Reducing notice period for move from perm to contract

[Scrag Meister]

If you don't ask you never know!

However you'll be burning a bridge if you ever have a change of heart and decide to stay there.

WAMS

See if negotiation is possible. Probably depends on your position and knowledge in your current project.

[Wils]

Thanks all.

I think getting the contract first might be a good option. I don't quite have enough leave to reduce my notice to two weeks, so that may make that strategy a tad difficult.

At the moment I am quite important to them and they have stated it would be a problem if I left before the part of the project I am working on is complete. That is likely to change in early October when this work finishes, and may even reverse as the culture of the team is changing and I am likely to find myself more isolated by October. So my thinking was to announce my intention to leave while I am still important and offer to delay it until October (at the earliest - who know how long it will take to get a contract) in return for a shorter notice period.

But from your responses it looks like I should only try to negotiate once I have a firm offer.

[northernladuk]

If you are serious about contracting just leave now. You are putting mountains in the way of getting a gig. You have to find a gig that will wait a couple of weeks which isn't common in my experience, particularly with it being your first contract from perm. You have to hope the gig doesn't disappear in that time. You then have to hope your employer lets you go early. All this in a depressed market.

[doomage]

(- who knows how long it will take to get a contract)

Here's the thing. How are your savings? How long can you survive without income?

Are you able to gauge how many suitable contracts are available and how confident are you that you will get them? Contracting is a business in many respects, part of successful business ownership is the ability to forecast, to measure and take risks. You should plan to hand in your notice with full intention of working to the end, and in the last couple of weeks actively start chasing contracts. Most contracts want you to start immediately (within 1 week), so unless you are able to walk from your current employer immediately then you run the risk of being without a job and without a contract.

I've known many permanent employees who wanted to go contracting but couldn't plan their exit. This concept of 'reducing notice period' implies uncertainty, which is bad for your business. Hand your notice in now. If that scares you, then good.

If you can't hand it in right now, then you are not ready yet, simple as that. Unless you like to live on the edge, in which case, JFDI.

Good luck.

[kingcook]

At the moment I am quite important to them and they have stated it would be a problem if I left before the part of the project I am working on is complete. That is likely to change in early October when this work finishes, and may even reverse as the culture of the team is changing and I am likely to find myself more isolated by October. So my thinking was to announce my intention to leave while I am still important and offer to delay it until October (at the earliest - who know how long it will take to get a contract) in return for a shorter notice period.

Waiting until the current project you're working on is complete would be wise. Leaving a project half way through would look bad on any possible references.

[Wils]

Here's the thing. How are your savings? How long can you survive without income?

...If that scares you, then good.

Good luck.

After first contract I would be in a reasonable position and not scared at all. But my current level of savings is not good enough considering the wife and kids to support. So I need to minimise risk on the first step, that's all. Contracting is definitely for me other than that.

[kingcook]

After first contract I would be in a reasonable position and not scared at all. But my current level of savings is not good enough considering the wife and kids to support. So I need to minimise risk on the first step, that's all. Contracting is definitely for me other than that.

Here's a thought... what happens if you don't manage to secure a contract within 6 months of leaving your permie job?