Reply to: Notice Period - Moving from Perm to Contract

[Jaws]

Also, still be available for other contracts as a better offer may come up - you never know. In this game clients and agents don't have a consience. You don't need one either

Is that really something a lot of people do? I may be misunderstanding you but to me it seems a bit unprofessional to ditch one contract that you've accepted because something slightly tastier comes up just before you start.

[Turion]

I do find it a little hard to believe that a contract would normally be issued without any form of vetting/reference. Perhaps understandable if they can test your skills and personality via some sort of application and good interview technique, but i would have thought a couple of good references would be needed, otherwise what is to stop you being a cowboy and just jumping from job to job?

Congrats about getting the contract. Trust that it is countersigned by a director of the agency, otherwise it's worthless. Remember, your're not out of the woods until you set foot on the client site. Hidden in the contract will be clause stating it can be terminated immediately if for any reason work does not commence (the project could be suddenly canned for example, due to financial problems caused by the current market termoil ).

Now it's time to wise up. Mugs and desparados give references and the poor referee(s) who gets inudated by agent calls will hate you. Clients don't need 'em. If you're crap they'll bin you quick enough. Also, still be available for other contracts as a better offer may come up - you never know. In this game clients and agents don't have a consience. You don't need one either

[SueEllen]

It's all good, received the contract this morning, all rates, start dates etc as confirmed with the agent, all rather painless, which is good!

I do find it a little hard to believe that a contract would normally be issued without any form of vetting/reference. Perhaps understandable if they can test your skills and personality via some sort of application and good interview technique, but i would have thought a couple of good references would be needed, otherwise what is to stop you being a cowboy and just jumping from job to job?

References aren't worth the paper they are written on. You can get a mate or a more senior colleague to write one for you.

[swamp]

I do find it a little hard to believe that a contract would normally be issued without any form of vetting/reference. Perhaps understandable if they can test your skills and personality via some sort of application and good interview technique, but i would have thought a couple of good references would be needed, otherwise what is to stop you being a cowboy and just jumping from job to job?

Believe it, agents never take references. Your ex-bosses (referees) will be cold called every ten days from now until kingdom come by ex-double glazing salesmen with fat ties and shiny suits. They will not thank you. They will never give you another job!

[the_duderama]

It's all good, received the contract this morning, all rates, start dates etc as confirmed with the agent, all rather painless, which is good!

I do find it a little hard to believe that a contract would normally be issued without any form of vetting/reference. Perhaps understandable if they can test your skills and personality via some sort of application and good interview technique, but i would have thought a couple of good references would be needed, otherwise what is to stop you being a cowboy and just jumping from job to job?

[Tingles]

If your skills are in such short supply in your area - your current
employer might offer you a contract for say 3 months until they can find a replacement.

That's what happened to me. It's a business.


T

[oraclesmith]

I agree. You need a signed contract at the very least. As a permie you are in a very strong position, because you don't NEED the contract. You could take the leap of faith, but that is an emotional response rather than a logical one.

If the agent is not sending you the contract to sign same day, then there's a reasonable chance of the contract not coming off. Maybe a competing EB got the clients business at the last minute, maybe the project budget is cut (been there), maybe the agent's got a better/cheaper/experienced contractor etc.

There will be other contracts, so don't blow your safe permie job until you are 100% rock solid on the new contract. Unless you really hate your job!

In my opinion.

[Turion]

Thanks for the responses, very helpful!

So i decided to take the plunge, the agent is just waiting for one of references to reply, but i know he will give me a good reference and that's he's probably just busy (being a director in quite a large organisation) so I'm not worried.

Dudo, agents never take references, they take leads. No agent will delay sending a contract, once a client has given the OK. Sounds like something fishy is going on. Best you contact client direct and find out exactly what is happening. Good luck and Keep us updated.

[shoes]

Until you have the signed contract you don't have the gig. It sounds like that's where it's heading but you do not have it until you have it. Do not resign until you have the signed contract. Tell the agent this is your position. They can scan it and email it or they can fax it, this shouldn't delay anything. Protect your own interests, it's a perfectly reasonable position to take.

I see no problem with the client waiting 4 weeks, they knew your availability before they decided to interview you, it is part of their expectations.

[the_duderama]

I'm not a position to save up 2 months salary, one of the reasons why I took the role is that it doubles my pay. So once i am a contractor i will be in a postion to have a good finanicial cushion, if it doesn't work then my current employer will most likely take me back, if he doesn't then balls to the bills, they can wait, i don't have kids or a mortgage so worst thing that happens is i have to move back in with the parents.

Skills are in networking, specifically cisco and firewall stuff, (read multisite wan/lan, VPN, dynamic routing, load balancing, etc all across SME to large enterprise level, blah blah blah), design, implementation and support. I also unfortunatley have lots of windows expereince, messaging etc, but i hate it so am moving away from all that as it bores me to tears. No doubt if a get desperate a support monkey job would tide me over in the interim.

Also i am very willing to move around, really not fussed about where i work, as long i can see friends/family at the weekends.

[Wilmslow]

I am ASSUMING you have saved enough for 2 months worth of bills at the very least? If so, great.

If not,




What is your skillset, and are you flexible enough to have a Martini contract? Any time, any place, anywhere?

Your existing boss will now be contacted by agent, so will know.

4 weeks is a really long time for a contractor to join a team, very likely that they will get somebody else in the interim.

Best bet now - resign, and TRY to leave and join immediately.

[the_duderama]

Thanks for the responses, very helpful!

So i decided to take the plunge, the agent is just waiting for one of references to reply, but i know he will give me a good reference and that's he's probably just busy (being a director in quite a large organisation) so I'm not worried.

Plus I know my current employer will have problems replacing me, seems that good networking skills are rare where i live, and they were going to move me from our external support/implementation dept to our hosted envronment, so there is still a job even if they do fill my current role. They were very good about it all, sad to see me go, but happy that I'll be doing what I've always wanted to do.

Like i said both the agency and client are large and well known, so i'm not worried about the validity of the offer, guess I'm just a little nervous of such a large leap of faith, but if it all works out it will be well worth it!

Cheers!

[badger7579]

Its a bit of a leap of faith and 4 weeks is a loooooong time in contractor terms. It wouldn't surprise me if the position was filled before you finish your pem notice.

My advice is to save up enough to last you for 3 months and try to get a contract. This time of year is the best time to get one and the fact that you would be available immediatly is a big bonus.

Taking that initial leap is a tough decision..

[BrilloPad]

Due to the agent being off today and tomorrow, and that they would not issue it until references were checked and other admin stuff was done I'll not actually get the contract in paper form until next week.

seems dodgy to me. if they want you then they would rush it through - how many agents does agency have?

I have had the above before - and I waited. The client wants you? agency wants you? Then dont be a push-over.

[NotAllThere]

Resign immediately. I resigned before I got my first contract - 13 years ago. Don't be a wuss.