Gulp - i'm benched...

[MarillionFan]

Have you thought of being a towel boy at a Lloyds gym?

[Troll]

Always a bit of a pain when it first happens..but take a short break and then right back at it in the new year.

you are lucky - I've been essentially outta work for 9 months. Which ain't good 'cause the wife now says she wears the pants, and then goes out and buys three handbags. I'm still paying all bills outta my pocket btw.

9 months - what area do you normally contract in?

[Freamon]

Just got canned, no renewal coming. Had a good run here and probably got a bit too comfy, which is never a good idea. Benched in December - which is an even worse idea.
Shaken me up a bit, which it shouldn't after this long in the game, time for a stiff drink, dust myself down and get back in....

What kind of work were you doing?

[Zippy]

Bad luck. Hope you find something soon

[OwlHoot]

Bad luck. Hope you find something soon

WSS - I imagine now isn't the best time to be looking

[ChimpMaster]

Just got canned, no renewal coming. Had a good run here and probably got a bit too comfy, which is never a good idea. Benched in December - which is an even worse idea.
Shaken me up a bit, which it shouldn't after this long in the game, time for a stiff drink, dust myself down and get back in....

I know the feeling very well. Was there just a few months back, when I became part of the furniture at a client and then it hit me really hard when suddenly I found that I wasn't wanted any more. It's a devastating feeling, but you have to fight through it to the other side. I hit all my contacts hard (but professionally) and eventually another contract dropped - it still didn't help me get over the previous client easily but that's my fault for being over-committed to them.

I forgot I was a contractor, but the client didn't forget.

Now I know my place, and I expect my current contract to finish early next year. I have no plans beyond that, except to take some time off and forget about the rat race.

[Doggy Styles]

Just got canned, no renewal coming. Had a good run here and probably got a bit too comfy, which is never a good idea. Benched in December - which is an even worse idea.
Shaken me up a bit, which it shouldn't after this long in the game, time for a stiff drink, dust myself down and get back in....

Believe it or not, you'll be grateful.

It's easy to get stuck in a rut, then you suddenly realise a few years of your working life have slipped by with nothing much to differentiate between them.

Always keep your positive hat on and you'll be fine!

[escapeUK]

Just got canned, no renewal coming. Had a good run here and probably got a bit too comfy, which is never a good idea. Benched in December - which is an even worse idea.
Shaken me up a bit, which it shouldn't after this long in the game, time for a stiff drink, dust myself down and get back in....

You are so lucky! Obviously as expensive contractors we could live for years without working, I know I could. Ive told my client Im not working in January.

[Freamon]

I know the feeling very well. Was there just a few months back, when I became part of the furniture at a client and then it hit me really hard when suddenly I found that I wasn't wanted any more. It's a devastating feeling, but you have to fight through it to the other side. I hit all my contacts hard (but professionally) and eventually another contract dropped - it still didn't help me get over the previous client easily but that's my fault for being over-committed to them.

I forgot I was a contractor, but the client didn't forget.

When you're in this situation, unless you can come up with some very good reasons why you are indispensable to the client, you have to ask yourself why they haven't transitioned your role to a permie. One possible reason is that they want to be able to get rid of you at short notice. I was at a place last year where most of the IT dept were contractors who had all been there for years, but the team had halved in size over the last year as other contractors had been kicked out with no notice, therefore none of the remainder were too comfortable.

The other reason is that the client are just really poorly organised, which isn't a good omen for their success as a business, and ultimately their ability to continue employing contractors on good rates.

[EternalOptimist]

you sound a bit shocked luke. So I guess this has come at a bad time

good luck mate