Not extended while other contractor has been

[Ignis Fatuus]

Most client actions are largely random.

Like my current contract: when I turned up, the PM said, "do you have any experience in XXXXX?" "Yes," I said "it's my strongest point".
"Oh good," he replied "because we need that. I knew that one of the guys we were considering had that experience and the other hadn't, but I couldn't remember which we picked".

I then proceeded to work in skill XXXXX for the rest of the contract plus extension.

[northernladuk]

That is mellow for NLUK

Damn straight. You are fighting for new business, not sit there like a permie expecting it to be given on a plate for you. If you didn't get it you were second best, period. I have seen plenty of contractors just surfing a gig and the get binned while other guys stay because of that approach.

[curtis]

I think its easy to say grow some, suck it up etc to people on this forum when they write some posts but a lot of people on here are very experienced and have probably experienced most situations that can happen as a contractor.

I know when I started it was a massive learning curve mentally and did continue for quite a while to think of things in a permanent mindset. I think you do over think things when you first start out and mentally get tougher the more experience you get in time.

I think in this case this is more to do with being anxious about maybe being out of work especially given the time of year more than thinking they were second best or anything like that.

[captainham]

I think in this case this is more to do with being anxious about maybe being out of work especially given the time of year more than thinking they were second best or anything like that.

Ignoring the fact that this is contracting and therefore that's the way it goes sometimes, it also wouldn't hurt the OP to consider that it is because they are second best on this occasion. Cue an analysis of why that might be and how to avoid this next time = a 'better' and more confident contractor for future.

Unrelated but a few just got binned early at my place, and it's no coincidence that they were the ones that did the least work/made the least effort...

[SarahL2012]

You're only ever as good as your last contract!

I'm fairly new to contracting but in my current role I finish the end of Jan when the Project finishes.

I've just found out today that the other contractor who I work with and started the same time as me has been extended for another 3 months for what is basically a few left over pieces from the Project.

I got told the other person was more suited for what was left to do. I'm finding it hard not to take it personally even though I know it really isn't from what they said. I know its mainly from me worrying that I might be out of work now and knowing they are still here working.

I'm used to other contractors leaving the same time or being the only one, anyone else experienced this and do you not really think about it and just move on?

If you've done a good job then see if you can get a recommendation or endorsement on linked-in. If they don't provide then perhaps there are deeper reasons as to why they are keeping the other contractor - the client might think they did a better job than you.

[Notascooby]

OP does come across as a bit of a girl...

Best part of contracting for me is getting out - I leave a big dump in the traps behind me....

FTFY

[Thejacka1]

LOL! And you believed them!?

Do you believe car salesmen or double glazing salesmen when they tell you you won't buy better or cheaper than them?

Oh, the old 'Im being called twice a day's so there must be tuliploads of roles out there as well!

Well the dole queue has loomed 3 out of the last 4 Xmas' due to Dec 31st termination dates, and I know from personal experience that the phone usually goes very quiet after the 1st week in December.

I've already got Perm and contract written offers and I'm referring 5 middleware people for roles that I can't be bothered to follow up.

I'm just reporting back anecdotal evidence on the state of my area of the market (messaging middleware).

BTW Santa's bringing me a Maserati for Xmas

[psychocandy]

Nah. this whole 'must have been because I was better' is all bollacks.

Clients aren't that clever on the whole. You're just a number. If theres a choice of two it'll either be a) random b) cheaper c) arselickier

You're giving clients too much credit expecting them to make sensible decisions.

If you worry why a client let you go and assume its something you did, you're head will explode.

[northernladuk]

Nah. this whole 'must have been because I was better' is all bollacks.

Clients aren't that clever on the whole. You're just a number. If theres a choice of two it'll either be a) random b) cheaper c) arselickier

You're giving clients too much credit expecting them to make sensible decisions.

If you worry why a client let you know and assume its something you did, you're head will explode.

I totally disagree and I think you dim opinion of clients is seriously affecting your judgement.

Everytime I have ever seen a team shaved there has been a tangible reason, normally around attitude or the fact the contractor has managed to carve himself out a little niche area he hasn't passed on or something. Client managers have to justify themselves internally and to the contractor themselves so it is even easier to pick someone based on some evidence.

Don't know why you have this attitude that all clients are idiots but it isn't very clever.

[stek]

Not extended while other contractor has been

I remember getting canned once, four of us out of a team of five, the one kept on was car sharing with the boss from the North East.

Irony is he's still there prolly on cut rates and mine has almost doubled since then, so while ill admit to being slightly miffed at the time, best thing that happened in reality...