Would this be poor form?

[Bunk]

Agree with what most people have said about reputation mattering. I'm sure you can get by ok with bad rep but it's a hell of a lot easier with a good rep. I haven't had an interview for about 3 years because I've been asked back by previous clients. It just makes more sense to leave a trail of satisfied clients in your wake rather than burned bridges in the pursuit of a few extra quid a day for a short period of time.

[cojak]

Exceptions that prove the rule

When ‘thinking like a business’ means offsetting short-term gain for long-term reputation, you also need to consider when to think like a business for long-term gain against short-term reputation.

My view is that you have 2 stakeholders to consider, the client and the contract PM for whom you are working. Both could ask you to work for them again if they see that you are 1) good and 2) reliable.

However you need to ask the same questions as well.

In the past I’ve had a client who was solid and dependable but had a consultancy in to run a project (I worked through an agency for the client).

The PM for the consultancy started pushing me less than halfway through the 6 month contract to tell them if I would accept an extension if offered ‘for resource planning purposes’ as the contract was expected to last a little longer (4 – 8 weeks) than the length of my contract.

I guessed that had I said no the consultancy would have recommended dumping me immediately for someone (they had recommended no doubt) who would have stayed the extra weeks.

As I decided that they were not reliable (and therefore I wouldn’t consider working for them again), I told them that I would accept the contract. The consultancy was not the client and I had no contract with them (verbal or otherwise).

When the time came to extend I simply told them that my circumstances had changed and that I had to regretfully decline. The consultancy was fuming but the client was happy because I had completed 98% of the work and they were keen to get rid of the consultancy.

[lukemg]

At one time I would have said NO WAY, suck it up, this is out of order and puts clients off contractors as well as potentially tripping you up later.
BUT, I have walked off one after a week, the other offer was just too good to miss (175/day more, an hour closer, dept head level).
Caused me sleepless nights but not as many as when I turned one down out of loyalty to existing client at renewal time, then got binned 3 months later with 8hrs notice (after being told I was fine) AND they asked me to stay late to complete handover !!
One I turned down was a solid 9 monther and I was out of work for 4 months.
SO - Not to be done lightly, dont presume the other one is better but in extreme circumstances I can just about condone walking.

[psychocandy]

At one time I would have said NO WAY, suck it up, this is out of order and puts clients off contractors as well as potentially tripping you up later.
BUT, I have walked off one after a week, the other offer was just too good to miss (175/day more, an hour closer, dept head level).
Caused me sleepless nights but not as many as when I turned one down out of loyalty to existing client at renewal time, then got binned 3 months later with 8hrs notice (after being told I was fine) AND they asked me to stay late to complete handover !!
One I turned down was a solid 9 monther and I was out of work for 4 months.
SO - Not to be done lightly, dont presume the other one is better but in extreme circumstances I can just about condone walking.

Exactly. Clients NEVER have a problem with binning you if it suits them so I fail to see the difference.

[northernladuk]

Exactly. Clients NEVER have a problem with binning you if it suits them so I fail to see the difference.

Even after three pages of most people saying generally the same on a three page thread. Speaks volumes.

[psychocandy]

Now here's spooky... A real life dilema for myself.

Agree with what everyone says about not ditching etc TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. But, even the most staunch supporters of this - would you really stay in these circumstances?

- Existing contract until end Aug. Definitely end August without doubt. Good technology, good rate, decent place to work but 65 miles from home. Shift work etc. Contract allows one week notice period.

- Contract comes up. Literally 10 mins from home. 1 year contract. Rate not quite as good but ok.

Would anyone seriously knock back 1 year contract like this? You might feel bad for a while, but if you didn't take it you may feel good about yourself and then have 10 months on the bench thinking of how good you are.

OK. Agency would not be happy. But they'd get over it. And there are 100s of agencies out there.

Client would be well unpleased undoubtedly. Not ideal of course. Bridges would be burnt here. Chances of me ever wanting to come back - slim.

Quite sure some of you like NLUK will disagree here and its all well and good to spout off on a forum about being professional and not giving contractors a bad name, but I think most of us would take the option that suited us here.

Even looking at it from a business level, 6 weeks of work, compared to 1 year of work. Surely must be worth burning some bridges for this (of course, notwithstanding it lasts 1 year!)

[stek]

Contract is only as long as the day you've just completed..

[TheFaQQer]

Now here's spooky... A real life dilema for myself.

Agree with what everyone says about not ditching etc TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. But, even the most staunch supporters of this - would you really stay in these circumstances?

- Existing contract until end Aug. Definitely end August without doubt. Good technology, good rate, decent place to work but 65 miles from home. Shift work etc. Contract allows one week notice period.

- Contract comes up. Literally 10 mins from home. 1 year contract. Rate not quite as good but ok.

Would anyone seriously knock back 1 year contract like this? You might feel bad for a while, but if you didn't take it you may feel good about yourself and then have 10 months on the bench thinking of how good you are.

OK. Agency would not be happy. But they'd get over it. And there are 100s of agencies out there.

Client would be well unpleased undoubtedly. Not ideal of course. Bridges would be burnt here. Chances of me ever wanting to come back - slim.

Quite sure some of you like NLUK will disagree here and its all well and good to spout off on a forum about being professional and not giving contractors a bad name, but I think most of us would take the option that suited us here.

Even looking at it from a business level, 6 weeks of work, compared to 1 year of work. Surely must be worth burning some bridges for this (of course, notwithstanding it lasts 1 year!)

If past performance is anything to go by, the new role will be awful. You will spend the whole year moaning about how awful the client are, hating every minute. To be precise, you will spend the whole year on here moaning about how awful the client are, asking whether anyone else in the same position would jump to anything else.

It would be unfortunate to jump to something else and then find that it gets terminated early, though. Even worse if it gets terminated before you even start.

Karma can be a real bitch when it wants to be.

-----

That all said, given that you have a baby at home, I'd take it and hope that:

1. The role doesn't die early / before you start
2. The role isn't awful
3. You manage to get some brownie points from staying near home
4. You never need anything from the previous client / anyone who works with or for the previous client
5. You don't regret jumping
6. We don't regret you jumping

[psychocandy]

Contract is only as long as the day you've just completed..

True of course. But you cant worry too much about that.

[psychocandy]

If past performance is anything to go by, the new role will be awful. You will spend the whole year moaning about how awful the client are, hating every minute. To be precise, you will spend the whole year on here moaning about how awful the client are, asking whether anyone else in the same position would jump to anything else.

It would be unfortunate to jump to something else and then find that it gets terminated early, though. Even worse if it gets terminated before you even start.

Karma can be a real bitch when it wants to be.

-----

That all said, given that you have a baby at home, I'd take it and hope that:

1. The role doesn't die early / before you start
2. The role isn't awful
3. You manage to get some brownie points from staying near home
4. You never need anything from the previous client / anyone who works with or for the previous client
5. You don't regret jumping
6. We don't regret you jumping

You know me. I like moaning. :-)

Yes it could all go wrong as you say. Thats a chance of course. But then so could current gig. But I agree.
Bottom line then is we're looking at PROBABLY 6 weeks where I am or PROBABLY one year with the other one.
Either one could not pan out as expected.