Reply to: Assumed extensions - when is it cool to tell client no thanks?

[Yonmons]

I have been contracting 15 years, I have done the distance jobs, tend not to like to travel to much these days, HOWEVER this year (I am told due to the election its been a bad year for me in I.T. very slow) so I am back contracting for an large corporate bank the point being its 54 miles from where I live, so 108 miles a day round trip. Its the 4th time I have worked here, never left on bad terms The rate gets lower everytime I make a start here, best of it is I have to get up at 4.30 am to get here for 6.30am on the days I start at that time, on site for 9 hrs, NEVER burn bridges, The job got me out the Sh1t, I absolutely hate the commute but its got to be done, and unless anything local crops up I am here until the end of the year.

[northernladuk]

Done very well for Ron Jeremy

Didn't work out so well for John Holmes in the end....

[MrMarkyMark]

I don't think standing there with an inane grin on and your bits hanging out would get you anywhere.

Done very well for Ron Jeremy

[LondonManc]

My current "agency" is a consultancy and I start my second 2 month stint next Monday, I have already received an email saying that it is very likely I will be offered another role in the same end Client after that.

Talk about early, I've not even started my current extension!!

Make sure that your contract and extensions are worded correctly so that deliverables are changed.

[northernladuk]

I have felt this in a lot of contracts the easy decision ones where I'm happy to stay or definitely want to go are great but more fall in that grey area inbetween where really I would like to go if I could line something else up but I could grin and bare it for longer if need be rather than put myself on the bench.

In these I always hope the company leaves it till the last minute to offer a renewal to give me a chance to find something else to have the option.

I don't think standing there with an inane grin on and your bits hanging out would get you anywhere.

[curtis]

I dont really want to stay, would prefer to go somewhere else, but don't want to bail and bench myself

I have felt this in a lot of contracts the easy decision ones where I'm happy to stay or definitely want to go are great but more fall in that grey area inbetween where really I would like to go if I could line something else up but I could grin and bare it for longer if need be rather than put myself on the bench.

In these I always hope the company leaves it till the last minute to offer a renewal to give me a chance to find something else to have the option.

[Scrag Meister]

My current "agency" is a consultancy and I start my second 2 month stint next Monday, I have already received an email saying that it is very likely I will be offered another role in the same end Client after that.

Talk about early, I've not even started my current extension!!

[northernladuk]

It becomes difficult when you're thinking,

Ahh now we are getting to the root of your problems

[psychocandy]

Agreed. That would be nonsensical. But you can advise the client in advance if you believe they will renew and you intend not to.

I am in that position now. I am certain the client will renew all contractors here and I have been renewed many times. But I wish to leave at the end of the current term. I will therefore email the agent politely saying "please be aware I will not be seeking a renewal at the end of the current contract term", or similar. This doesn't presume anything and is sensible IMO.

Thats fine then. Can see no problem with this really. Think I would tell the client directly though as well.

It becomes difficult when you're thinking, I dont really want to stay, would prefer to go somewhere else, but don't want to bail and bench myself. Maybe its having your cake and eating it a bit!

[unixman]

So, as I said originally, you can't turn an extension down until it exists in the first place.

Agreed. That would be nonsensical. But you can advise the client in advance if you believe they will renew and you intend not to.

I am in that position now. I am certain the client will renew all contractors here and I have been renewed many times. But I wish to leave at the end of the current term. I will therefore email the agent politely saying "please be aware I will not be seeking a renewal at the end of the current contract term", or similar. This doesn't presume anything and is sensible IMO.

[psychocandy]

Whigh can very easily be seen as becoming part and parcel hence the extra diligence to make sure this doesn't become the case.

Expectation of contractor staying, expectation of more work. Where does that leave your MoO?

I will admit not great....

But the type of work I do is always going to be like that. Im aware of that....

[LondonManc]

Whigh can very easily be seen as becoming part and parcel hence the extra diligence to make sure this doesn't become the case.

Expectation of contractor staying, expectation of more work. Where does that leave your MoO?

Expectation rather than obligation. As you say, could be a grey area but also a sign of a good working relationship.

[psychocandy]

I would agree. Even the best client in the world would have no qualms if the budget ran out suddenly. Then it'd be "we're really sorry to see you go but its out of our hands".

Current client is clever. 3/4 weeks to go and they remember and ask me. Never understand why more client don't do this - get in there early and contractor hasnt got time to find something else. Leave it until the last minute and they might find something else.

This is good and bad. Good because I've had the "leaving it until last day" clients and it pisses me off. Bad because if I ever want to leave I'd have to decline more than likely then hope I can get something else - I'll never have time to sort something else (3/4 week before end) then decide whether to renew or not.

Like I said, got a sniff of a local gig but current place wants an answer. Chances are I'm going to have to commit either way.

Did have a conversation with client manager this morning. He was pushing me for an answer. Although he admitted he needed to get it confirmed and authorised first. So I winked and said, OK, but I'll keep my options open just in case it doesn't get authorised shall I?

Seems a bit sharp of him asking me to commit before its a 100% done deal after all....

Whether I would now say sorry got a new gig, even though I said I was interested, if and when the confirmation comes through is another thing? Debatable.... Strictly speaking they haven't offered it to me yet because its not authorised but I guess they wouldnt be happy....

[northernladuk]

I can see your point. But after a bit, there is an element of you trust the client, the client trusts you.

Whigh can very easily be seen as becoming part and parcel hence the extra diligence to make sure this doesn't become the case.

Expectation of contractor staying, expectation of more work. Where does that leave your MoO?

[psychocandy]

And that is where the JLJ case started falling apart. The longer the engagement then MORE diligence is required to keep it on track. No gentleman's agreements. Black and white same as per day one.

I can see your point. But after a bit, there is an element of you trust the client, the client trusts you.

And sometimes there is a bit of extra consideration because of this. Yes I know its not like me to be professional and considerate of my clients :-)