Advice needed/jumpin ship....

[TheFaQQer]

Tell your current client that you've been offered a better paid job and ask them to match it. Simples.

And before anyone goes wringing their hands saying that it's not a nice thing to do, how many stories to we hear about rate cuts or contractors terminated mid contract these days? Cuts both ways...

That only works when you have got the other job, though. At the moment the dilemma seems to be - should the OP go for 0, 1 or 2 of the potential roles.

This soon into a contract, I'd be astounded if there was anything on offer if you take this approach and demand more money or you'll be leaving - there's not been any opportunity to show that (s)he's worth the current rate, let alone a higher one.

I've seen this approach work for permie roles, but I've also seen it backfire spectacularly and then watched as people have had to back track on their threats to leave - only offer this kind of ultimatum if you (a) are sure you have got the new role, (b) don't care about pissing off the client, and (c) are certain that you want to leave.

[Wanderer]

do i take the 3mth if offered and then jump ship if i get interview and offered the 6mther.?? i only ask as it takes that long to get set up with umbrella company and then move again.

Tell your current client that you've been offered a better paid job and ask them to match it. Simples.

And before anyone goes wringing their hands saying that it's not a nice thing to do, how many stories to we hear about rate cuts or contractors terminated mid contract these days? Cuts both ways...

[TheFaQQer]

current role is 13ph(im also the only it contact on site so v akward)
one i went for interview today is 3mnther ''upto 18ph'' (have since found out this is to cover while they recruit for perm).
and the 6monther is 20ph.

think i would be better holding off for the 20ph its vmware/server role.

On those rates, the percentage difference potentially makes it worthwhile jumping. I wouldn't jump for the 3 month one, though, as the risk then is that you jump again - see what happens on the six month one.

It's been discussed a number of times in the past (and no doubt has been since I was last regularly here), but some agencies will operate a black list. Granted, that tends to be more niche agencies and higher daily rates, but they will bear a grudge and if there is a chance you might develop a reputation as someone who never sees the contract through, then I would look to minimise that by not doing it one contract after another.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

[SPURSN17]

current role is 13ph(im also the only it contact on site so v akward)
one i went for interview today is 3mnther ''upto 18ph'' (have since found out this is to cover while they recruit for perm).
and the 6monther is 20ph.

think i would be better holding off for the 20ph its vmware/server role.


Also on a side note has anyone dealt with Addeco.my curent role is through them and they are totally usless.im 3 weeks(not long but is due to go part time soon) in to the role and im still not setup to be paid as they havent signed the contract with the brolly. also they have sent a payment for my first two weeks with tax taken off.useless will never use again.....

[MarillionFan]

I'm not anal about it and have a different view point to NL on this.

If you have a notice period on your contract and the change in location and/or rate makes it worthwhile to you then by all means make that change.

Clients & agencies do not think twice about getting rid of temporary resource/contractors and in my opinion(depedent on the type of work you do) neither you.

It would be poor show to say jump ship in the middle of dev project where you are the sole developer, have learnt IP and moving would kill the project. That would be a choice for you.

But say for a support role, or part of a team / testing etc where the impact is low then you don't even have to consider impact.

Your choice but it should be up to you. We all know that NL operates one of those 'IT tax avoidance Ltd companies' :

[TheFaQQer]

Totally WHS. I wish I wasn't so anal about this, I keep telling myself it is just business but I too would find it very hard leave a client without a hell of a lot of incentive.

The OP doesn't say how much is more money.

Yes they do:

on the plus side both roles are a lot more per hour ( 5ph and 7ph more) and are closer to home...

If it is 100's per day then it is a tough decision. If you are talking anything up to £50 then I would forget it and do the decent thing. It just isn't worth it for that amount of cash in my book.

I agree - we're talking about £40 to £56 a day here, assuming an 8 hour day. The figure that is more relevant (but not revealed) is what kind of percentage increase are we talking here.

I don't look for work when I'm in a contract. If an agent brings something to me near the end of the contract, then I consider it. I left my last contract after giving 5 days notice, but I was two weeks from the end of an 11 month gig so ended up leaving 5 days early to go to the next one, which was too good to turn down.

[northernladuk]

Don't be a rate whore is my advice. Get a job, do the gig, do it superbly (after all, you're a contractor), don't renew if you don't want to and leave with your head held high.

Contemplating crapping on two clients for a max £2ph more (I'm assuming the 6monther is £2ph more than the 3monther you're looking for) is poor form IMHO.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. But then I h ave a borderline obsessive compulsion to do such a good job that the client loves me. Also, I wouldn't want to burn any bridges, as you don't know when/where the people you've let down will appear in the future...

Totally WHS. I wish I wasn't so anal about this, I keep telling myself it is just business but I too would find it very hard leave a client without a hell of a lot of incentive.

The OP doesn't say how much is more money. If it is 100's per day then it is a tough decision. If you are talking anything up to £50 then I would forget it and do the decent thing. It just isn't worth it for that amount of cash in my book.

I just think this attitude of bouncing from contract to contract is generally pretty poor and I am absolutely certain this will come back and bite you in the ass in the future. The last 3 gigs I have had have been gained through knowledge of people on other gigs and/or worked with people from the past. I am sure I wouldn't have had such a smooth ride if I had abused contracts I had in the past.

I would stick where you are and aim for the 6 months IF it is a very big change.

Always remember as well though, until the ink is dried on the contract you have nothing so don't worry yourself too much until you have actually been offered the role. Interview <> offer.

[GillsMan]

its due to end middle of june.a week by the looks of it. i would be potentially burning two bridges in such a short space of time in order to get the higher paid role and have the hassle of cancelling/arranging contracts with my umbrella which has only just been sorted for this role,after 3 weeks.on the plus side both roles are a lot more per hour ( 5ph and 7ph more) and are closer to home...

Don't be a rate whore is my advice. Get a job, do the gig, do it superbly (after all, you're a contractor), don't renew if you don't want to and leave with your head held high.

Contemplating crapping on two clients for a max £2ph more (I'm assuming the 6monther is £2ph more than the 3monther you're looking for) is poor form IMHO.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. But then I h ave a borderline obsessive compulsion to do such a good job that the client loves me. Also, I wouldn't want to burn any bridges, as you don't know when/where the people you've let down will appear in the future...

[curtis]

I would be tempted not to take the 3 monther and then jump to the 6 monther if you get it, obviously you can but bad practice in general.

Can you not hold out to see if you get at least an interview for the 6 monther?

[SPURSN17]

its due to end middle of june.a week by the looks of it. i would be potentially burning two bridges in such a short space of time in order to get the higher paid role and have the hassle of cancelling/arranging contracts with my umbrella which has only just been sorted for this role,after 3 weeks.on the plus side both roles are a lot more per hour ( 5ph and 7ph more) and are closer to home...

[TykeMerc]

It's been discussed a fair few times and more than once in the last month or so. I expect you can find the threads with a tiny bit of effort.

Personally I don't believe in abandoning a contract you've agreed to, but if you absolutely must then as a minimum you should give the notice specified in the contract and ensure you do a quality handover.

[PrinceNamor]

What are the terms of your current contract? Length and notice periods. If you do walk out you are burning that bridge and won't get any repeat business.

[SPURSN17]

i have been working in my current contract for 3 weeks. i took it as i was out of work and needed something even though it was lower paid and a simpler role. Now i have an interview at another place which is more money 3mther and been put forward for another role 6mther even more money.
do i take the 3mth if offered and then jump ship if i get interview and offered the 6mther.?? i only ask as it takes that long to get set up with umbrella company and then move again. i relalise this is all speculation but just wondered. hope that made sense