Would you do a crap contract short-term if needs be?

[psychocandy]

On the bright side you get to spend more time with the Mrs and nipper

This is true Spartie and its been nice to do this at least. BUT, I feel the need to be out there earning again now.

[psychocandy]

Did you widen the scope of your search for roles? If and when I am next benched I will start off looking for local roles only (e.g. first 2-3 weeks). Then I will go out a bit further to places only just commutable with maybe 2-3 nights away from home (next 2-3 weeks) after that it will be anywhere in the UK and finally even start looking abroad.

Yeh. As discussed before, I'm sortta stuck with local roles at the mo due to personal sitaution.

[Old Greg]

Don't take this contract, we will regret it, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of our lives.

FTFY

[psychocandy]

Don't take this contract, you will regret it, probably on the first day.
It can feel like you will never get back in but it only takes one phone call and you can be sorted the following week.
Get motivated again, update CV's on the job boards, change your linked in status, attach to a few more people if you can, not asking for work, just raising profile.
Keep busy, dont obsess over the boards, get out and about.
Hold your nerve, if you have skills and a decent track record, you should be ok. Be honest with yourself and focus on positive things you have done.

This is true but taking this role doesn't preclude from these other things also. Its a month rolling with one week notice. (The client/agency has got a days notice!)

Might be a bummer if I get something better sorted on 1st day (Then I guess I'd have business decisions to make). But, as everyone keeps saying we're running a business - no reason why I can;t be unavailable for a day to attend interview somewhere else.

And we won;t start the giving notice argument here again! :-)

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Yeh. As discussed before, I'm sortta stuck with local roles at the mo due to personal sitaution.

That's your main problem then. If you are stuck with local then perm/crap contract can be the only options during these quiet times.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

This is true but taking this role doesn't preclude from these other things also. Its a month rolling with one week notice. (The client/agency has got a days notice!)

Might be a bummer if I get something better sorted on 1st day (Then I guess I'd have business decisions to make). But, as everyone keeps saying we're running a business - no reason why I can;t be unavailable for a day to attend interview somewhere else.

And we won;t start the giving notice argument here again! :-)

I think the peanut contracts are exempt from the general rule of not leaving a contract early (where's NLUK to bash me again).

[psychocandy]

That's your main problem then. If you are stuck with local then perm/crap contract can be the only options during these quiet times.

Yep :-(

[The Spartan]

South Wales is not known to be a hot bed for contract testing work

[psychocandy]

I think the peanut contracts are exempt from the general rule of not leaving a contract early (where's NLUK to bash me again).

Again, yep IMHO. To be fair, I think the client in this case knows the score (I don't see how they could not) but is just happy to have someone at all.

Like I said, rate is awful and they wanted a few people with SC. Not the easiest thing to get.

[psychocandy]

South Wales is not known to be a hot bed for contract testing work

Its not a hot bed for any work is it? :-)