Made a mistake??

[cojak]

Yep, speak up if you want to stay on. I, however don't and therefore will stay quiet until they ask me. If you admit before the last month that you don't intend accepting an extension you may well find the contract ending early.

[Denny]

It's better to ask at least 4 weeks in advance of your contract termination date whether you are going to be renewed. If not, that gives you time to mentally adjust to the prospect of leaving and to start looking around for other gigs. No PM is going to be unaware that your contract date is up even if they don't tell you or talk to you about a renewal and its only if they don't like you they won't bother telling you because they hope that you think you are going to extended. If they do like you they certainly won't extend it just because they haven't thought it through enough at the 11th hour but don't need you anyway. More than likely they will terminate simply because they haven't thought it through. If you tell them well in advance and you know you're doing a good job they might just generate some more reasons for you to stay.

Mind you, there might be something in extending your own contract to a maximum length. During my last renewal my client asked me how long I thought it should be. Very stupidly, in hindsight, I said another 4 months. I've now discovered that its not going to be renewed now due to lack of work. However, if I'd said 6 months instead, he probably would have kept it going into the new year until February - there again he might not. Difficult to tell really.

[weemster]

Don't think prompting made any difference at all. Don't beat yourself up about it (I know it sounds an ideal gig for you) but hey ho. Like you said leave on a high/professional note (with managers contact details) and give them a nod if out of work in the future. Some places manage these things better than others - I sometimes get a little p*ssed at renewal time as some places don't do things in a professional manner at all (forget all that your a contractor b*ll) - Stick a few extra hours on you last invoice. Courtesy costs nothing (well a few hours on your last invoice anyway).

[wantacontract]

ur'right

just that its so close to home - 5 minute drive...

Leave on a professional note...hopefully go back next year if they're busy...

[Lucy]

hmmm, when I find out 2 days ago, i wasn't that bothered...but right now...its bothered me....



I feel annoyed....

Its more to do with the feeling of rejection then worrying about money....

Ok, a little bit to do with the money...but I got enough to last me through til Feb/March, depending on how careful I am with XMAS....

so why am I bothered??

Something to do with rejection ?

Number one rule of contracting: Next (and don't look back)

[wantacontract]

thanks xlmonkey

hmmm, when I find out 2 days ago, i wasn't that bothered...but right now...its bothered me....



I feel annoyed....

Its more to do with the feeling of rejection then worrying about money....

Ok, a little bit to do with the money...but I got enough to last me through til Feb/March, depending on how careful I am with XMAS....

so why am I bothered??

[XLMonkey]

I think you're always better off asking in advance, rather than waiting. Alright, so you might have got an extra week if you'd kept your mouth shut this time. But you might have just had the contract cancelled early without knowing anyway. At least this way, you know to be on the hunt.

It's also a good time to be asking them for referrals/recommendations for other projects or clients that they might be aware of...

[wantacontract]

i know they don't owe me anything...the point was if I had not mentioned anything...would it have just gone under the radar.....

anyway, not that bothered...just wanted some opinions, to know for future..

[Lockhouse]

I knew it was quiet, and that there was no work on, should I have kept my gob shut....accepted in my heart that there was no renewal available....but at least I would have had an extra week???

They don't owe you anything, just move on and forget. Next.

[wantacontract]

hmmmmmmm

they've come back today to offer me a permanent job.....

needless to say..its going to be a no...

I didn't set out to be a contractor to turn back after the first contract...

[premiere]

Used to work for BT...they would only do renewals for 1 month at a time (did 9 of my 12 months with them in this way) and they would never tell you if you were being extended until right at the end of the last day...(usually about 10 minutes before you went home)

When it got to the end of my last month and it was 16:45 (15 mins before I left) they panicked and offered me another month... I said no thanks, got another gig....They were thoroughly p*ssed off!

[Ardesco]

That's the joy of contracting. They would probably have got rid of you anyway, but not bothered to tell you until the last minute.

Chalk it down to experiance and look for another gig.

[wantacontract]

yeah..

well, if I find another gig before end of the month, yeah, otherwise stay and have a quiet 2 weeks....

[HankWangford]

Right, bagged myself a 3 month role back in september......contract is ending in 3 weeks time.

Had to work really hard for the 1st month and a half due to the huge workload and the lack of resources, the company corrected that and brought in 3 contractors and 2 permies.....

So I am thinking...hmmm renewal time is going to be interesting, but I did really well for them and they constantly praised me, etc....

so three weeks to go, I thought I would ask the question for renewal (started to look for jobs already), asked it yesterday and was told I wasn't going to be renewed and they will shorten my contract by one week....

Reason was no more work is coming through at the moment.....

I knew it was quiet, and that there was no work on, should I have kept my gob shut....accepted in my heart that there was no renewal available....but at least I would have had an extra week???

Thought please...

do them a favour and leave now, go find another gig

[wantacontract]

Right, bagged myself a 3 month role back in september......contract is ending in 3 weeks time.

Had to work really hard for the 1st month and a half due to the huge workload and the lack of resources, the company corrected that and brought in 3 contractors and 2 permies.....

So I am thinking...hmmm renewal time is going to be interesting, but I did really well for them and they constantly praised me, etc....

so three weeks to go, I thought I would ask the question for renewal (started to look for jobs already), asked it yesterday and was told I wasn't going to be renewed and they will shorten my contract by one week....

Reason was no more work is coming through at the moment.....

I knew it was quiet, and that there was no work on, should I have kept my gob shut....accepted in my heart that there was no renewal available....but at least I would have had an extra week???

Thought please...