Contracts Being Cut Short By The Client :-(

[rocktronAMP]

Hello

I have a questions about contracts being cut short by the client. This happened to me, actually. The first time ever: a 6 month contract has now just turned in 3.75 months. Does this happen a lot?

The main reason they gave me was for commercial reasons and not at all to do with work, performance or quality issues. Essentially, they successfully hired and found permanent staff in the last 3 months for the team I am currently in. When I started in January, it was just me and three other permanent developers and a shed load of work to do.

Also this client is in the advertisement digital creative sector and does a lot of fixed rate business with other large companies.

In previous contracts from four years ago, which was in the lovely world of finance, I had 3, 6 or 12 month contracts. I not heard myself of a contract being cut short. Rates being cut by 10% every year or the contract not being renewed at the end of the term. I have never heard of them being stopped by the client mid-flow apart from quality reasons.

I suppose this is the "nature of the beast", however I would like to know about experiences in this situation. What are your thoughts? Is this happening more frequently? Is it specific to an industry or industries (e.g. digital media companies or gaming)?

Actually, I quite like where I am contracting now and additionally if you have some advice for leaving on good (or great) terms that would be very gracious. Thanks and I will work my CV post it to Monster, etc again.

[malvolio]

Which bit of "Temporary expert resource" haven't you quite worked out yet? Or "Recession"...?

Times are tight, companies are being very careful with expenditure and still cling to the fond belief that a permie is cheaper than a contractor. One day they'll work it out. until they do, early finishes and non-renwewals will become more commonplace.

[jmo21]

It happens.

That being said, it's never happened to me and I'd probably be a bit surprised and annoyed, so I can see why you've asked the question.

Onwards and upwards!

[northernladuk]

This is why companies take on contractors and not permies. Unfortunate and not uncommon.

[cojak]

Contracts Being Cut Short By The Client :-(

Actually, I quite like where I am contracting now and additionally if you have some advice for leaving on good (or great) terms that would be very gracious. Thanks and I will work my CV post it to Monster, etc again.

Show a positive, good attitude until you leave, and do a really good handover before you go.

You might find that they'll ask you back when they have the budget.

[nomadd]

I have a questions about contracts being cut short by the client. This happened to me, actually. The first time ever: a 6 month contract has now just turned in 3.75 months. Does this happen a lot?

In 25 years of contracting, I never, ever had it happen to me. And then it did at my last gig.: 6 month'er ended up being 4.

Client's reasons were that the project was coming towards completion (it was) and they didn't have any new projects coming through (they didn't) and they'd recently recruited a permie for what little work was still around (which was true.) I accepted their explanation gracefully and spent my notice period doing a proper handover which they were perfectly happy with. Agent was surprised by the early chop too, as he said the feedback he'd got from the client over me was terrific. Whatever, my timesheets were signed and the invoices paid.

As other posters have said, it's just part-n-parcel of contracting these days. Chin up. Take a nice holiday. Move on.

And do as I do: think how much worse things would be if you were a permie.

[bless 'em all]

Show a positive, good attitude until you leave, and do a really good handover before you go.

You might find that they'll ask you back when they have the budget.

WCS. I did exactly that when given notice on the first day of a 3 month extension. Client had found a permie to replace me.

I was the first contractor they called when they needed to ramp up for some major projects.

[rocktronAMP]

Sage! Thanks for all the advice. As I figured: the nature of the beast, it is.

In 25 years of contracting, I never, ever had it happen to me. And then it did at my last gig.: 6 month'er ended up being 4.

Client's reasons were that the project was coming towards completion (it was) and they didn't have any new projects coming through (they didn't) and they'd recently recruited a permie for what little work was still around (which was true.) I accepted their explanation gracefully and spent my notice period doing a proper handover which they were perfectly happy with. Agent was surprised by the early chop too, as he said the feedback he'd got from the client over me was terrific. Whatever, my timesheets were signed and the invoices paid.

As other posters have said, it's just part-n-parcel of contracting these days. Chin up. Take a nice holiday. Move on.

And do as I do: think how much worse things would be if you were a permie.

[BlasterBates]

The market is cr*p at the moment, doesn´t surprise me. Part of the trend, bank I was working at wasn´t offering anything other than 3 month contracts, with PM´s needing good reasons to justify any extensions,

[SussexSeagull]

I think some clients just give out relatively long contracts with a view to serving notice when the work dries up.

Makes a lot of sense from their point of view, if not exactly Cricket.