 6 month breaks in my contracting career.
2. WHat did you do on bench? Holiday. Decorate. Garden. Lots of exercise and fresh air. Oh, and re-skill.
3. How did you keep your spirits up? By alternating week-by-week through the items listed above. Never do one thing for too long.
4. How did you land on bench? Contract terminated/ end of contract/ last minute ditch or anything else? Me and all the other contractors were "let go." Hey, that's life.

[northernladuk]

How come I am the only one that gets a huge list of tasks from 'The Boss' to carry out while I am on the bench then??? Or was I just daft enough to admit it??... or does it just go without saying

[SimonMac]

1. What was your longest period on bench?
2. WHat did you do on bench?
3. How did you keep your spirits up?
4. How did you land on bench? Contract terminated/ end of contract/ last minute ditch or anything else?

1) Been benched since 29th July
2) Had the kids up for the first few weeks of the summer holidays but now they are back at school
3) Erm, this I could do with some help with lol
4) Contract was terminated early

[bobspud]

I spent November 08 until April 09 sat on my backside, because I did a permie a favour and stayed and extra month rather than taking my next job at the end of September. I Did the usual stuff walking dogs, DIY and lots of Jobserve hunting. I had a few Holidays in the beginning as well because I hadn't noticed that our economy had hit the bricks hard.

But I had never had a day on the bench up until that point.

[tarbera]

Different world from a year ago.

OMG! You guys on CUK are awesome!

First time on bench and first time out of work in 8yrs (been contracting for 10 months now), I was close to anxiety attack! Last 2 weeks, I spent most of the day on jobserve. Bugging agents (that put my CV forward) for feedback! Looks like I need to smile and accept this as a very likely part of my life. Thanks again guys you ROCK!

please keep responses coming. I am sure many many newbies like me will LOVE this thread!

The storm is coming, the market is nothing like it was 10 months ago, your CV is now against 100 people where it might have been <5 a year ago, 10% rate cuts from all the banks are biting, Freeze on all recuritment at 2 of the big players + contractor Kulls have started, come January your CV will be up against 500+ for each job!! - happens every 10 years or so


It's not all good times