Agencies/clients seem more concerned about travel distance than ever before?

[psychocandy]

Could be for any number of reasons, here are two:

Client wants someone to work longer hours, which if you have a long travel distance / time is not an option.

Client got burnt with someone starting and then leaving after a couple of weeks because they couldn't handle the travel, and so want to only look at local people in future.

Both true. Agreed - if you're 10 mins from home then your not going to too pissed off at an extra hour and be home by 6. If you're not home until 7/8 normally you're not going to be too happy to have this extended another hour too often.

Also, 2nd one. Human nature - if you take up a contract 2 hours away and another one comes up 15 mins away same money what do you do? I know some would say stick with the original but over 3 months its a lot of time travelling.

[GillsMan]

I live in Birmingham and Commute to London, am always in the office between 8.30 and 9 (having already been to the gym on some days), some of my London based colleagues rock in between 9.30 to 10 am including one who lives 2 miles away from the office!

Your tone suggests that you deserve some sort of praise whilst your "colleagues" (sic) deserve some sort of admonishment for "rocking in" between 09:30 and 10:00. Well, they don't and you don't.

What I don't understand is why the hours your “colleagues” keep has anything at all to do with you - or why you even notice it enough to comment on. It doesn’t matter to you, so don’t worry about what time others get in, worry about yourself and your deliverables. At one client recently, I used to leave the office at about 3pm. I’m sure some people thought WTF, but I’d been there since 7am, and due to the lack of distraction between 7-9am, I’d gotten loads done, so was perfectly comfortable leaving. At another client based in London, I used to “rock up” about 10:30am on many days, but I’d stay until 7pm sometimes. Point is, unless you are micro managing your colleagues, you’re unlikely to know their output and routines.

[eek]

For some reason on this forum people can't do that and act as if they're forced to read every post on here.

No. I read most posts on the basis that I might have something to add.

This was a prime example where you made a statement as if its a fact when in reality there are multiple reasons why they may not want you.

Now I know clients may explicitly restrict area but I doubt it occurs that often. More likely its agents with a lot of replies using distance as a criteria for candidate selection on the basis of trying to maximise their profit. Or a polite no thanks reason that people can't argue against.

The issue here is that you took a single statement from an agent as news and fact when in reality its just a random statement from an agent trying to do their job politely..

[DirtyDog]

Could be for any number of reasons, here are two:

Client wants someone to work longer hours, which if you have a long travel distance / time is not an option.

Client got burnt with someone starting and then leaving after a couple of weeks because they couldn't handle the travel, and so want to only look at local people in future.

Assuming this is a genuine reason (rather than just a line to get rid of you), then the first is pretty plausible. The client know that they will be expecting you to work late and / or over the weekends, so want someone they can pressurise to do that rather than someone who has already set the expectation that they won't be available at the drop of a hat but would require advance planning to be available.

[SussexSeagull]

Your tone suggests that you deserve some sort of praise whilst your "colleagues" (sic) deserve some sort of admonishment for "rocking in" between 09:30 and 10:00. Well, they don't and you don't.

What I don't understand is why the hours your “colleagues” keep has anything at all to do with you - or why you even notice it enough to comment on. It doesn’t matter to you, so don’t worry about what time others get in, worry about yourself and your deliverables. At one client recently, I used to leave the office at about 3pm. I’m sure some people thought WTF, but I’d been there since 7am, and due to the lack of distraction between 7-9am, I’d gotten loads done, so was perfectly comfortable leaving. At another client based in London, I used to “rock up” about 10:30am on many days, but I’d stay until 7pm sometimes. Point is, unless you are micro managing your colleagues, you’re unlikely to know their output and routines.

I believe the point he is making is that just because you live near the office you will work longer hours than someone who doesn't.

In my working life I think the 'done thing' has changed from coming in early to staying late for permanent people who want to get on.

[GillsMan]

I believe the point he is making is that just because you live near the office you will work longer hours than someone who doesn't.

Ah, my bad. Thanks for clarifying!

[tarbera]

We have started hiring contractors in London

I believe the point he is making is that just because you live near the office you will work longer hours than someone who doesn't.

In my working life I think the 'done thing' has changed from coming in early to staying late for permanent people who want to get on.

that commute weekly from up north, as they dont need to go home at night and work longer than locals or commute a few hours a day

[psychocandy]

Your tone suggests that you deserve some sort of praise whilst your "colleagues" (sic) deserve some sort of admonishment for "rocking in" between 09:30 and 10:00. Well, they don't and you don't.

What I don't understand is why the hours your “colleagues” keep has anything at all to do with you - or why you even notice it enough to comment on. It doesn’t matter to you, so don’t worry about what time others get in, worry about yourself and your deliverables. At one client recently, I used to leave the office at about 3pm. I’m sure some people thought WTF, but I’d been there since 7am, and due to the lack of distraction between 7-9am, I’d gotten loads done, so was perfectly comfortable leaving. At another client based in London, I used to “rock up” about 10:30am on many days, but I’d stay until 7pm sometimes. Point is, unless you are micro managing your colleagues, you’re unlikely to know their output and routines.

Bit unfair on kal. I think he was just pointing out that travelling distance makes no difference as to what time you can get to site and be available for work. And that just because someones local doesnt mean their going to be there early.

One thing I agree though. Leave early and everyone notices. Come in early and theres no-one there to notice.

[DirtyDog]

One thing I agree though. Leave early and everyone notices. Come in early and theres no-one there to notice.

I used to wind up the stream lead on one project about this. He was always in early, and left early because of the trains.

Without fail, every day as he left at 3.30, I'd say "Thanks for dropping by".

[northernladuk]

I used to wind up the stream lead on one project about this. He was always in early, and left early because of the trains.

Without fail, every day as he left at 3.30, I'd say "Thanks for dropping by".

I was the other way and got it in the neck alot. In around 10 and leave 6.30 or later. Normally greeted by 'Afternoon' and questions as to whether I had wet the bed if I had to come in early for meetings. Mehhhh