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In-between contracts

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    In-between contracts

    The time spent between contracts I have found to be the most intensive and stressful.

    Far more demanding than actually doing the daily job, but without pay.

    Next time, I turn down a renewal remind me of this; in 25 years of contracting, I have been lucky enough never to have had a contract terminated.

    I may be in work the next few weeks (god forbid), but the last month or so between jobs has certainly not been a holiday.

    More challenging, that ever in the past - when does life begin?.

    Walking into the middle of a new project and picking things up quickly can also be a massive challenge, especially if it is the fifth or sixth time around.

    I guess we need to factor in a number of elements into the rate e.g. training, redundancy, time between jobs, burn-out etc..

    Also, the more niche the skills, the greater challenge to find work, thus this justify's a higher rate.

    Contracting can be so demanding e.g. keeping up with the bleeding edge, threatened by the permie's etc; I think most of us would probably drop down dead on retirement.

    I have heard that most senior civil servants die, within 4 years of retirement, another reason to keep working!

    I wasted too much time in my twenties working a hundred hours a week - for the money - rather than going out and having a life and a good time.

    OK I live in a big Castle now that is fully paid for - but is that what it is all about?

    Do not make the same mistake, at the same time, still stash alot a way as a rainy day will allways come (I have done that).

    Plan B was always to marry a rich woman, and I have been partially successful in that, though I did have some opportunities that I missed e.g. a girl who's father owned a large slice of Monaco.

    Like most of the male young buck's on this board my loins got me into serious trouble.

    Oh Milan, as much as I care for you, you have alot still to learn

    I need three years on a-day pension rules at £250k per year and then I will be off to live in the Villa - in the mean time you will all have to put up with me!
    Last edited by ancient; 30 October 2005, 00:01.

    #2
    A fair summation of a contractors 'life'... but sometimes i do need a break of a month or so which I just couldnt get with a permie job. Life isnt all about work of course and there are periods where other things need to be addressed.... I guess thats why I prefer contracting.
    Vieze Oude Man

    Comment


      #3
      Ancient,
      You need to brush up on the correct use of the apostrophe, but, that aside, I agree wholeheartedly with what you say.
      We must strike at the lies that have spread like disease through our minds

      Comment


        #4
        The time spent between contracts I have found to be the most intensive and stressful.
        I couldn´t disagree more actually, well you do have a sort of "hmm when will I get a contract" feeling from time to time but....

        I mean you can do what the f*** you want.

        I was out for 4 months and ... well never spent more time at an outdoor swimming pool actually. Good, admittedly after three months the pool closed for the autumn so had to "get on with it".

        One thing you do notice is how doing virtually nothing seems to take all day.

        Still if the money is tight, I suppose then its stressful.
        I'm alright Jack

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          #5
          I took 6 months off about 5 years ago. I used the time to catch up on all the DIY that the house was in great need of.

          Ancient,

          When I was contracting I never lived to my means - Drove a beaten up old car smoked cheap fags etc - Always had at least 3 months money in the bank.

          You’ve an old hand at contracting and I'm surprised that you've not seen people canned and escorted off the building. This should have put thoughts into your head "What if that happens to me?"

          Lessons learnt?

          Just run up your credit cards to live, while looking for another contract
          Throw them to the lions - WC2 5.4

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by BlasterBates
            I couldn´t disagree more actually, well you do have a sort of "hmm when will I get a contract" feeling from time to time but....

            I mean you can do what the f*** you want.

            I was out for 4 months and ... well never spent more time at an outdoor swimming pool actually. Good, admittedly after three months the pool closed for the autumn so had to "get on with it".

            One thing you do notice is how doing virtually nothing seems to take all day.

            Still if the money is tight, I suppose then its stressful.
            BlasterBates is always full of sh1te....

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              #7
              Stressfull time if looking for a contract
              Glorious time if is planned time off

              When i took time off a few years ago took me a year to start to get bored.

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                #8
                BlasterBates is always full of sh1te....
                Oh dear in between contracts are we ?

                I'm alright Jack

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by BlasterBates
                  Oh dear in between contracts are we ?

                  Nope, never been in between contract longer than 2 months ... I just couldn't help but notice that your posts are always full of sh1te, but hey so is everyone elses on this board.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    thanks for the essay Ancient, but no thanks

                    noticing the time of the post I guess it is the product of a
                    couple of cheap bottles of plonk - you being on the bench
                    and all

                    sympathy isn't flowing here, our future is the product of our past

                    everything in moderation, if you've been contracting for 25 years
                    you should already be in a position to retire, so I fail to understand
                    why you are worried about a short spell on the bench

                    in life you have to paddle your own canoe and accept the consequences
                    and not blame others for your failures

                    Milan.

                    Comment

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