Time from Contact to Contract being offered

[Drewster]

I sympathise with you having to wait about between contracts.... the client will "decide" in a few months and other such tulip.........

but I know that you know in these cases
There isn't a real role....... (yet... and there might never be one)....
or You are not 1st choice...

IF the role comes up (for real) in a few months and IF you are still benched and IF they offer role/interview then you will take it from there.....

A role isn't "real" until they send out the paper work and its been signed..... and even then its only as "real" as the notice period.......

I once landed a gig after being "kept on a string" for a few months... (fortunately I had completed another contract in between).... and (obviously) once on site I learned that the "other" guy they took on in the interim was a) Cheaper and b) kicked out.....

The Pimp had "pushed" him forward (in preference to me) because they got a much better cut..... The pimp knew he was chancing it but thought (rightly it turned out) that if it went t*ts up he could replace him with me.......

[pmeswani]

So, if a decent start tomorrow 3 month contract comes along now, would you take it?

Depends what it is. If it fit my skillset and is fairly local and had good T's & C's... probably would. If it is like the FCO where I had to go through DV, then absolutely not.

[Turion]

So, if a decent start tomorrow 3 month contract comes along now, would you take it?

[pmeswani]

That sucks! I'd never just sit and wait like that. How do know it will actually happen? and what if a dream 'start next day' contract comes up, whilst waiting. Would you reject it 'cos you agreed to wait for on an agents promise.

In these wait n' see roles, i'd accept, but take anything half decent that came up before, as a bird is worth 2 bushes

I don't know for certain if it will happen, but I have chased the agency for updates. Got a surprised email from the agency telling me that they should know by mid Jan. I'm not pinning my hopes on that particular role, and am applying for other roles. It's just ironic that a habit is starting to form.

This particular contract is a 12 month contract that could turn out to be a 24 month contract. So I can't really complain, but I wish the client would hurry up.

[Turion]

It seems like I am forming a habit of having to wait 4 or 5 months before I land a contract. A contract position I applied for back in October, and I won't get to know if I got it until Mid-January if I got it or not. My last contract ended last week, it's getting a bit painful having to wait before a new one comes up. Have enough money to last me a couple of months, but not sure if it will last longer than that.

That sucks! I'd never just sit and wait like that. How do know it will actually happen? and what if a dream 'start next day' contract comes up, whilst waiting. Would you reject it 'cos you agreed to wait for on an agents promise.

In these wait n' see roles, i'd accept, but take anything half decent that came up before, as a bird is worth 2 bushes

[pmeswani]

3 days, 1 day and 4 weeks for the last three contracts.

It seems like I am forming a habit of having to wait 4 or 5 months before I land a contract. A contract position I applied for back in October, and I won't get to know if I got it until Mid-January if I got it or not. My last contract ended last week, it's getting a bit painful having to wait before a new one comes up. Have enough money to last me a couple of months, but not sure if it will last longer than that.

[Sausage Surprise]

2 days, 3 days, and offered job at telephone interview for the last 3

[NiceUpNorth]

I waited 5 days on this gig

HTH

[pleomax]

3 days, 1 day and 4 weeks for the last three contracts.

[pmeswani]

How long have you waited since first contact with the Agency / client (if applied direct) to being offered the contract? Just curious to see what the norm is.

The longest I have waited is 5 months. The shortest is instant.