Single day contracts ?

[mudskipper]

I've done a couple of short gigs -shortest was 3 days. I did get some repeat business (just another short stint) a year later. Entirely possible that there will be more work going forward. Not via an agency though, and didn't do formal 'contract' stuff, just an email outlining the engagement.

[GB9]

I've done 3 weeks that turned into 13 months. If you have nothing better to do and have got bored of w******* all day then go do it.

As for CV, nothing under 3 weeks appears on my CV.

[curtis]

I have done several short gigs (under 3 months) I actually quite like them for a change mixed in but then I don't really like very long contracts as I do get bored /fed up very quickly and like the variety.

If I'm not working I would never turn down a gig if it was a day/week/month, work is work for me and a weeks work is a weeks money in the bank if I reject it on that basis I may then still be out of work for a week when I'd rather have the money in the bank.

I've had a 1 week contract turn into 3 months and a 2 monther turn into 9 so you just never know either.

[TheFaQQer]

Same reason I wont accept anything under 3 months. Stupid agents always but always ask 'why did you leave early?' on anything between 4 - 10 weeks. So you try and explain it was a short contract and their next question is 'Well why didnt they extend you? Were you not very good?'!

Market it better My short-term roles are described as "troubleshooter" on the CV, and clearly explain that I was brought in on a short-term basis to fix a number of specific issues. If I discuss it with an agent, I tell them that they were the best gigs - knew from the start exactly what was wrong, no incentive to drag it out, fixed the problem quickly and left a happy client behind me.

[Scrag Meister]

I did a code review for 5 days in Switzerland, with a LARGE pharma last August, nearly doubled my London rate to take care of expenses.

Took the week off from main London Banking contract, really enjoyed the change.

Was paid promptly, manager of the company I worked through was quite pleasant.

[d000hg]

I see no reason not to do a 1-day contract as long as the expectations are realistic... going in for a very specific task.

However I wouldn't do it for a low rate. I'd expect my top rate for what is essentially consultancy.

[darmstadt]

I quite often do 1-5 day contracts and they've all paid off with return work. I do make sure that expenses are also included though. As for the CV, I never put down dates that I've worked a contract, just the months so if I did a 1 dayer then that would show up in my CV as something like March 2012 (it helps as I run multiple contracts at a time and none tend to be full working week ones.)

[unixman]

Sounds like "do it!" is the consensus. Good advice from all appreciated. Unfortunately the rate is low and no expenses! Success is uncertain, especially in one day and the client hasn't answered all questions so far. Guess I will set their expectations and do it, just to get some good will.

Agent is chasing regularly. I wonder why ? They can't be making much out of it.

[BlasterBates]

Agent is chasing regularly. I wonder why ? They can't be making much out of it.

No I doubt they´ll make anything, admin overheads would be way over the top they probably just want to make a good impression on the client.

[evilagent]

Small agency I had worked with before, about 5 years ago.
A 2-day job, covering a previous contractors bugs!
Paid promptly.
Was local, so no big deal.
Since it was a specific task, no real opportunity to broaden the brief.

Very rare, these 1-2 dayers.