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How many contracts have you had ?

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    How many contracts have you had ?

    I am about to start contract no.11 (in almost as many years of contracting) so I was wondering who has got the record here (obviously I am not talking about same contract extensions or same client/different project-type contracts).
    I once met a fellow contractor (admittedly in his 60's) who told me he had done more than 30 !
    BTW, I don't mean to get into an argument with some of the forum regulars averaging quite proudly about 5 years in the same contract, it's just that some of us might get bored doing the same old stuff over and over again.

    #2
    In my first couple of years I was averaging 1 contract per 3 months (due to a mix of 5-6 monthers and 3 day consultancy stints). But I've been doing stuff with my current customer for more years than I like to think about, and that's pulled the average down. Not particularly proud of it, but I must be doing something right..!

    I'd be interested to see what you get on this thread - I've come across some serious serial contract-hoppers in my time.

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      #3
      it's just that some of us might get bored doing the same old stuff over and over again.
      .....Yes and some of us have a job to hold on to contracts for any length of time - I guess it can be a matter of perception tintin

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        #4
        On the flip side, I know someone who is in the 14th year of one particular contract without a break .. and he assumes an 'out of IR35' stance.

        During that time he has sat at only 3 different desks!

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          #5
          Better the devil you know...

          I suppose it's not easy to hold on especially to some of the most lucrative contracts, so I'm not knocking anyone that has managed to hang on to any of those. Having said that, it's not easy either to go out and get a new one every now and then (willingly or not).

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            #6
            Re: Better the devil you know...

            Ive contracted since beginning 1997. In that time I stayed at one place for 2.5 years, one place for 1.5 years.

            I took 1 year off. That makes 5 years out of 8.5.

            This one, the one last year, the quick one last year, 4 training courses I have delivered last 2-3 days each

            1 Contract I walked out of after a day.
            Parliament, PWC, Rail Track, Halifax, Lotus, Computacenter, Britivic,

            Mmmm. 17/18 I reckon.

            But then again I used to specialise in super short term pieces of work.

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              #7
              Re: Better the devil you know...

              But then again I used to specialise in super short term pieces of work.
              Ok sir, now you've rebooted your PC, all should be okay, thank you for calling the Dixons IT support call centre. :rollin

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                #8
                Re: Better the devil you know...

                Personally I feel that doing any contract for more than a year, and the great majority of them for more than 5 minutes, is a form of slow death.

                Especially aircraft! Aircraft, nuclear or anything else where safety is paramount are the most boring things in the world and should never have been invented.

                Might be ok if they were combined with some sort theme park, where half the excitement of flying was wondering if you would get down in one piece. Then I could indulge the sort of programming I like, sticking objects in because they look kool, trying to arrange lines of code in pentamic meter, or my specialities, the "what if" flap control system or the "just in time" landing gear.

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                  #9
                  Re: Better the devil you know...

                  But then again I used to specialise in super short term pieces of work.
                  Which is nice because this presumably allows you to indulge your time and intellect in social experiments like selling pink pedal cars on ebay :rollin

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                    #10
                    Re: Better the devil you know...

                    I'll have you know Im doing rather well out of Ebay thank you very much.

                    As soon as I get some time I will be placing an Ebay shop, where as items are sold the girls pack em and send 'em

                    I expect to start taking about £1000 a week through Ebay next month.

                    Comment

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