Reply to: Contract ending, best way to handle?

[BlasterBates]

As a contractor you will regularly have to look for new contracts. If you see this as long term you will want to go back to old clients. It's not like a permie job where once you get out of company you have a long term future at the new company. You will only have a 6 month contract. The other thing is that some contracts won't be great, so you have to be used to working in places you don't really like from time to time. You can never properly judge a contract before you accept it.

My advice deliver something useful before moving on, a 3 month contract will simply annoy the client because you haven't had time to work into it properly.

[Yonmons]

In your circumstances I wouldn't raise the mention of end of contract. Just make sure everything is nice and tidy for whoever follows. Most of us will have been there, I have not renewed contracts for various reasons, inclusive of excess travelling, hours, didn't like the job. You will find it wont make any difference you will just walk out the door marked exit, I just ensure I never burn bridges, you never know when you will need it, or a link to or from the bridge.

[washed up contractor]

I think this is important especially in niche areas - it's not the reality of the situation that people remember (i.e. that your 3 month contract was up) - if it meant you "left" a project in the tulip, in people's memories you become the guy that bailed when the going got tough, and other things you aren't around to defend yourself on

LOL. Project wasnt left in the tulip, it was a bog standard rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat tasks that were tedious in the extreme. So no one was left in the tulip and as I said, the 3 month contract was completed.

That said, the organisation is well known for pissing contractors and agencies around so, no real surprise they came up with the bulltulip of contract not completed. IIRC, they even binned the project in the end.

[fatJock]

Night time now. Get that whine down you to forget about tomorrow ......

[chickenlegs]

I've told you the correct way to decline

Yup, you have. And thanks for that, it was good advice that I'm going to take.

Just curious now to hear how it turned out for others.

And I'm very bored and have nothing better to do during the day.

[SueEllen]

I know the market isn't that good at the moment. Thanks, but I'm not asking for advice on whether to renew or not, I've already made the decision not to renew, that's not going to change. My sanity is worth far more to me than money I don't need.

I *am* interested to hear how other contractors politely decline and their experiences of actually declining.

I've told you the correct way to decline

[chickenlegs]

I know the market isn't that good at the moment. Thanks, but I'm not asking for advice on whether to renew or not, I've already made the decision not to renew, that's not going to change. My sanity is worth far more to me than money I don't need.

I *am* interested to hear how other contractors politely decline and their experiences of actually declining.

[rocktronAMP]

I think this is important especially in niche areas - it's not the reality of the situation that people remember (i.e. that your 3 month contract was up) - if it meant you "left" a project in the tulip, in people's memories you become the guy that bailed when the going got tough, and other things you aren't around to defend yourself on

Yeah.

The market is truly dire. It's better to be invoicing and billing, being punctual, polite and assertive and making doubly sure that you COVER YOU A**. I would just suck up the rubbish contract extension until you find an alternative. Fate usually intercedes somewhere down the line.

[pr1]

Couple of years later, found out the client offering the extension black balled me for 'leaving a project early and not completing contract'! That was utter nonsense as the 3 month contract was completed.

I think this is important especially in niche areas - it's not the reality of the situation that people remember (i.e. that your 3 month contract was up) - if it meant you "left" a project in the tulip, in people's memories you become the guy that bailed when the going got tough, and other things you aren't around to defend yourself on

[chickenlegs]

Ive had a couple of roles where I didnt want to renew and found no matter how professional you are, the client takes umbrage. How dare you turn down our renewal!

When I was coming to the end on one contract with a large financial organisation in Yorkshire, I was asked to return to a previous client due to my knowledge of their processes and systems.

Current client approached me 3 weeks before end of role to extend. Politely declined and said previous client had asked me to return etc. Completed the contract on good terms then left. Or so I thought.

Couple of years later, found out the client offering the extension black balled me for 'leaving a project early and not completing contract'! That was utter nonsense as the 3 month contract was completed.

This is the kind of thing I was worried about and was wondering if it happened in real life. I suspected as much. I guess I will have to handle it so that I'm satisfied I did my best and accept that there is nothing I can do if anyone on the other side wants to behave like a gimp about it.

I so hope I can avoid all this and they don't want to renew! I could be fretting for nothing, but would rather be completely prepared for the situation, than have it land in my lap and come out looking bad.

[washed up contractor]

Ive had a couple of roles where I didnt want to renew and found no matter how professional you are, the client takes umbrage. How dare you turn down our renewal!

When I was coming to the end on one contract with a large financial organisation in Yorkshire, I was asked to return to a previous client due to my knowledge of their processes and systems.

Current client approached me 3 weeks before end of role to extend. Politely declined and said previous client had asked me to return etc. Completed the contract on good terms then left. Or so I thought.

Couple of years later, found out the client offering the extension black balled me for 'leaving a project early and not completing contract'! That was utter nonsense as the 3 month contract was completed.

[uk contractor]

As others have said see your time out do not create any waves. You may find they do not want to offer an extension as few clients one will flag to you until it suits them if they do not want or need you any longer. Also look at the current job market its pretty quiet for many IT contractors how many genuine job ads have you seen you figure you would be a good match for before doing anything drastic. 100% of something is way better than bench warming until the next role materialises!

[chickenlegs]

You shouldn't expect each contract to give you new skills and it's common for clients to refuse to provide you with references. Get references of your own circle, your accountant and other contractors.

If you don't want the extension tell them you are thinking about it, then wait a day then then tell the agent you don't want it and don't give a reason. You don't owe anyone a reason. If you do give a reason be polite about it.

Oh absolutely I don't *expect* any of those things, they're just points that might have tempted me to renew even a mostly pants contract. This is the first time I've been in the situation where I haven't wanted to renew.

Of course you're correct about not needing to give a reason. The most I will say if pressed is that I'm not available (only if that is the case) or not in a position to extend.

[SueEllen]

Career-wise, it's not an issue, this contract does nothing for my career. What little work they give me to do is throwaway (it's used for 2 weeks then binned). General experience I dont need, was a permie for 14 years before contracting . I'm not learning new skills here.

The consultancy has also let slip that they refuse to provide references for contractors. So no good for that either.

Healthy war chest, so don't need the money.

I'm going to take your advice and leave it entirely to them to mention until the last week.

You shouldn't expect each contract to give you new skills and it's common for clients to refuse to provide you with references. Get references of your own circle, your accountant and other contractors.

If you don't want the extension tell them you are thinking about it, then wait a day then then tell the agent you don't want it and don't give a reason. You don't owe anyone a reason. If you do give a reason be polite about it.

[chickenlegs]

Career-wise, it's not an issue, this contract does nothing for my career. What little work they give me to do is throwaway (it's used for 2 weeks then binned). General experience I dont need, was a permie for 14 years before contracting . I'm not learning new skills here.

The consultancy has also let slip that they refuse to provide references for contractors. So no good for that either.

Healthy war chest, so don't need the money.

I'm going to take your advice and leave it entirely to them to mention until the last week. At which point I shall probably be back here asking for more advice as I can almost guarantee they will forget to renew me.

In the meantime, I shall write the most awesome handover notes ever. At least that will be a relevant use of my time, fills in the 36 hours of each week where they don't give me anything to do.