holidays booked but received new contract offer, what to do ?

[psychocandy]

Well, my own opinion ...

You can always go for a holiday anytime you want . But you cant always get a brilliant contract any time you want

Hmmm. Debatable.... Work to live not live to work and all that.....

[BolshieBastard]

Did you not think to mention the holiday when you interviewed?

This. Im surprised if neither the agent nor client asked directly anyway.

[vadhert]

I had a similar experience when going for my current contract.

Last one finished in December 2012 so I I booked a couple of Ski trips for Jan and Feb.

Interview came along, Got the gig and they wanted me to start on 7th Jan. It was at this point I mentioned to them that I was away on the 14th for 5 days and again 3 weeks later.

It was down to them ultimately, I was prepared to walk but they were happy to let me have the time off.

It depends what the client is like at the end of the day. Be prepared to walk if you want to keep your holiday.

[Brussels Slumdog]

Never book holidays ahead as a contractor

Hi folks,

I have received an offer which is decent enough to let me consider it.
New project, new sector and new skills but the rate maybe lower.
I'm currently earning 450€ but I would accept 370€ for acquiring new lucrative skills being the new project in the banking industry.

The current boring contract is due to end May 15 and I have an unusual 1 month notice, which I am sure that the current company will not negotiate. However, I have heard possible renewals but so far, nothing written.

The problem is that I have my final BSc exam May 20 (distance learning), and holidays already booked and payed for end of June, and the new contract wants me ASAP.

I need the advise of senior contractors. What will you do ?

Thank you for your answers.

Booking a holiday months ahead as a contractor is pure madness. I always book a last minute holiday two weeks before my contract ends or during a contract otherwise you end up in your situation

[zerointeractive]

Booking a holiday months ahead as a contractor is pure madness.

IMHO that's not exactly true: if you know that you will be renewed, booking holidays months ahead it's the cheapest solution you can have, you save money that you won't earn when you take your days off.
If you are sure your contract is not going to be renewed, then I agree with you.

[TheFaQQer]

Booking a holiday months ahead as a contractor is pure madness. I always book a last minute holiday two weeks before my contract ends or during a contract otherwise you end up in your situation

Depends on where you are going, how you are getting there, and how limited that is. For example, if you are cashing in frequent flyer miles (as I did two years ago), you typically have to book some way in advance if you are looking at popular routes - we still had to be flexible for our Manchester to Atlanta; Denver to Manchester flights and ended up booking 300 days in advance to get some.

I like to know where I'm going and when - if the client can't deal with that, then it wasn't meant to be.

This year is my least organised one - we've only booked the summer so far, whereas most years Christmas is normally sorted by now, and so would October be.

[psychocandy]

Its the million dollar question as to when to tell client you won't be available....
If you tell them at interview, it might put them off. Unless they ask I don't bring the subject up.

I usually get the agent to inform client before I sign contract. That way theres no misunderstanding. Although usually find that the agent is not so keen to tell them - they get scared that client is going to back out.

I try not to book holidays during prime times (august etc) anyway because this causes problems sometimes. But I would be a bit perturbed if I signed a 6 month contract today and then client objected to me taking two weeks off in september or something.

Wouldn't give me a good feeling about the clients general attitude to contractors. What I don't want is a client who thinks they can tell contractors when to come and go, or ones who think that a 6 month contract equals being there each and every day of that time.