Reply to: How soon do you start looking for new role?

[stek]

Contracting mate of mine says he starts looking for his next contract the day he starts his present contract !

Historically I've done the same, but as my war chest has grown I've not bothered so much last few years. In fact it's ages since I actually applied for anything come to think of it. It's what happened when you get old and have been contracting since Adam were a lad, you get 'known' - good or bad lol!

[VillageContractor]

I'm in a contract but still keep an eye on the market, what the rates are like, which agents have decent roles, which agents are fishing for CVs etc. Hopefully that will help me when I'm looking for my next contract

[Yonmons]

Contracting mate of mine says he starts looking for his next contract the day he starts his present contract !

I am not so serious, I think we always know if we are likely to be extended, but if thats not the case and we are approaching the end of the line buffers, a few weeks to go I start to look for work. What I do though is keep my eyes on the market throughout the my contract. This year for me intially was very slow, perhaps as slow as when the crash first happend. Fortunately I managed to get a 6 months contract for a previous client. I found that without the help of an agent, and take pride in telling them that when they occasionally call me still. I had to many false dawns on agents promises this year. (I trust them as much as I trust a double glazing salesman, or a charity chugger that accost you on the shopping precint)

[Nirajn123]

Oh dear. You could argue this will be your first contracting gig

Well, it seem to be norm in some places, saves me going back to market every 6 months.

[northernladuk]

Thank you guys for your replies - been away for few days.

Although I have been contracting for 5 years now - its only my second gig. While it make complete sense that you would be expected to start asap, my last role required me to go through all the checks (incl. Disclosure Scotland etc), which took 3 weeks.

Where my question really comes from is - I am certain that I'll be offered an extension but at a lower rate (this is a across the board reduction client is going through), and I want to walk away - although I'll prefer to have a ready option in hand when I do so. 8 weeks certainly seem too soon - yet 2 weeks seem too late from my previous experience.

Oh dear. You could argue this will be your first contracting gig

[Nirajn123]

Yep would agree. IMHO once a client says to a contractor the agent is already counting the cash and wants you in there NOW!

Best ever was 530pm interview. Agent called me later at 7pm to offer it to me - then said so you're ok to start tomorrow then? Yeh right.

Out of interest, is this with a banking client? Different industries obviously have different level of on-boarding checks and timeline.

[Nirajn123]

Thank you guys for your replies - been away for few days.

Although I have been contracting for 5 years now - its only my second gig. While it make complete sense that you would be expected to start asap, my last role required me to go through all the checks (incl. Disclosure Scotland etc), which took 3 weeks.

Where my question really comes from is - I am certain that I'll be offered an extension but at a lower rate (this is a across the board reduction client is going through), and I want to walk away - although I'll prefer to have a ready option in hand when I do so. 8 weeks certainly seem too soon - yet 2 weeks seem too late from my previous experience.

[psychocandy]

Interesting. Never heard of this before and find it a little surprising any agent would forgo a few weeks commission for anything. Guess it might be slightly different depending on your industry or specialisation.

Yep would agree. IMHO once a client says to a contractor the agent is already counting the cash and wants you in there NOW!

Best ever was 530pm interview. Agent called me later at 7pm to offer it to me - then said so you're ok to start tomorrow then? Yeh right.

[psychocandy]

Based on the length of time between contacting an agent and the role starting, I normally find it's OK.


2 weeks to get interviewed, 2 weeks to agree contracts, then 2 weeks until starting. I rarely spend time on the bench between roles, but probably should take a few days off.

Can you interview in next day or two? Heres the contract can you start tomorrow (umm no)? Can you start monday latest then (its thursday today)?

Above is normal for me. Never taken 2 weeks to get interviewed, never taken 2 weeks to agree contracts (Im usually fighting the agent off saying sod off its getting reviewed go away), never been 2 week start gap (its always next day, monday latest).

[northernladuk]

Most of the agents I use go to their existing contractors before advertising, so there tends to be a bit more time involved. I think they also like to go to their clients and say "this guy is worth waiting for" (as we all know, they lie!)

Interesting. Never heard of this before and find it a little surprising any agent would forgo a few weeks commission for anything. Guess it might be slightly different depending on your industry or specialisation.

[WTFH]

I'd say you've had an odd run there. I can't remember a gig that's been more than two weeks between role advertised and me sitting at the desk.

Most of the agents I use go to their existing contractors before advertising, so there tends to be a bit more time involved. I think they also like to go to their clients and say "this guy is worth waiting for" (as we all know, they lie!)

[northernladuk]

Based on the length of time between contacting an agent and the role starting, I normally find it's OK.


2 weeks to get interviewed, 2 weeks to agree contracts, then 2 weeks until starting. I rarely spend time on the bench between roles, but probably should take a few days off.

I'd say you've had an odd run there. I can't remember a gig that's been more than two weeks between role advertised and me sitting at the desk.

[WTFH]

Based on the length of time between contacting an agent and the role starting, I normally find it's OK.


2 weeks to get interviewed, 2 weeks to agree contracts, then 2 weeks until starting. I rarely spend time on the bench between roles, but probably should take a few days off.

[psychocandy]

Three months beforehand, I'll start checking out the job boards - but not applying for anything.
Two months to go, get the CV in order.
Six weeks to go, either contact agents or start applying.

Thankfully, most of the time the different agents I normally work with know when I'm finishing and contact me - I've only had to proactively apply for a couple of roles in the last 15 years.

6 weeks? Surely no agent is even the slightest bit interested if you tell them 6 weeks.

I wait until 3 and thats pushing it.

[WTFH]

Three months beforehand, I'll start checking out the job boards - but not applying for anything.
Two months to go, get the CV in order.
Six weeks to go, either contact agents or start applying.

Thankfully, most of the time the different agents I normally work with know when I'm finishing and contact me - I've only had to proactively apply for a couple of roles in the last 15 years.