Reply to: Are lots of short-term contracts a liability?

[DodgyAgent]

I always just put (contract) after the client name, do agents prefer to see (2*3 month contract) or something like that? Do clients prefer to see that?

If you are a short term troubleshooter then short contracts are fine. If you are an end to end project manager/program manager then too many short contracts are not good. Really the CV just needs to effect whatever you are suitable for. The problems come when you apply for a job that requires a different set of values to the ones that can be seen on your CV.
I would say that you should always put yourself in the position of whover will be hiring you (if you can given the ltd information you get from agencies)

[minestrone]

Seeing contractors with extensions on their contracts is always reassuring.

I always just put (contract) after the client name, do agents prefer to see (2*3 month contract) or something like that? Do clients prefer to see that?

[DodgyAgent]

A contractor with a lot of short contracts worries me. I will always go back to length of tenure at permanent positions. If you are going to have lots of short term contracts try and go back somewhere that you have been before.
There are also certain contracts such as project management where clients want people who have seen projects through from start to finish.

Seeing contractors with extensions on their contracts is always reassuring.

[d000hg]

Jesus farking christ, this thread is all about a non-problem.

And whoever posted that drivel about short term contracts making a contractor look tulipe,

But based on anecdotal evidence in this thread, many clients don't think the same way we do. And the bad news is, their views are the important ones.

[minestrone]

I just finished a contract for a big US investment bank, they told me that I was lucky to get to the interview as they figured some of my contracts were too short term. They asked me about it at the interview and I was quick to let them know that most of my jobs are 'get the job done and get out.

It's a mindset, the big banks think they can bring someone in and they will be there for as long as they produce the goods. IF you get bumped after 3 months there was obviously something wrong. You just have to explain that it's not like that everywhere.

[Fred Bloggs]

The problem is, it depends. I wasn't shortlisted for the role I'm in now, they didn't like the first batch so I got in on the 2nd run. A few weeks after I was in I asked my boss what had put him off my CV the first time round.

He said I'd had a couple of 3 monthers a couple of years ago, and to him this maybe meant I hadn't been renewed because there'd been problems with me. This guy is a contractor himself, but more in the permietractor mode, so to him a contract which doesn't go on for 3 years means there's a problem.

It was all a perception thing. To him I was a risk.

I have had exactly the same happen to me too.

[ratewhore]

Jesus farking christ, this thread is all about a non-problem.

And whoever posted that drivel about short term contracts making a contractor look tulipe,

[TheBigYinJames]

Hmm, just started with an investment bank consultancy and they didn't view my previous 3 month contract (with no renewal) as a problem. As long as you're good at your job and have good references then there is no issue.

The problem is, it depends. I wasn't shortlisted for the role I'm in now, they didn't like the first batch so I got in on the 2nd run. A few weeks after I was in I asked my boss what had put him off my CV the first time round.

He said I'd had a couple of 3 monthers a couple of years ago, and to him this maybe meant I hadn't been renewed because there'd been problems with me. This guy is a contractor himself, but more in the permietractor mode, so to him a contract which doesn't go on for 3 years means there's a problem.

It was all a perception thing. To him I was a risk.

[Bright Spark]

short contracts shouldn't make a difference, ultimately a client
has a problem and needs someone in fast who knows what he's
doing who can fix the problem.

If applying for any roles in finance or govt, don't change the dates or
employers around, in my experience they outsource the checking to
risk security company who will verify all dates for last 5years!!

example
http://www.vetyourstaff.com/
http://www.verifile.co.uk/verifile/about/who.shtml

[adestor]

Alot of banks see short contracts (and particularly lack of renewal) as bad.

But they are hardly recruiting at the moment.

Hmm, just started with an investment bank consultancy and they didn't view my previous 3 month contract (with no renewal) as a problem.
As long as you're good at your job and have good references then there is no issue.

[BrilloPad]

Seems to me like a lot of people are thinking like individuals - this is business people !

There is nothing wrong with short contracts (apart perhaps from cluttering up one's CV) - you're there do to a specific job and nothing else. As long as you've got good references from short contracts and the reason why the contract was short is sound and honest then no-one can argue with that.
Apart from the odd ignorant/snotty agent who doesn't understand what contracting is about.

Alot of banks see short contracts (and particularly lack of renewal) as bad.

But they are hardly recruiting at the moment.

[adestor]

Seems to me like a lot of people are thinking like individuals - this is business people !

There is nothing wrong with short contracts (apart perhaps from cluttering up one's CV) - you're there do to a specific job and nothing else. As long as you've got good references from short contracts and the reason why the contract was short is sound and honest then no-one can argue with that.
Apart from the odd ignorant/snotty agent who doesn't understand what contracting is about.

[Turion]

The solution to that little conumdrum is to remove some of the less illustrious contracts from the middle of your CV, and move the start/end dates out to cover the gaps. Don't change your last contract though. Nobody but the most anal of clients are going to check.

Oh and any particular skillsets you gained in the contracts you have removed - just move them to an adjacent contract you left in.

If J K Rowling can make millions from writing fiction, why can't I?

This is exactly the correct thing to do. The CV is a sales doc and Cons need to show only what makes them good for a particular role.

In 10 yrs I've had 30+ clients with contracts from 1 day to 1 yr+. sometimes with contracts within contracts. There is no way these can all be listed in a permie type CV format. I remove the bulk and take the best bits and put it all together in a nice mix and only give year of project, not specific start/end dates. I also remove references to old or unwanted skills and embellish the targeted skillset if needed, so that I am not bothered with calls for legacy stuff.

[MaryPoppins]

Utter tripe. My company is engaged to do a specific job for a specific time. When that job is done I/we usually move on to find another victim, I mean customer....unless there is another task that needs doing and it is in my company's interests to do it.

If you think that means people like me are are tulipe, then that says a lot more about you than it does me!

Same here. If my role lasts longer than 6/9 months, it becomes too BAU, there is simply not the need for it. If I only had a few long contracts on my CV I would be rubbish.

[MaryPoppins]

The solution to that little conumdrum is to remove some of the less illustrious contracts from the middle of your CV, and move the start/end dates out to cover the gaps. Don't change your last contract though. Nobody but the most anal of clients are going to check.

Oh and any particular skillsets you gained in the contracts you have removed - just move them to an adjacent contract you left in.

If J K Rowling can make millions from writing fiction, why can't I?

I am increasingly being asked for 3 years of references, which agencies seem to check up on. I wouldn't be able to get away with this, and wouldn't try.