Reply to: Jump Ship, Lose Integrity? Help!

[Scrag Meister]

Personally I would work the 3 months at the current clientco, but as other have said 12 months isn't neccesarily 12 months.

Back in November I had an extension for a further 6 months, 1 month later they terminated my contract due to a change in their tech strategy.

Make sure you have a warchest in case something similar happens.

[thebdj]

Guys, Seriously thanks for all the feedback on this one. Lots of thoughts that were generally on the same track.

Just to quantify a couple of extra things. Whilst I appreciate there is no guarantee with any contract or indeed nowadays any permanent work (!), this has more than a smattering of 'who you know' attached to it. This increases my confidence with the role still existing in the 3 months time.

As regards how to play it, it looks like what is best is to wait until a few weeks before the end of the current contract (so after about 8 or 9 of the 12 weeks) where I would assume there would be discussions about renewal and politely say that I will be seeing out the contract and have accepted something elsewhere. I have no doubt that they are going to be a little cheesed off with this but I will be honest/sensible if they ask as to my reasons. I think this will also come as a surprise as most people who work there have been contracting for years and years, so the expectation may be the same of me.

Sounds like this should also keep my integrity/reputation intact and not damage anything too badly save for some slightly upset managers. That does still concern me but there is little I can do about that. As one person said, if there was a need to keep people on for longer then it may be more prudent that the company employs people with longer contracts.

Life is full of decisions!

[Boo]

Penny for your thoughts ....

What's to think ? You are under no obligation to renew and prefer another contract, so go. Plenty of people in your shoes would be looking at their contract termination clauses and there's no shame in that either IMHO...

Boo

[nomadd]

At my current client co, I will have had just over a year by the time this latest renewal (my last one here) comes to an end. In between, I've had renewals, but always wanted to stay until the completion of the project. In my personal situation, I think it probably would have been bad form not to accept a renewal, as I know it would have left the client short, no matter how much notice they've given me. But this is my first contract, and I'm happy to keep renewing to complete the projects.

Same thing just happened to me last week. One of the client's "other" depts tried to lure me away to their team as they knew my contract was coming up for renewal. I politely declined, even though they are a great bunch of people. My current PM has been pretty good to me, so it seems only fair to stick with his project until completion. I might not feel the same way if I'm back on the bench in six months, but hey, life's full of tough decisions.

[TheFaQQer]

Sadly, many clients seem to think that the best way to operate their business is to offer repeated short-term contracts. Then when you find something else to go to, they act annoyed and frustrated with you because they expected that you'd be so grateful with their offer of a contract, you'd just take it without thinking.

As most have said, though, as long as you don't lead them on, then you have done nothing wrong in working your three month contract and then moving on to another role.

Here's hoping that the second role actually comes off, rather than disappearing into the ether just at the moment that you turn down the extension at the current one

[jmo21]

At my current client co, I will have had just over a year by the time this latest renewal (my last one here) comes to an end. In between, I've had renewals, but always wanted to stay until the completion of the project. In my personal situation, I think it probably would have been bad form not to accept a renewal, as I know it would have left the client short, no matter how much notice they've given me. But this is my first contract, and I'm happy to keep renewing to complete the projects.

I tend to do this as well, I've never had the situation where I've been able to line something up so far in advance, so it's usually in the last month I ask about renewals, if nothing is forthcoming, then I'm looking/interviewing, but I do PREFER to give my client first refusal, even if they are fannying about trying to make a decision.

[jmo21]

Tell your client that you have other work lined up and it's an offer too good to refuse (don't say where, what or how much). Be clear that you are not going to give them notice but you won't be renewing after the three months is up either. Ask they how they want to play it, they may be happy to let you go early by mutual agreement and in return you will agree to stay on for a few weeks while they get someone else in to do an orderly handover etc.

Got to play that one softly softly though, some clients will accept it as a risk of employing contractors and be business like about it while others will go mental at you. Decide now which sort of client you have.

I'm not sure I agree with this.

I would wait until such time as the client asks you about renewing, then tell them.

Don't tell it's too good to be true etc etc, just simply state you already have another contract lined up for whatever start date.

There is no "it's better than you lot", or "He's just doing it for more money" type of thing, just simply aplogise, and say you are unable to extend as you already have another commitment.

They might still get the hump, but there's not a lot they can do about it by then.

They had the chance to give you a longer contract at the start but they didn't.

[jmo21]

It's considered bad form to leave your contract mid-term, however no problem leaving at the end. I tend to stay for the length of a project but if I don't think the project is going anywhere or someone makes me a better offer I'll leave.

If the existing client needed you to stay they should have given you a longer length contract.

It might scupper you chance to work with the client again but I wouldnt worry about that, business is business.

I agree with Cojak.

It sounds like you have actually landed in a pretty sweet position, first contract bagged, and the next one 3 months away lined up - result!

[Pondlife]

My o' my, everyone's being well behaved today.

As everyone else seems to have said, you're fine to not extend and go elsewhere. Just don't lead the old/current client on by implying you're staying.

[Wanderer]

However I have another company looking to offer me a 12 month contract on pretty much the same rate (higher by like £5/day) and are extremely keen to prise me away. After already telling them I wouldn't consider leaving the company I am with until at least my first 3 months are up, they have come back and said they would hold out for me.

Tell your client that you have other work lined up and it's an offer too good to refuse (don't say where, what or how much). Be clear that you are not going to give them notice but you won't be renewing after the three months is up either. Ask they how they want to play it, they may be happy to let you go early by mutual agreement and in return you will agree to stay on for a few weeks while they get someone else in to do an orderly handover etc.

Got to play that one softly softly though, some clients will accept it as a risk of employing contractors and be business like about it while others will go mental at you. Decide now which sort of client you have.

[Ignis Fatuus]

Jump Ship, Lose Integrity?

Jump Ship, Lose Integrity?

You can't lose integrity, you either have it or you don't.

You can lose a good reputation. But I don't think you would justifiably lose it in this case, because you are not planning to leave in mid-contract, i.e. you do have integrity.

Of course the client may not have integrity, and blacken your reputation unjustifiably just because he didn't like what you did. Well, tulip happens.

[GillsMan]

Agree with everyone, and I have to say I expected this to be a thread about someone who wants to leave mid-contract, which as others have said, is bad form.

At my current client co, I will have had just over a year by the time this latest renewal (my last one here) comes to an end. In between, I've had renewals, but always wanted to stay until the completion of the project. In my personal situation, I think it probably would have been bad form not to accept a renewal, as I know it would have left the client short, no matter how much notice they've given me. But this is my first contract, and I'm happy to keep renewing to complete the projects.

If, at the end of this latest contract, they offer me another renewal to work on a different project (unlikely), I wouldn't feel bad about turnning it down at all as I'd have seen out my contract and completed the project, which are important IMO.

[2BIT]

I have an interesting scenario.

I have recently started a 3 month IT contract. This is my first outing into the world of contracting so naturally I am very keen to make an impression and a name for both myself and my Limited Company. The rate I have for the role is very good and the work itself doesn't appear to be too bad either.

However I have another company looking to offer me a 12 month contract on pretty much the same rate (higher by like £5/day) and are extremely keen to prise me away. After already telling them I wouldn't consider leaving the company I am with until at least my first 3 months are up, they have come back and said they would hold out for me. The work at this role is considerably more interesting and should be of a great deal more worth to my CV technically. There is also likely to be a great deal more flexibility in the role that may also allow me to spend more time with my family.

My dilemma is about the integrity of my Limited Company and myself. If i leave after my 3 month assignment (bearing in mind I think there is a high likelihood that the expectation is that I would continue to roll with the contract), would this be frowned upon? Is this likely to scupper me working for this company again and would it also damage my reputation inside the business sector? I do not want to do long-term damage for what could essentially be a short-term (12 month) gain.

Penny for your thoughts ....

WCS, you sound like you are in a very good position, and any company worth dealing with will recognise your status as a business and respect you for acting like one, your main is whether an extra fiver a day is worth any extra travel you'd have to do and a potentially worse working environment

[Old Greg]

WTS

You are showing yourself to the potential new client to be a decent person by seeing out your contractual obligations, and it sounds like they appreciate it. If you really want to push the decency boat out, get a contract to start with the new client, and when the contract is signed, and when you're perhaps 3 weeks out, let your current client know you won't be renewing to give them time to find a replacement and hand over. Others with more experience may disagree and think that there's a view that you will be asked to clear your desk. Not my expereince but I don't work in that kind of sector. Happy to be gainsaid on this.

There is a view that integrity is for permies but it's nice to see a good crowd out in this thread.

[northernladuk]

You are not jumping ship if you stay the three months. You were asked to do 3 months, you did 3 months. Happy days. If they offer you more work you say sorry no can do and off you go. Very professional, very clean and no problems with integrity.

With my devils advocate hat on, a company wanting to prise you away and then wait for you to offer you a better 12 month contract does not sound the norm to me and I would look in to that situation in more detail.

Are they a big company? do they use contractors and understand them already? be honest with youself and ask are you really that good that they are willing to wait for you rather than take someone else on, has no one else on the bench got your experience?... honestly? What is the notice period? 12 month contract is only as long as they have work for you or the notice period, dont be fooled, you could be out in three. What are the working conditions like. 12 months isn't an IR35 factor in itself but it sets my alarm bells going.

It sounds too good to be true and often this is the case it is. Work day by day, don't get all dreamey about high paid 12 monthers until the contract is signed and you are sat at the desk. You are just going to be dissapointed if you get your expectations up too high.

Sorry if you know all this and am telling you how to suck eggs but these are common mistakes the new guys make (I did!)