Reply to: How to Find Short term Consulting Contracts?

[cojak]

Current client.

Project started in Jan
Jan - Mar - 3 architects + 2 system analysts (high paid contractors)
Apr - Decides they need an expensive expert on a cool buzzinga technology (me)
May - Project gets few more permies and contractors (10 in total) + 2 expensive external vendors advising on key bits
Jun - Lots of fancy requirements, changes everywhere - vision, strategy, process
July - £1 million spent so far. Probably 10 classes + 2 web services were developed. POC worked decently on FF and Chrome
Aug - Project is being canned since its too difficult. A new simpler version being planned for another £500K. Contract renewed for six more months

Mar 16 - Pretty sure this will repeat

It really never changes, does it??

[MrMarkyMark]

Current client.

Project started in Jan
Jan - Mar - 3 architects + 2 system analysts (high paid contractors)
Apr - Decides they need an expensive expert on a cool buzzinga technology (me)
May - Project gets few more permies and contractors (10 in total) + 2 expensive external vendors advising on key bits
Jun - Lots of fancy requirements, changes everywhere - vision, strategy, process
July - £1 million spent so far. Probably 10 classes + 2 web services were developed. POC worked decently on FF and Chrome
Aug - Project is being canned since its too difficult. A new simpler version being planned for another £500K. Contract renewed for six more months

Mar 16 - Pretty sure this will repeat

Keeerrrching

[pangeakiller]

Current client.

Project started in Jan
Jan - Mar - 3 architects + 2 system analysts (high paid contractors)
Apr - Decides they need an expensive expert on a cool buzzinga technology (me)
May - Project gets few more permies and contractors (10 in total) + 2 expensive external vendors advising on key bits
Jun - Lots of fancy requirements, changes everywhere - vision, strategy, process
July - £1 million spent so far. Probably 10 classes + 2 web services were developed. POC worked decently on FF and Chrome
Aug - Project is being canned since its too difficult. A new simpler version being planned for another £500K. Contract renewed for six more months

Mar 16 - Pretty sure this will repeat

[MrMarkyMark]

Trust me, Mark, some industries can spend 30 days discussing the plans to think about discussions to decide if there is a problem to discuss.


Was working with a client recently where they started discussing the possibility of doing a small project 3 years ago.
Got sign off for the project after 2 years.
Spent 2 weeks of meetings internally.
Took 3 months off.
Got sign off for $100k.
Spent 1 week of meetings with externals.
Ran up a bill of $20k for the externals attending the meetings.
Realised the project was underfunded by $300k. (it was closer to $600k, but they wouldn't accept that number)
Spent 4 weeks in internal meetings.
Canned the project for another 2 years.

Sounds like some at current client co.

[WTFH]

Some industrys can easily spend 30 days+ discussing the "problem".

Trust me, Mark, some industries can spend 30 days discussing the plans to think about discussions to decide if there is a problem to discuss.


Was working with a client recently where they started discussing the possibility of doing a small project 3 years ago.
Got sign off for the project after 2 years.
Spent 2 weeks of meetings internally.
Took 3 months off.
Got sign off for $100k.
Spent 1 week of meetings with externals.
Ran up a bill of $20k for the externals attending the meetings.
Realised the project was underfunded by $300k. (it was closer to $600k, but they wouldn't accept that number)
Spent 4 weeks in internal meetings.
Canned the project for another 2 years.

[MrMarkyMark]

I'm contracting as an Architect - and from my point of view, many clients feel Architect need to be around until project delivery. I haven't seen many projects delivered in 30 days.

An Architect should always be engaged until the delivery, that is of paramount importance IMO.
I guess smaller projects might be delivered in 30 days, but they would have to be very small and the industry is of real importance here.
Some industrys can easily spend 30 days+ discussing the "problem".

[jbond007]

I'm contracting as an Architect - and from my point of view, many clients feel Architect need to be around until project delivery. I haven't seen many projects delivered in 30 days.

[ClothCap]

I like lots of short-term and simultaneous contracts. Actually I prefer doing a day or 2 at various clients through the week. Keeps things fresh and varied as well as having time in between to pursue other interests in life. Long contracts with many renewals are financially more rewarding and more favourable to agencies but feel like highly paid permiedom.

Depends how you view things I guess.

[WTFH]

Build a reputation over a period of time with a range of clients, then make them aware you are interested in short term stuff.




BTW, is there a reason why you want very short contracts?

[MrMarkyMark]

No they're not; it varies from industry to industry. Turned one round in less than 24 hours earlier this year. Short term gig - interviewed on the Tuesday morning, started work on the Wednesday morning.

Agreed, this 4 week turnaround is more likely in banking.

Recently the missus scored her 1st contract, interviewed Friday, started Tuesday morning.
The delay was on her side, negotiating payments terms, contract review and change etc. otherwise she would have started Monday.

[LondonManc]

+1

The offer Friday, start Monday days are gone, with credit checks, Disclosure, access cards, logins, and generally faff, it's at least 30 days before you can even start to be productive.

No they're not; it varies from industry to industry. Turned one round in less than 24 hours earlier this year. Short term gig - interviewed on the Tuesday morning, started work on the Wednesday morning.

[WordIsBond]

Work like that came knocking on my door as soon as the word got out I had left employment. It came from people I knew and had worked with in various ways literally for decades. You probably aren't going to find jobs like that -- more often, they'll find you.

[Danglekt]

The only way you will get gigs like that is networking your current contacts.

I was asked if I was interested in setting up and facilitating a cross company workshop and document the outputs, I knew the subject matter backwards so I charged a flat rate block contract after estimating it would take approx 4 days of my time, so the risk was mine if it took me longer.

Worked out ok - but they dont come up very often

[stek]

Indeed there aren't that many short term engagements about, they don't appeal to the Agents for the lack of profitability and very few contractors are keen on short term work either.

For that matter if you can't sell yourself as a high value resource with a specialist skillset, none of are likely to count, for that matter a lack of clarity as to your role makes you unlikely to get much positive interest anyway.

+1

The offer Friday, start Monday days are gone, with credit checks, Disclosure, access cards, logins, and generally faff, it's at least 30 days before you can even start to be productive.

[TykeMerc]

Indeed there aren't that many short term engagements about, they don't appeal to the Agents for the lack of profitability and very few contractors are keen on short term work either.

For that matter if you can't sell yourself as a high value resource with a specialist skillset, none of

Architect, Business Analyst or Management Consultant

are likely to count, for that matter a lack of clarity as to your role makes you unlikely to get much positive interest anyway.