Do you ever feel like you are doing enough?

[robin]

When I'm there coming to an end of a contract or even worse if I'm on the bench I just never feel happy that I am doing enough to sort myself out with my next contract even though I know I am.

I just wanted to know really if anyone else feels this way or is it just me!

Like now I have a weeks notice in my current job and ending soon in 6 weeks, I feel, as I am lucky to have a weeks notice I should be using it to my advantage to find another job even it it means leaving a week or 2 early if I had to but then I feel bad if I had to leave the client early as I do like to think I complete every contract if I can but then feel bad as I know I should be doing what I need to do to keep me in work!!

[Scoobos]

I think it's a sign of being driven, and also of being a contractor.

You don't need to work every given week, and given that we are in the toughest market I've seen in my few years - I'd start going easy on yourself, or you'll end up driving yourself crazy with self criticism.

Personally, I agree, I have only ever once cut a contract short and only because I had 1 month to go and the new gig was offering double the daily.

[BolshieBastard]

When I'm there coming to an end of a contract or even worse if I'm on the bench I just never feel happy that I am doing enough to sort myself out with my next contract even though I know I am.

I just wanted to know really if anyone else feels this way or is it just me!

Like now I have a weeks notice in my current job and ending soon in 6 weeks, I feel, as I am lucky to have a weeks notice I should be using it to my advantage to find another job even it it means leaving a week or 2 early if I had to but then I feel bad if I had to leave the client early as I do like to think I complete every contract if I can but then feel bad as I know I should be doing what I need to do to keep me in work!!

Nope. Can honestly say I never have these self doubts about myself.

[nomadd]

When I'm there coming to an end of a contract or even worse if I'm on the bench I just never feel happy that I am doing enough to sort myself out with my next contract even though I know I am.

I just wanted to know really if anyone else feels this way or is it just me!

I've long since given up caring, TBH. These days, roles seem to be gained as much on luck and/or timing than anything more concrete. And so many roles out there are paying such poor rates, I just wouldn't ever bother doing them (I'd throw in the towel and retire early.)

Don't get me wrong, whilst I'm on a job I always look to keep up with stuff - with the Internet that's easy these days. And I always look at opportunities to enhance my skillset as much as I can. But once I leave the office, I simply switch off. No burning the midnight oil reading techie books or studying for certifications. Left all that behind long ago.

Don't sweat it. Something will turn up, eventually, it always does.

[oscarose]

When I'm there coming to an end of a contract or even worse if I'm on the bench I just never feel happy that I am doing enough to sort myself out with my next contract even though I know I am.

I just wanted to know really if anyone else feels this way or is it just me!

Like now I have a weeks notice in my current job and ending soon in 6 weeks, I feel, as I am lucky to have a weeks notice I should be using it to my advantage to find another job even it it means leaving a week or 2 early if I had to but then I feel bad if I had to leave the client early as I do like to think I complete every contract if I can but then feel bad as I know I should be doing what I need to do to keep me in work!!

In my early days of contracting I used to feel like this but over time this has diminished. As already mentioned in the thread it mainly comes down to the timing of when new roles become live.

LinkedIn has beared fruit and having job alerts set-up from all the main job boards means there is little proactive work to be done.

[robin]

These days, roles seem to be gained as much on luck and/or timing than anything more concrete.

I am starting to realise this to be honest the more I contract. I suppose when the right job happens it happens, a company won't advertise a job sooner if I start looking sooner or later if I start looking later.

Another thing I am realising is how much of it is out of my control which is probably why I feel I'm not doing enough. Other than doing all I can do looking for a job (which is only so much in a day)then it will happen when it happens as I can't magic jobs to appear and can't hypnotise people to take me on if I get an interview!

[nomadd]

I am starting to realise this to be honest the more I contract. I suppose when the right job happens it happens, a company won't advertise a job sooner if I start looking sooner or later if I start looking later.

Another thing I am realising is how much of it is out of my control which is probably why I feel I'm not doing enough. Other than doing all I can do looking for a job (which is only so much in a day)then it will happen when it happens as I can't magic jobs to appear and can't hypnotise people to take me on if I get an interview!

Yep, that's about the gist of contracting these days.

Still, always worth having a good flick around Jobserve to see what skills and sub-skills/tools are popular in your chosen area. I do that and then have a "play around" on-the-side at work. Funny thing is how many great pieces of software you can find this way, and a short recommendation to the client gets you that new skill on your cv as you end up using it on the job. Did this just last week with some of the Google tools.

Every little helps.

[darrenb]

I've long since given up caring, TBH. These days, roles seem to be gained as much on luck and/or timing than anything more concrete. And so many roles out there are paying such poor rates, I just wouldn't ever bother doing them (I'd throw in the towel and retire early.)

Don't get me wrong, whilst I'm on a job I always look to keep up with stuff - with the Internet that's easy these days. And I always look at opportunities to enhance my skillset as much as I can. But once I leave the office, I simply switch off. No burning the midnight oil reading techie books or studying for certifications. Left all that behind long ago.

Don't sweat it. Something will turn up, eventually, it always does.

Amen to all of that.

[The Spartan]

I have 3 weeks left and I'm looking to leave earlier, my end date was brought forward by a month and now it looks like if I play my cards right I could be off to Zurich not sure what that will be like but I like the sound of it

[darrenb]

I've long since given up caring, TBH. These days, roles seem to be gained as much on luck and/or timing than anything more concrete. And so many roles out there are paying such poor rates, I just wouldn't ever bother doing them (I'd throw in the towel and retire early.)

Don't get me wrong, whilst I'm on a job I always look to keep up with stuff - with the Internet that's easy these days. And I always look at opportunities to enhance my skillset as much as I can. But once I leave the office, I simply switch off. No burning the midnight oil reading techie books or studying for certifications. Left all that behind long ago.

On reflection, I think the problem is that in a tightly controlled market, the opportunities for self-advancement diminish. So you just stop caring so much. This is part of what ended the Soviet Union. People couldn't see how they could be rewarded by doing well.

I'm not saying we have it as bad as them, but certainly as you advance in experience, your youthful idealism evaporates.