Reply to: What's the limit of your "Keep Invoicing" mantra?

[quackhandle]

You can be a long time on the bench, was out last four months of 2017, not nice.

The goal is try to invoice for 50 weeks in 2018.

qh

[northernladyuk]

If I were in your shoes I wouldn't be to concerned about your CV. You can present it how you like.

I tend to move on when the boredom or environment is making me unhappy or if the project I am working on is very seriously flawed (clinically unsafe in a healthcare setting).

Close to home is a big bonus particularly if you have kids.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

PS client at the moment. Sometimes it works not in your favour to try and help. Sometimes they're so stuck in their ways you'll have a negative impact trying to change them.

Very true...... I heard this is likely why I had my previous contract cut a bit short, I was actually trying to get stuff to move.

[psychocandy]

I always go over and above what is required..... In the odd case you end up in a "public sector attitude" company which means you just need to send a few emails and attend the odd meeting, in that case you can only lead a horse to water.....

PS client at the moment. Sometimes it works not in your favour to try and help. Sometimes they're so stuck in their ways you'll have a negative impact trying to change them.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Maybe, but morality doesn't pay the bills, put food on the table and keep a roof over your head.



It seems that, to this particular client, he is justifying his day rate simply by being a bum-on-a-seat. After all, if the client thought it was useless him being there, then he wouldn't be there, would he?

Morality is more important than keeping a roof over your head IMO.... I guess if your clientco refuse to give you work and are happy to keep paying you then fair enough.

[psychocandy]

Same where I am now but it is public sector. Local, rate is decent enough, skillset is ok - its just not that busy. Quietest place I've ever worked- nothing ever goes wrong. But client seems happy to pay just in case.

But, its local, probably long term and decent enough so I'll stay. If it was away from home, or crap in any other way I'd have bailed ages ago.

Beware though - I stayed at a local gig a few years because it was local. Awful place, awful permie managers, permies, complete nightmare. Took and extension then a week or so later wished I hadn't. Had a bit of effect on my mental state in the end. Bad idea.....

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Says the man working on Plans B-Z.

qh

I always go over and above what is required..... In the odd case you end up in a "public sector attitude" company which means you just need to send a few emails and attend the odd meeting, in that case you can only lead a horse to water.....

[billybiro]

This is a bit immoral

Maybe, but morality doesn't pay the bills, put food on the table and keep a roof over your head.

you need to be doing at least some work to justify your day rate.

It seems that, to this particular client, he is justifying his day rate simply by being a bum-on-a-seat. After all, if the client thought it was useless him being there, then he wouldn't be there, would he?

[billybiro]

It really depends on where on the curve you are. 5 years ago I'd have sat there and endured just about anything just to keep billing. Now I've learned that work is there and it won't be long before something else comes along so I've relaxed my view.

Ok. Who is the impostor and what have you done with NLUK?

[quackhandle]

This is a bit immoral, you need to be doing at least some work to justify your day rate.

Says the man working on Plans B-Z.

qh

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Keep on invoicing. Find a second client who will let you work from home. Keep invoicing x 2.

This is a bit immoral, you need to be doing at least some work to justify your day rate.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

Keep on invoicing on, work on Plan B to Plan Z.......

WHS - even if I have 2 hours free in an 8 hour day i'd be using it to work on my Plans B, C and D.

If you have more than that then you should be killing it coming up with a SaaS business or some other idea.

[tvr450]

Keep on invoicing. Find a second client who will let you work from home. Keep invoicing x 2.

[ladymuck]

I'm on my 3rd week of inventing work whilst waiting for the project to kick off. Just adding React to my CV but it's hard trying to look busy!!

Been there a few times, client gets you in a little too early and you're thumb twiddling for a few weeks. Take the time to learn all about the company's internal processes. Most permies haven't a clue what they are and it'll come in handy when you need to find something for the project and you already know where to go for the info. I have a good trawl of the intranet site, shared drives, sharepoint, etc and bookmark the heck out of anything that looks remotely useful.

[coolhandluke]

I'm on my 3rd week of inventing work whilst waiting for the project to kick off. Just adding React to my CV but it's hard trying to look busy!!