Reply to: What would you do?

[farout117]

I once signed a contract, and then didn't turn up for work when getting a counter offer at the current client site. Director at the time said that was normal practice. Illegal? I don't know... but nothing was done about it apart from a fuming agent.

Funny thing is, when 2008 came around and times were bad, I rang up that same agent again to see if he would do business. Angry for a few minutes, then we agree it was mutually a good idea. And I agreed this time to turn up to the client co.

Such as thing as ill will? Not in capitalism it seems....

Yeah having a counter offer helps I remember back in 2006-2007, the phone rang at least once a day with a new contract. Those were the days where I could choose where and with who to work, so many different options back then Now sometimes its better to stick to what you have, darn recession

[jonathanOnshore2010]

I once signed a contract, and then didn't turn up for work when getting a counter offer at the current client site. Director at the time said that was normal practice. Illegal? I don't know... but nothing was done about it apart from a fuming agent.

Funny thing is, when 2008 came around and times were bad, I rang up that same agent again to see if he would do business. Angry for a few minutes, then we agree it was mutually a good idea. And I agreed this time to turn up to the client co.

Such as thing as ill will? Not in capitalism it seems....

[farout117]

I was always under the impression that invoking a notice period just because you find something paying more is pretty bad form.

Basically, if you sign a contract at a rate then you should stick with it...

Saying that, you've got to look after yourself at the end of the day, so I'd consider doing this I guess.

I agree with you on this, and I do not think I have ever done it before. however if the agent is taking the pi*** there's a limit. If I had to invoke the notice, I would talk to the client co about it.

What worries me more is the new agency/client co, since they would think I would jump to the next ship once things are not right.

[Scrag Meister]

I was always under the impression that invoking a notice period just because you find something paying more is pretty bad form.

Basically, if you sign a contract at a rate then you should stick with it...

Saying that, you've got to look after yourself at the end of the day, so I'd consider doing this I guess.

Bad form maybe, illegal or contract breaking, assuming that you follow the termination requirements, it isn't.

[psychocandy]

I was always under the impression that invoking a notice period just because you find something paying more is pretty bad form.

Basically, if you sign a contract at a rate then you should stick with it...

Saying that, you've got to look after yourself at the end of the day, so I'd consider doing this I guess.

[farout117]

Data entry has moved to the web and to be honest HTML 5 allows you to render just about any data you want in real time (I know because my plan b does exactly that).

MS are or already have announced that Silverlight is dead after version 5. Remember the only rule is things change constantly so unless you need to be looking at next years likely tools (HTML5, javascript and nosql) rather than ones where there is already qualified and more experienced competition.

The only thing is that I hate HTML and Javascript with a passion man. Can't understand how MS will move from a "sexy" platform like .NET to HTML and Javascript again. Still I cannot see how the community will react to that. There are lots of people like me who hate Javascript.

Silverlight was never really put so much emphasis on, however I think WPF will remain a flagship product for MS for the time being, since there isn't any real product that can replace it.

[eek]

You reckon WPF will be legacy soon? Well I am concentrating on it at the moment since I really love this technology, though I must admit I am quite behind till now. But I think there will always be the need for LOB applications, and I cannot imagine HTML5, Javascript or CSS can achieve that, let alone ASP.NET MVC3! I think that WPF is there to stay, IMHO.

Yeah would love to come out with a million dollar idea and hang up my contracting keyboard, but what are the chances realistically?

Data entry has moved to the web and to be honest HTML 5 allows you to render just about any data you want in real time (I know because my plan b does exactly that).

MS are or already have announced that Silverlight is dead after version 5. Remember the only rule is things change constantly so unless you need to be looking at next years likely tools (HTML5, javascript and nosql) rather than ones where there is already qualified and more experienced competition.

[farout117]

I don't think you're doing yourself any favours. WPF and Silverlight have been out for several years now. As a contractor you should keep your skillset up-to-date no matter what you're working on. Anyhow, you've missed the boat with both those technologies are they are soon to be legacy if not already.

Given your commercial experience in web development and the way development is going in general, much as I'm loathe to say it being a WPF developer, I'd focus on HTML5, Javascript and CSS along with ASP.NET MVC 3 (and the next version). The added benefit is that once you get truly sick and tired of this contracting rat race you have some skills to knock up a sideline project, maybe an e-commerce site of some flavour, that may ultimately lead to hanging up your contracting keyboard!

You reckon WPF will be legacy soon? Well I am concentrating on it at the moment since I really love this technology, though I must admit I am quite behind till now. But I think there will always be the need for LOB applications, and I cannot imagine HTML5, Javascript or CSS can achieve that, let alone ASP.NET MVC3! I think that WPF is there to stay, IMHO.

Yeah would love to come out with a million dollar idea and hang up my contracting keyboard, but what are the chances realistically?

[farout117]

If the client aren't able / willing to move, then see if the agency will. You've been there a while, and there is naff all that they do from here, apart from factor your payments.

If there is no movement from anyone, then negotiate a decent notice period into the new contract, so you can leave if you want / need to, without being stuck for a while.

If they won't do that, then leave and find something else to do.

No most prob there won't be any movements from anyone, so yeah I have a 1 month notice and see how that goes. Maybe something will come up before I sign the new one.

[farout117]

Does your contract allow you to give notice? or are you stuck for another year?

yes I have 1 month notice period

[oliverson]

I don't think you're doing yourself any favours. WPF and Silverlight have been out for several years now. As a contractor you should keep your skillset up-to-date no matter what you're working on. Anyhow, you've missed the boat with both those technologies are they are soon to be legacy if not already.

Given your commercial experience in web development and the way development is going in general, much as I'm loathe to say it being a WPF developer, I'd focus on HTML5, Javascript and CSS along with ASP.NET MVC 3 (and the next version). The added benefit is that once you get truly sick and tired of this contracting rat race you have some skills to knock up a sideline project, maybe an e-commerce site of some flavour, that may ultimately lead to hanging up your contracting keyboard!

[TheFaQQer]

If the client aren't able / willing to move, then see if the agency will. You've been there a while, and there is naff all that they do from here, apart from factor your payments.

If there is no movement from anyone, then negotiate a decent notice period into the new contract, so you can leave if you want / need to, without being stuck for a while.

If they won't do that, then leave and find something else to do.

[CheeseSlice]

Does your contract allow you to give notice? or are you stuck for another year?

[farout117]

Thanks for the replies guys

@Dread
As regards to a weekly rolling contract, they will never agree with that, cause someone else tried that. Playing hard ball is also very difficult to work since at the moment, there is very few work here and they can hire someone else at giffy.

Yes I was thinking of talking to my manager (the one who wants me to get the extension, however I have since phoned the agency and told them that after 2 years I deserve a better rate, and they should come back to me)

Market is not really in favour at the moment If this happened like 3 years ago, I would have been already at another client by now!)

@Scrag Meister

Its about 30% below the norm here, however as I said, not that too much contracts at the moment floating around, even maybe cause of the time of year. That is why I was thinking to keep what I have and continue searching, just a bit hard though.... if I tell another agency, yeah I have a contact till........ but I have a 1 month notice, does that appear professional enough? And if I tell my agency to reduce the notice period, it will be quite obv what I am after.

Ah wish I was in the UK at the moment! More opportunities there.

Thanks again for your contribution, kemm em coming

[Scrag Meister]

Ok so this is my first post here, just wanted to know what you would do in my position.

So basically I have been at this client for the past 2 years now. First year, extended but no increase in rate. Now renewal in 2 months time, clients wants to renew but no increase in the rate again!

Work is ok and quite easy compared to other contracts I have had, working mainly on old technologies, like .NET 2.0 and old Classic ASP. However am quite pis*** off since there is no new technologies planned for next year, such as silverlight and WPF.

So I tried to negotiate with the agent but he told me that the client will not move (am almost sure that if they pressed him, he will move a bit).

My instinct is telling me to risk and move on, and wait for a better contract/rate, however in these times, seems like its better to stay in work until hopefully, things will start shaping up again, if they will eventually do. And as you know, looking for work when you are already in a contract is quite tough.

Any ideas?

What is your current rate like compared to market/advertised rates.

Personally if I was that annoyed about the non-increase I would accept the extension and start looking for something else to jump to once the opportunity arose, but wouldn't expect a prompt move considering the client contract climate.

GL if you decide to go looking.