Wierd start to contracting life

[Cliphead]

Had a contract with a 'broadcaster', 3 month gig. No desk or work so the first two weeks were spent playing darts and drinking tea in the portacabin used by the cablers during the night.

Then they gave me a pager so the next 10 weeks I spent at home. Got the last timesheet signed and moved on to the the next gig without having done any work at all.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Had a contract with a 'broadcaster', 3 month gig. No desk or work so the first two weeks were spent playing darts and drinking tea in the portacabin used by the cablers during the night.

Then they gave me a pager so the next 10 weeks I spent at home. Got the last timesheet signed and moved on to the the next gig without having done any work at all.

Forget free lunch, how about free money and loads of it?

[Cliphead]

Forget free lunch, how about free money and loads of it?

I should have been smart enough to take on another 3 month gig at the same time

PS I've grudged paying a license fee ever since.

[AlfredJPruffock]

As attractive it may sound to some - having nothing to do due to lack of system access or a defined role is not desirable when you start a new contract - it can quicky become stressful and lead to problems.


Whenever I accept a new contract I always email the Agent to ensure that the client will have prepared system access from the first day of my arrival - also a meeting with whomever you are reporting to for a kick-off meeting in which roles tasks expectations deliverables - all gritty work stuff - are discussed and defined - and I expect this to be complete on day one.

Its really in your own intestests to make prior arrangelments - theres always a wee jealous permie out there who would quickly cotton on to the fact you are doing nowt.


And if the cleint for whatever reason doesnt provide you with the tools then they have frustrated the contract - just in case it gets nasty - altough with my technique only on one occasion when the clinet did not deliver -- the entire project was canned two weeks later due to an unsuccesful bid .

Which was a compelling business reason for ending the contract


I didnt argue it was two weeks dosh - easy money -but heed my advice !

[d000hg]

No work is also REALLY boring if you don't have anything to do. Techies can learn a new programming language or something, of course.

But what do you do when the nosy line manager of the team you're attached to asks "what are you doing" and you're using your own laptop to learn Ruby, because you don't even have access to their systems? Looking busy won't fool everyone...

[Stan.goodvibes]

The trouble with looking busy is it takes more effort than doing the work.

...and thats why they invented Facebook

[thunderlizard]

This is really giving contractors a bad name. If you're not doing any work you shouldn't be billing, and if you're not billing you shouldn't be on site. Leave your phone number and tell them to let you know when they need you.