Part-time contracts

[NotAllThere]

I was working on a 5 day a week contract, and then got offered two days a week on a direct contract through a recommendation. When my 5 days came up for renewal, I said that I could only do 3 days a week. I worked this way quite happily for 6 months - then moved to 5 days a week direct.

This year, I'm with the same client, but they could only offer me 2-3 days a week. So I've got a contract with another division of the client's business, at 3 - 4 days a week from June to October. The first client has agreed 1-2 days for this period.

You have to convince the client that you can meet their requirements while not being available certain days. I've the advantage that the project offices are within walking distance of each other and on the same networks. The long term goal, however, is blocks of weeks with each client. Split weeks are challenging...

[rootsnall]

I did once see a part-time gig on Jobserve, but I think it's unlikely you're going to get one via the traditional route. Best to get "in" with the client, then you can start to work in more flexible ways.

Juggling two seems pretty pointless. But I wouldn't mind doing two or three days a week and spend more time on the plan B.

The juggling is an attempt to keep in with both clients as they are both localish and potentially will provide work in the future. I had ramped one down to 2 or 3 days a week ( for Plan B = idleness reasons ) but then the second one came along 10 mins from home. Seemed a good idea at the time !

[VectraMan]

I did once see a part-time gig on Jobserve, but I think it's unlikely you're going to get one via the traditional route. Best to get "in" with the client, then you can start to work in more flexible ways.

Juggling two seems pretty pointless. But I wouldn't mind doing two or three days a week and spend more time on the plan B.

[rootsnall]

I'm juggling two contracts at the moment, 2 days on one, 3 on the other. It's been a bit of nightmare to be honest as the work keeps on coming but you don't have any extra days to offer each client when they panic on a weekly basis as you walk out the door. A previous juggle worked out well but only because I had stuff all to do on one of the sites.

[conqurer]

Hi,

After spending one year as a contractor, I am also trying to get on the track of doing more than one job to expand my business.

Good luck.

[StarBuck]

Hi all. I've just begun my second contract in an environment where many contractors seem to work 3-4 days per week on the client site. On the other days they either work for another client or use the time to build up another arm of their business, e.g. web hosting or consultancy to small businesses etc.

Just putting the feelers out here really - do many of you spend a couple of days per week at different clients or on your own projects? And if so, how have you gone about it? Thanks