Working without a contract

[BlasterBates]

And we're all happy about that.
I also got my contract in paper, even better.

Now let's say that I have the contract extension in paper but I still have to sign it and return it to the agency. And another gig comes up. Would I have to give the notice period mentioned in the contract, even if such contract has not been signed? Basically is me going to work a way to say "Yes, dear agency/client, I accept and commit to the contract"

If you agreed to it verbally yes you're commited to the contract, obviously you can claim there was a misunderstanding but it is highly unprofessional.

I treat contracts as signed when I ring up the agent and agree to the contract.

No-one will do anything if you do jump ship, but you've burnt your bridges with the client if you do that, particularly if the other candidates have moved on and they have to restart the recruitment process.

No-one would keep you to your notice period there's no point, they'll just "hate you"

[MojoDog]

If you agreed to it verbally yes you're commited to the contract, obviously you can claim there was a misunderstanding but it is highly unprofessional.

I treat contracts as signed when I ring up the agent and agree to the contract.

No-one will do anything if you do jump ship, but you've burnt your bridges with the client if you do that, particularly if the other candidates have moved on and they have to restart the recruitment process.

No-one would keep you to your notice period there's no point, they'll just "hate you"

I had occasion to do this a couple of weeks ago. Was planning to exercise the 4-week notice period in my current contract to move to a better-paying gig a little closer to home (for reasons that I will neither discuss nor defend on here).

Anyway the contract was sent to me but on the same day I got a call from another agent telling me that a role was due to appear at a client 1/2 an hour from my home and that only a couple of candidates were in the frame.

This was the gig I was hoping for but I didn't want to jump ship twice within a short period so I contacted the first agent and explained my situation and that I wouldn't be taking the role.

His response was that he was very disappointed and asked me to put myself in his shoes and how he would feel having to face the client after "bigging me up" (his words). I said I was just trying to be straight with him and asked him how he would feel if I'd taken the gig and then bailed out again. He grudgingly conceded that point

I've spoken with him since and he said he understood where I was coming from so we're all pals again

I guess the short version of all that is that it depends upon with your relationship with the agent and how you play it.

[psychocandy]

Like that. Agents trying to make you feel sorry for them. Never going to happen for me.

[BlasterBates]

I had occasion to do this a couple of weeks ago. Was planning to exercise the 4-week notice period in my current contract to move to a better-paying gig a little closer to home (for reasons that I will neither discuss nor defend on here).

Anyway the contract was sent to me but on the same day I got a call from another agent telling me that a role was due to appear at a client 1/2 an hour from my home and that only a couple of candidates were in the frame.

This was the gig I was hoping for but I didn't want to jump ship twice within a short period so I contacted the first agent and explained my situation and that I wouldn't be taking the role.

His response was that he was very disappointed and asked me to put myself in his shoes and how he would feel having to face the client after "bigging me up" (his words). I said I was just trying to be straight with him and asked him how he would feel if I'd taken the gig and then bailed out again. He grudgingly conceded that point

I've spoken with him since and he said he understood where I was coming from so we're all pals again

I guess the short version of all that is that it depends upon with your relationship with the agent and how you play it.

You did it on the same day, that's acceptable because they just ring up the other candidates.

The problem is, if you do this after a week or two and then the other candidates are gone, then it might well lead to a great deal annoyance.

It all depends on whether you cause the financial damage to the client, i.e. project is late because they had to spend two more weeks recruiting. Then it won't be forgotten.