3 month contract?

[Batface]

Hello everyone,

So I'm new to this whole contracting business, and I've just had an offer put on the table for a 3 month contract (no scope for extention). Now I really want to go for it but I'm just wondering if a 3 month contract is a good idea for someone new to contracting? Not from a financial sense but more from a future contract point of view - will having only a three month contract be seen as a negative for future contracts?

Sorry if it seems like a silly questions but at the moment it's one of the only things stopping me from accepting...

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks

[TheFaQQer]

Depends how you sell it going forwards.

If you explain clearly on your CV exactly why the contract ended, and there's a good enough reason why there was no extension, then it shouldn't hold you back.

[northernladuk]

3 months is pretty standard and it is the temporary nature of contracting. Remember they can bin you off at a moments notice as well so your contract is only as long as the time detailed in the contract to kick you out, which can be immediately. Clients have budget cycles that contracts are often linked with and will only offer 3 months a time just because they can't commit any further, not necessarily because the don't want you.

If you are looking for long term security in roles contract is not for you and if you think a 3 month contract will make you look bad I would say you have completely the wrong idea of contracting and need to re-think very quickly. My first two years was spent in 3 to 6 month contracts with time on the bench inbetween. Sounds like you are expecting far too much and not understanding the nature of the work to me.

While reading up on contracting understand the term and the implications of 'Bench time'. Unless you are lucky you are going to spend time out of work. Budget on working only 10 months of the year at best.

[northernladuk]

Read the newbie guides to right as well if you haven't already.