Reply to: Letting down a client easy (end of contract)

[Snooky]

Deutsche? - if so that was my experience as well.

It has been similar at every bank I have contracted at though.

Not Deutsche

[ascender]

It's amusing that people normally say keep looking till the contract is started etc but here we have folks suggesting the OP leaps to an unknown. I'll go against the grain here and say sometimes better the devil you know but either way - it doesn't seem that either contract is in the bag.

4 weeks left in a contract is an age, especially at gigs like mine where it's three months rolling.

And if the client renews, the OP would be getting a new 12 month gig which isn't to be sniffed at with the market as it is. Depending on his experience, role etc, might be worth considering, even if he is worried about going "stale".

[SussexSeagull]

Play the cards as they are dealt. If a better offer comes in and your contract is due to expire then jump ship but if the renewal comes through and the other client doesn't come through then stay put.

Obviously slightly disappointing if neither comes through.

[TheDude]

I used to work for a large German bank who were renowned for not coming through with the renewal paperwork until virtually the final day of the contract. Everyone accepted it and, if the client manager had said it was going to happen, it happened. But that was when times were much better - in the current market I would have done exactly as you did.

Deutsche? - if so that was my experience as well.

It has been similar at every bank I have contracted at though.

[fatJock]

I finish on Friday and don't have my extension yet but I expect it and have been told the paperwork is in process. Largely expect it because I'm knee deep at the business end of projects that they have no one else free to deliver.

It's amusing that people normally say keep looking till the contract is started etc but here we have folks suggesting the OP leaps to an unknown. I'll go against the grain here and say sometimes better the devil you know but either way - it doesn't seem that either contract is in the bag.

4 weeks left in a contract is an age, especially at gigs like mine where it's three months rolling.

[Snooky]

As most others have said, politely explain that you couldn't really wait any longer to know whether they'd actually offer a renewal, you're sad to be leaving and will do everything possible to ensure a complete handover, and you hope to work with them again in future.

It's the client's fault entirely. Verbal promises are worthless, particularly in a dead market like this, so if they definitely need to you to stay on they need to get you signed up long before you feel uneasy and have to look elsewhere. You haven't let them down, they've let themselves down. You asked repeatedly and got no definitive confirmation.

I used to work for a large German bank who were renowned for not coming through with the renewal paperwork until virtually the final day of the contract. Everyone accepted it and, if the client manager had said it was going to happen, it happened. But that was when times were much better - in the current market I would have done exactly as you did.

[TheDude]

I took my last gig because they offered the chance to be involved in a migration to GCP.

In two years it didn't happen and I was obliged to leave because I had reached the two year engagement limit.

[northernladuk]

I assume reading the first post this is an inside gig.. because if it isn't, it is.

Just be professional. You've blurred the lines between a contract with a client and being part and parcel. They offer you a contract for work and pay you, you do it and honour the contract. End of. You don't want to say you act professional and advise your client you'd like to leave at X date and then leave. No one can get shirty about you doing exactly what you should as a supplier to client and if they do take umbridge you were never going to be able to leave gracefully anyway.

Polite email, thank them for the offer, advise you'll be leaving on X date as per your contract, you've done X, Y and Z as handover and would be happy to assist in any other handover duties the client requires and you are done. There is no sucking up or namby pamby stuff to do. Professional and polite.

[Dorkeaux]

I feel you, no client likes to lose a valued co-worker with industry and company-specific experience if there is more work to be done

But you are leaving at "The end of the contract" so to speak.
And have only some verbage to indicate it would be renewed.

I can see the client being salty if you are on the verge of a deliverable that will now go uncompleted.
That might colour your chances of being hired again at this client.
It's not a great look to dump your client in a load of tulip, but it sounds like you have put in long service with them.

On the balance, I would say lick the current client all over but take the new contract.

If it's true, tell your stakeholders an co-workers sincerely how much you've enjoyed working with them and how awesome they are.
But this new opportunity is simply "an offer you can't refuse".
As a contractor, you have to manage your own career progression. This is how you do it.
If it's outside IR35, you might also mention that you have to avoid red flags with HRMC.

Also, as other posters have said, ensure the handover is done with diligence and remain positive and energetic for your final weeks. No coasting.

And congratulations. It sounds like a good opportunity.

[Chris Bryce]

Do you have a signed extension?

No?

Then you don't have a contract.

Just be professional, suck it up and tell your manager that as you've not had any paperwork, you went out to market and have found something else. You're telling them now as you want to give them the maximum time to arrange for a proper professional handover.

You don't owe them anything beyond the end of your contract, and you can be damn sure they'd drop you like a stone if the boot was on the other foot.

This ^^

Just be mega professional, and give them as much notice as you can. Be aware though that your new contract isn't in the bag until a) the paperwork is done and b) you're actually working on it. There's always a risk that a new contract gets canned before you start.

[jf2010]

getting a rep for not finishing projects will do you no good in the long term.

Thats true. But these are 12 month contracts and becoming stale for another 12 months in this role would be worse I am thinking (current is a good company but current team is very outdated)

I am leaning to the new role due to newer (shinier) tech to hopefully be more employable in 12 months even with this hopefully not too burnt bridge

[oliverson]

"Don't worry there will be an extension."

Have you seriously never heard a client say that and then that suddenly change to. "Ahh. Yeah, sorry there's no budget any more." ?

That's even happened to me with a couple of permie offers.

If you don't have a contract, you don't have a contract. Simple as that. It's not like he's even dropping them in it. As I understand it, OP has a contract which will come to and end in 4 weeks and will no longer be available to offer his services following its completion.

Exactly. I had that one once, then one of the other devs came up to me as my contract was coming to a close and said that he was sorry I'm leaving!!! News to me. That really left me in the tulip as it was during the financial crisis and I had a really rough year from then given I was contracting in London finance. It was also just approaching Christmas.

Another one as well, funnily enough with another London investment bank. I'd finished a stint with them, had a couple of weeks off and another team wanted to interview me. So in I go and nail the interview. I'm down All Bar One in Canary Wharf with my contractor mate, celebrating by drinking a couple of bottles of champagne. Agent assures me it's been signed off by several people in London and it just needs somebody in Paris to press a single button. That button never got pressed!

So, there's a real need to look after number 1 because as others have said, many companies will drop you like a bad habit. But having said that, it does feel uneasy dropping the in the tulip, particularly if you like the place and/or the team.

I think I'd just be completely honest with the current client and tell them the market is pretty much impossible at the moment, given the IR35 reforms, the state of the economy and the fact there's loads of people on the bench with all the tech layoffs, so you'd no alternative but to pursue this new one as a precaution. I'd also mention the rate is a bit higher as well ;-). You never know.

Alternatively, if they're both remote roles, and they're outside, do them both!

[b0redom]

"Don't worry there will be an extension."

Have you seriously never heard a client say that and then that suddenly change to. "Ahh. Yeah, sorry there's no budget any more." ?

That's even happened to me with a couple of permie offers.

If you don't have a contract, you don't have a contract. Simple as that. It's not like he's even dropping them in it. As I understand it, OP has a contract which will come to and end in 4 weeks and will no longer be available to offer his services following its completion.

[ladymuck]

I'm with b0redom on this. You don't have a contract renewal until you actually have the paper work in your hands.

When does the new client want you to start, and have they issued the contract? In an ideal world you wouldn't give notice on your current gig until they've done the paperwork or you risk having nothing.

[sadkingbilly]

Do you have a signed extension?

No?

Then you don't have a contract.

Just be professional, suck it up and tell your manager that as you've not had any paperwork, you went out to market and have found something else. You're telling them now as you want to give them the maximum time to arrange for a proper professional handover.

You don't owe them anything beyond the end of your contract, and you can be damn sure they'd drop you like a stone if the boot was on the other foot.

yes, let them believe you'll extend, then drop them in it mid project.
very professional.
typical webdev.