Do/Should you always accept extensions?!

[darrenb]

But, unfortunately, for us contractors, it's also about the people. I've worked in one or two places over the years where I've simply turned down extension offers as I couldn't stand the anti-contractor attitude of some (all?) of the management team. Managers who suddenly realise they can't walk all over you because you are a contractor are the prime example of this phenomena.

I have turned down extensions too. I think it's crucial for clients to realize that both sides have a choice. So many want to deny that key fact even when it is staring them in the face. It really is a willful blindness. A company treating its skilled helpers badly is like a boxer punching himself in the head.

Apart from a few times where the job was terrible I have always taken a renewal due to feeling I 'should' to keep myself working rather than because I really want too.

If you want to feel like you're working, why not leave and try working on some open-source projects instead? You would probably have more to show at the end of the day. Much of what happens in an institutional environment is people just going around in circles and cancelling out each other's efforts through politics.

I would never accept a long extension just to make my CV look better. That's like the tail wagging the dog really. After all my time is valuable too. That's why I can sell it in the first place.

[SussexSeagull]

Do you think you can do better elsewhere? Then don't take the extension.

Saying that I have had to make an early exit as I was likely to be up in court on a GBH charge if I stayed so life is rarely that simple!

[Darksider]

It completely depends on the terms and length of extension. I've just declined an 3 month extension to run from the end of my current contract (August) as the terms are pants and it puts me in a bad position to negotiate further down the line.

[bobspud]

I would never accept a long extension just to make my CV look better. That's like the tail wagging the dog really. After all my time is valuable too. That's why I can sell it in the first place.

Thats fine as long as you understand that you are potentially hiding your CV amongst the unemployables.

[darrenb]

Thats fine as long as you understand that you are potentially hiding your CV amongst the unemployables.

You force me to realize that I am completely unemployable!



Fortunately that does not stop clients from making inquiries when they get stuck on something that the employables can't handle.

[GillsMan]

I don't think I could accept an extension that would take me over a year. Even at clients I've enjoyed, I've been more than ready to leave after a year.

I think I'd always accept the extension - even if I wasn't 'happy' at a clientco if there was still work to do and it would be a whole world of pain to get someone else in to do it. Just my professional conscience would prevent me from walking out on even the worst clients in such a scenario. If I knew I wasn't going to renew, I'd let them know as soon as I knew.

[AnonAgent]

Thats fine as long as you understand that you are potentially hiding your CV amongst the unemployables.

Ive had many a client reject a CV based purely on "job hopping". In which case I would need to just get 2 references...lol

[TheFaQQer]

While I enjoy the work and the people, I'll accept an extension.

That means that I've only turned one down once (hated the project, the client, the location and the people) - and then ended up not getting anything else for seven months

Getting tired of the current contract, but if there is an extension on offer next week, I'll take it - working from home on a decent rate, I'd be mad not to.

The fact that I'm pretty lazy about looking also means that I'm more likely to take an extension as well

[TheFaQQer]

Ive had many a client reject a CV based purely on "job hopping". In which case I would need to just get 2 references...lol

The one project on my CV that I get questions about is the four week one I did between gigs. It was one of my best ones, though - come in, fix this list of problems, then go away. Loved it, but agents don't understand this concept of "expert consultancy"

[Emigre]

While I enjoy the work and the people, I'll accept an extension.

That means that I've only turned one down once (hated the project, the client, the location and the people) - and then ended up not getting anything else for seven months

Getting tired of the current contract, but if there is an extension on offer next week, I'll take it - working from home on a decent rate, I'd be mad not to.

The fact that I'm pretty lazy about looking also means that I'm more likely to take an extension as well

WHS - even down to the 7 month bench time that followed.

I was in last contract for nearly 10 years, albeit several different projects. Simply easy to extend on a reasonable rate. Important in long contracts to keep skills refreshed. Have been on bench for last 6 months now