Reply to: Must start next week

[Scrag Meister]

I agree with TAV largely, one of your main selling points as a skilled contractor is that you are available immediately and that you are productive for the client within a couple of hours of arriving on the first morning after they have managed to get all your network access, VS 2010, email and other crap sorted out.

FTFY

[psychocandy]

We've all turned up for "urgent jobs" and had no PC to use for two or three weeks. It doesn't stop the client Co's insisting that the jobs are urgent even when I know they're not. It's largely part of the deal I reckon and I'm quite happy invoicing while I wait for the client PC to trun up.

Yep. Thats going to be me at the moment. How do you amuse yourself during this time?

I reckon Im going to be going nuts after a few days sitting here reading manuals !!!!!!

Or do you just daydream about your cash ????

[Thejacka1]

However, what you should do is tell a small lie to the agent about your availability. Go to the interview, if you get it, and you can't take it, just tell the agent that due to personal circumstances, you are unable to take the role. Or at least find some reason not to take the role (such as the contract is not IR35 friendly, or something that is genuine). I don't normally advocate lying, but if you want to open doors, you have to take risks. You can always approach your current client and ask for an early exit (with a reasonable handover period) before going to the next gig.

What's the worst thing that can happen? You will lose any further opportunity to work for that particular bank (or their partnering banks).

If I was in the last month of my contract I'd be more economical with the truth. The opportunity has come a bit early for my liking, if they'd have got their act together and interviewed before the New Year I could have walked before I signed a two month extension.

The most frustrating thing is that they won't interview me and establish that I'm suitable for the job. in the meantime they are contacting all agencies to try and get somebody in, and guess who they all phone, yes me! I've had another 3 calls about the role this afternoon.

[pmeswani]

I've had a pending Interview with a Japanese Bank since before Christmas. They say they wont interview me unless I'm able to start immediately. I've been phoned by 7 other agents about this job so I must be a fairly good fit.

This is always a difficult subject. If any agent said that to me when contacting me, I would turn around and say no can do. Have other commitments.

I'm under contract to another bank with a 4 week notice period, contract ends in February. I've said I'd make best efforts to finish early but cant make any promises. I'd prefer to finish the contract here but timing jobs seems to be a tricky business.

Good plan. Don't walk away from an existing contract, no matter how tempting the new opportunity is (unless you have a very good reason to walk).

I've been told by agents that clients prefer candidates to be in employment as they see it as being "risky" to take on somebody who hasn't got a gig.

I've been told by Jack that his beanstalk is real. If you have been out of a gig for too long, it can be seen as a person being out of touch. But if you can demonstrate you are reskilling yourself and have the aptitude to do the work, then you will be ok.

I'm pretty confident they wont find anybody else with the skills they want, especially with immediate availablility, I'm certainly not going up to my current boss and ask him if they'll let me go IF I get the job!

Don't be too sure. There's bound to be someone on the bench waiting to take that particular contract.

However, what you should do is tell a small lie to the agent about your availability. Go to the interview, if you get it, and you can't take it, just tell the agent that due to personal circumstances, you are unable to take the role. Or at least find some reason not to take the role (such as the contract is not IR35 friendly, or something that is genuine). I don't normally advocate lying, but if you want to open doors, you have to take risks. You can always approach your current client and ask for an early exit (with a reasonable handover period) before going to the next gig.

What's the worst thing that can happen? You will lose any further opportunity to work for that particular bank (or their partnering banks).

[thunderlizard]

If the agent says you have to be able to start within the next week, then you have to be able to start within the next week. Why would we make it harder for ourselves to find the right people??

Partly because you try to add value, and partly because of "Always Be Closing". Maybe you aren't as agressive as most agents in that respect.
If a client says they want someone with 3 years' experience of Pac Man, the agent will try and get someone with 4. If they need someone within a month, and they say then need someone "ASAP", the agent will try and get someone who can start within the week, and move heaven and earth to get them on site before it's easy for the client to change their mind.

[nomadd]

I've been told by agents that clients prefer candidates to be in employment as they see it as being "risky" to take on somebody who hasn't got a gig.

And the lesson here? Don't listen to agents, they are full of sh...

[Thejacka1]

I've had a pending Interview with a Japanese Bank since before Christmas. They say they wont interview me unless I'm able to start immediately. I've been phoned by 7 other agents about this job so I must be a fairly good fit.

I'm under contract to another bank with a 4 week notice period, contract ends in February. I've said I'd make best efforts to finish early but cant make any promises. I'd prefer to finish the contract here but timing jobs seems to be a tricky business.

I've been told by agents that clients prefer candidates to be in employment as they see it as being "risky" to take on somebody who hasn't got a gig.

I'm pretty confident they wont find anybody else with the skills they want, especially with immediate availablility, I'm certainly not going up to my current boss and ask him if they'll let me go IF I get the job!

[ChimpMaster]

One contract contacted me on the Wednesday for an interview the same day. They offered me the job and said that that I needed to start the following Monday in Vevey Switzerland. I had a UK holiday booked but they needed someone urgently.

I was waiting at reception 9.00 monday sharp...

Nestlé? I worked there for almost 2 years, lovely place though after that long it was getting a bit boring! I still remember the amazing view of the mountains from the main Nestlé building (we were of course based in the I.T. building with not so great a view).

I still miss my favourite restaurant there, and Italian which did a lovely lamb chop dish. Oh and the quaint little cafe where 2 old ladies served up the best ever chicken and chips!

And don't forget the gentlemen's club above the pizzeria on the lake front! That was blinkin awful

[manclarky]

How do you guys approach the situation when an agent rings up and gives you all the speil about the client wanting you to start next week... and it is already mid-week and you live 300 miles from the site?

I had just got back from a week's holiday (between contracts you see) and got a call at 9:00am Monday morning saying I'd got the job (230 miles away) and when could I start?

I said that if they were desperate, I'd be there for about 2pm, otherwise in the morning.
They went back to the client (major UK airline) who weren't as desperate as the agent, so I started on the Thursday.

No problem - it is (to me) the beauty of contracting (that and the pay of course)

[meridian]

One contract contacted me on the Wednesday for an interview the same day. They offered me the job and said that that I needed to start the following Monday in Vevey Switzerland. I had a UK holiday booked but they needed someone urgently.

I was waiting at reception 9.00 monday sharp...

Coincidentally, I had a similar thing in the same location, except the agent rang me on the Friday and said I want you there Monday.

Managed to negotiate him to Tuesday.

Must be a GLOBE-al thing........

[norrahe]

Interview Friday afternoon (Just Gone). Started on the Monday with all paperwork complete, and IT etc all set up ready to go.

Scary, now that doesn't happen very often

[Netraider]

Interview Friday afternoon (Just Gone). Started on the Monday with all paperwork complete, and IT etc all set up ready to go.

[darmstadt]

I think its a 50/50 thing. I've had the 'must start next week' and have started the next week but also I've had the phone call saying that they still have to get it approved so I take them all with a pinch of salt. What gets me is when you tell the agent that you're in a contract that finishes at a certain date and then you can do it but they still push you for the interview. I'm not going to pack in a contract just in case and I'm sure they wouldn't like it happening to them in return...

[Bluespider]

Up Where I lurk (Edinburgh) most of the Finance sector contracts appear with 'Urgent Start', 'urgent requirement' etc but when it comes down to it there is at least a week needed to perform the clearances needed and generally another week once on site to sort out logins and equipment.
I think, generally, nodding and saying yes to the agent and then trying to find out what the client wants is the best course of action.

[norrahe]

I dont see the problem. The requirement is start in a week or dont start. Simple really.

It's not often I find myself agreeing with BB but yes, that's how contracting works.

I've been contacted by agents at 2pm on a Thursday and interviewed an hour later with a start for the following Monday.

Though I also agree with configman, there are a lot of "urgent" requirements from agents and its rare when you ask the client about the start date that they want you ASAP.