On the bench, timeline.

[DS23]

Hi all,

What would you lot do if you were on the bench for months on end?

At what month would you start to panic?
When would the insecurities set in?
When would you consider cross training? month 3? Month 6? a year?
How long would you give it before you started looking for permie work?

1. never panic!
2. insecurities would start to set in at month 3 if there was nothing in the pipeline
3. i am always thinking about cross training - or rather boundary stretching. benchtime would enable accelleration. i'd be into the manuals and systems at the start of week two. no hanging about. cross training as in a whole-different-kettle-of-fish - i don't know. think i'd do that as part of a permie job from point 4.
4. hmmm i could go 3 or 4 years without having to work but would not want to do that. i think my other half would be telling me to get permie at start of month 4 and i'd be applying properly at start of month 5.

[King Cnvt]

I was on the bench once.

Worst afternoon of my life, I can tell you.

[timh]

At whatever point I've only got enough saved to get through the next 2 months. Then I lower my standards and take something I otherwise wouldn't.

At the end of overdrafts and credit cards I go permie - but that's only happened once, when I was young(er) and stupid(er).

[n5gooner]

in four years one week is the most....

[OrangeHopper]

....Really? Do you work in a niche area or something?....

Yes and no.

I had three clients who took me on when they needed someone with experience who would turn their hand to anything.

As a result I haven't specialised.

However, one of the boxes I work on is a rare.

That added with the fact I'm not a salesman and can't lie to save my mum, wife or kids.

Prior to the two year slump I had done 10 years without and any gaps.

[scooterscot]

Several contracts in almost 5 years now without break, taken some hol's of course which I try and OK with the client...

[thunderlizard]

I am on the bench and loving it! Been there 4 weeks. in another 4 weeks i'll probably get bored and look for more work.
Worked my goolies off non-stop for past several years, so enough cash in the bank to last for ages.

[Xenophon]

in four years one week is the most....

Ooh get you, gooner!

[ratewhore]

Depends on whether you want to be on the bench or not. In the 6 years I have been contracting I have had two breaks of 6 months (flexibility is why I love contracting). It's taken me no longer than 1 month to bag a new gig once I start looking to rejoin the market.

As for permie, I've been thinking lately about the possibility of joining a startup environment. Seems to me it's not that far removed from contracting in terms of ownership. But maybe it's just cos I'm getting older...

[hattra]

I was out for three years. I was OK for the first 6 months, then I put myself on a couple of courses (complete waste of a lot of money), panicked around 7-8 months, closed the company and signed on, then started doing local PC stuff, driving a taxi, temping etc. Had completely given up and was trying to get into a teacher training course when I got a call out of the blue, got interviewed on a Monday, and started the next Thursday. Curiously it was for a company that I had applied to 7 or 8 times over the previous 3 years, and never even got an interview.