Reply to: Luck Run Out?

[quackhandle]

The only people who are going to be interested in your PS experience is HMRC.

Good luck.

qh

[SussexSeagull]

I tend to find clients either wouldn't consider anyone who isn't local or are happy to more or less entirely resource projects with people who stay away in the week.

[RonBW]

My two best theories for this is that agents are getting reluctant to place contractors from out of area

If you are still looking at public sector roles, I'd be wary of looking for one that is out of the area - you won't be able to claim travel and subsistence if you are inside IR35, and the chances of you being inside IR35 (or paid as if you are) are likely to increase in the future.

[LondonManc]

Defence has a longer lead in due to clearances.

He works for local authorities.

Five weeks is too early to panic. Once I know there's no extension forthcoming, I'd be updating my LinkedIn status to advise of my availability and a week or two later update my cv and get it on the job boards.

I always budget for a 4 week downtime at the end of a client engagement, partly to de-client and partly to do the stuff that's gone on a back burner while I've been grafting (a short break, for example).

[PurpleGorilla]

+1. Missed the 5 weeks time bit. No one is looking for a contractor in a months time they want one NOW...

Defence has a longer lead in due to clearances.

[MPwannadecentincome]

As others have said you might be worrying unnecessarily as you have 5 weeks to go. Keep an eye on the job boards and linkedin let's you search "contract project manager" as well so that you can see what roles are coming up. Consider tailoring your CV to each role you apply for. Try to call the agent up and talk to them.

Good luck.

You shouldn't even be blinking at up to a month on the bench between gigs.

Well I can blink now my month has passed.

[MarillionFan]

What you see suffering from is a dose of reality. There are many people leaving PS clients at the moment so it's going to be very quiet for a couple of months but even in good times it's not unusual to have a couple of weeks on the bench. It's why we build a warchest up to see us through the lean times. You shouldn't even be blinking at up to a month on the bench between gigs.

I have to reluctantly agree 'WHS'.

Sounds like you're panicking early. Your 3rd gig, the last two in PS. I would actually think with the cull in PS that you'd be able to get something quite quickly albeit maybe on the Perm side.

A month is nothing, Mordac has spent years between gigs & you should have built some money up in the form of a warchest. I have always gone with one month in, one month saved, so unless you've been acting like one of the Rolling Stones in the 60's you should have some wiggle room.

[northernladuk]

If you fancy gambling with PS gigs there should be plenty about but good luck with that.

[northernladyuk]

Ok, cheers everyone that reassures me slightly. I think I have just been fortune so far to avoid gaps between contracts. I am probably just not perceiving it all correctly.

No harm in starting to chat up your network.

[ContractBunny]

:-D very true

[northernladuk]

Correct. If you are contracting on the back of luck alone you are going to have a long horrible time

[ContractBunny]

Ok, cheers everyone that reassures me slightly. I think I have just been fortune so far to avoid gaps between contracts. I am probably just not perceiving it all correctly.

[eek]

5 weeks is pretty early to be looking as well. If you do find some thing it's likely they they will want you immediately and won't wait 5 weeks.

+1. Missed the 5 weeks time bit. No one is looking for a contractor in a months time they want one NOW...

[northernladuk]

5 weeks is pretty early to be looking as well. If you do find some thing it's likely they they will want you immediately and won't wait 5 weeks.

[cojak]

How do you know your luck's run out when you're not yet out of contract?

Being a contractor means that you may well be on the bench between contracts. Don't expect them to be back-to-back. 6 months out of contract - that's when you think your luck might have run out.