Reply to: Prompting client for extension

[Hex]

The last two times I've had the agent ring me up to ask me if I know whether the client will be renewing!

Both times I've already had it worked out so I've told them. May be slightly different for me though as the agency are on PSL and fixed margin.

I've always negotiated rate increases directly with the client.

[TheFaQQer]

Couldn't agree more. All work discussions are directly with the client obviously. Any contractual discussion are with the entity I have the contract with.

I would agree the extension with the client, then leave any rate negotiation to the agency to do.

And obviously get the agency to do the paperwork for me

[ratewhore]

There may be no legal relationship between you and the client, but building a working relationship with the client is what gets you the extension.

Couldn't agree more. All work discussions are directly with the client obviously. Any contractual discussion are with the entity I have the contract with.

[KathyWoolfe]

I dont think an agent ever told me about an extension. The client always spoke to me directly first.

I've had the opposite experience of this. Both times my contract has been extended, the agency always rang me to see if I was interested in getting extended. The second time I had to ring them to chase them about the paperwork but it was always them I spoke to rather than the client (even though the agent has representatives on-site).

[NotAllThere]

I've had an agency unaware of the fact that they'd renewed me two months previously. Even though I'd negotiated an increase of rate, and had been weekly invoicing and been paid.

[MarillionFan]

I dont think an agent ever told me about an extension. The client always spoke to me directly first.

[VectraMan]

I concur. There is no direct relationship between yourself and the client. I always deal only with the agent on renewals but then, I know others do it differently...

I can't believe people do that. Aren't you worried it makes you look kind of foolish and weak? I'd feel insulted if my client contact asked the agent to ask me something rather than just discussing it with me, and I think the same works in reverse.

The only time I've involved the agent at all is when I was trying to get an increase (successfully), and that's because I didn't really have a choice as I don't know their cut. Even then, I broached the subject of an increase with the client first.

There may be no legal relationship between you and the client, but building a working relationship with the client is what gets you the extension.


As others have said, you don't need to discuss an extension, but there's usually oppurtunities (i.e. meetings) where you can remind them of the time you have left.

[ratewhore]

Just speak to your agent - they'll do all the running for you...

I concur. There is no direct relationship between yourself and the client. I always deal only with the agent on renewals but then, I know others do it differently...

[Wilmslow]

I wouldn't send an email, to be honest - have a chat with the person that you know at the client who would make the decision. An email giving them the date you are leaving and asking about handover may well give the impression that you want to leave, when that's not the case.

Ditto.

Think about getting a good place and time for a chat with your client. (Spot the qualified counsellor in this post )

[DS24]

Thanks, I'll drop the client an email, reminding them of my contract end date, and asking if there is anything particular that I can do to help with the smooth transition. I'll also speak to the pimp and tell them I'd be willing to stay should the opportunity present itself, but that until I get a contract offer I'll be looking for alternative work as a contingency.
Thanks for your comments.

I wouldn't send an email, to be honest - have a chat with the person that you know at the client who would make the decision. An email giving them the date you are leaving and asking about handover may well give the impression that you want to leave, when that's not the case.

[Fred Bloggs]

If I fancy sticking around any place I "remind" the client that they, at that moment in time, have "first dibs" on me but that I'll be looking around shortly. I do this about 6 weeks before contract end and I usually know a couple of days later if I'm in work or not. So then I have 5 weeks to find a new project. I usually manage to go from one job to the next Friday to Monday but sometimes I take a week off in between. I usually just let the pimp know what I'm doing, they're usually pretty useless if they're involved at that stage IMHO.

[moorfield]

I find it easier to work on the assumption I am not going to be renewed (remembering that I am not a permie), so usually I approach the client first about 3 weeks before, tell them my contract is finishing on day X (and ask them if they want me to do any handover and with whom). Then I send an updated CV to the pimp and tell them I am back in the market for new work
(and also talking to other pimps). Those conversations normally give me a good feeling pretty quickly of whether a renewal is on the cards or not.

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks, I'll drop the client an email, reminding them of my contract end date, and asking if there is anything particular that I can do to help with the smooth transition. I'll also speak to the pimp and tell them I'd be willing to stay should the opportunity present itself, but that until I get a contract offer I'll be looking for alternative work as a contingency.
Thanks for your comments.

[NickNick]

I'm fast approaching the end of a contract here and was looking for an extension. I've spoken with the client and they're happy with the work I do and so the extension is forthcoming. However, there is no Agency in the loop.
In previous jobs, where there has been an agency, I've always approached the client first and just told the agency what is happening after the fact. It's been my experience that agencies are not always helpful or useful and so I'd rather get / fail to get an extension on my own merits rather than leave it to them.

[oracleslave]

yep, there's an agency. Is it a good idea for me to approach them first, before prompting the client?
p.s. there will be work. The thing I'm working gets delivered very soon, but there will undoubtedly be add-ons and extra functionality coming in the next few months. I think there's a "reasonable" chance of the client wanting me to stay on.

Probably no correct way of doing this as it largely depends on your relationship with the client (and also the clients with the agency). Letting the agency know you are prepared to stay on if offered an extension is probably a good first step. Maybe discuss it with the agent, let him/her know there is the potential for more work for you and then see what they suggest with regards to prompting the client to renew.

Alternatively of course if you feel sufficiently confident in your ability and relationship with the client I would just approach then and ask if they would like you to do a handover. (tip: leave this until near the end so they have no time to hire a cheap permie) If they want you to stay on then this should be the prompt they need to get the paperwork process started.

Good luck.