Reply to: Would this be poor form?

[TheFaQQer]

It's not the client or the agent, it's the senior contractor who may be in a position to take you with them on another contract.

But if there's no one there in this position it's less of a worry.

This.

Upsetting an agent that I would never work with again - meh.

Upsetting a client I would never work with again - meh.

Upsetting someone who I work with who might well be in a position to put the boot in in the future - this I care about.

[cojak]

It's not the client or the agent, it's the senior contractor who may be in a position to take you with them on another contract.

But if there's no one there in this position it's less of a worry.

[billybiro]

What if you ever need that repeat business though?

But what if you don't? If the gig is truly bad, or another significantly better gig is waiting in the wings, you can't spend your life seeing out bad gigs just on the off-chance you'll need to maintain a good reputation with the client.

But I agree that in MOST cases its not that bad. Agents don't remember/care after a week but a client probably will. Not sure if I agree that 'word gets around' clients so much either.

But I think its not something you should do for fun such as if new client is £10 more per day or some other silly reason.

I'm not suggesting that "jacking gigs" should be done all the time or simply on a whim, and it certainly shouldn't be done without great consideration, but to suggest that one should never "jack a gig" (as some in this thread seem to be implying) due to some misplaced sense of loyalty or a belief that it's the "professional thing to do" is ludicrous.

You're right that agents won't care if they're in a position to make money out of you again. Their memory is incredible short once the dollar signs are spinning before their eyes.

And further to my point above regarding concern for maintaining a good rep at a client: Most clients won't care or even remember even if you do find yourself working for the same client twice. If there's sufficient time lapsed between gigs at the same client (and these days that time window is getting ever smaller) it's highly unlikely that the same permie staff will be there at the client as they'll have likely moved on to pastures new since the first time. So there's no-one there at the client to even remember you.

[psychocandy]

If your contracts rely upon repeat business from the same clients, then yes, I agree that jacking is bad for business.

However, if you very rarely (if ever) perform work for the same client twice, please explain precisely how "jacking a gig" is bad for business?

What if you ever need that repeat business though?

But I agree that in MOST cases its not that bad. Agents don't remember/care after a week but a client probably will. Not sure if I agree that 'word gets around' clients so much either.

But I think its not something you should do for fun such as if new client is £10 more per day or some other silly reason.

[billybiro]

But being good your business also covers long term goals and reputation. What you mean is what is good for the OP. Two very different things. What is good for the OP doesn't necessarily mean what is good for his business. Jacking gigs is bad your business but might be good for the OP personally.

If your contracts rely upon repeat business from the same clients, then yes, I agree that jacking is bad for business.

However, if you very rarely (if ever) perform work for the same client twice, please explain precisely how "jacking a gig" is bad for business?

[psychocandy]

So there are actually two contracts available in Wales at once?!


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That's the problem - one I'm doing now aint in Wales.

[stek]

So there are actually two contracts available in Wales at once?!


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[psychocandy]

Given that you've not been there long, I'd seriously consider skipping this one off your CV / LinkedIn etc.

I think I will if it all comes off. Still waiting for confirmation of the other one though first. You never know of course.

[psychocandy]

Nah, it's just there is some pretty strong justification in this one that shouldn't question your professionalism in the long run. If you wanted to switch because you didn't like your client I would have been all over you like NladyUK would a punter with a crisp tenner.

Nah. Decent client mostly to be fair. And its a good rate - better than the new one would be by about £80.

But,

1) Its a trek every day.
2) Its only for 6 more weeks.
3) New one is a year and close to home.

[TheFaQQer]

Given that you've not been there long, I'd seriously consider skipping this one off your CV / LinkedIn etc.

[northernladuk]

NLUK - thats pretty mellow for you. Must be because its friday.

Nah, it's just there is some pretty strong justification in this one that shouldn't question your professionalism in the long run. If you wanted to switch because you didn't like your client I would have been all over you like NladyUK would a punter with a crisp tenner.

[psychocandy]

Very unfortunate it is so close to the start of this contract. Makes it 10 times worse delivering sod all and then leaving the client in the lurch.

I do think it is bad form to leave a client for anything but that is in a perfect world. Is doing it bad form yes but more importantly will it affect your career to do vary rarely in exceptional circumstances then I have to say the answer would be no. The problem is most of the scenarios we get on here are pretty trivial and show the OP's lack of consideration to short and long term effects. Thinking about switching just because the other contract 'might' be more interesting or for £20 a day more is just a mercenary attitude in which case am happy to stick to my perfect world answer.

In a case where it is a decision not taken lightly and the factors for ditching far outweigh the downside then go for it. Taking a contract nearer to home with a new baby is probably near the top of that list. As annoyed as the client he (or someone in the org) is going to at least understand that.

I have to say in this case it's a no brainer. Take the contract that suits the little one.

Oh and +1 to everything else TFaQ said.

NLUK - thats pretty mellow for you. Must be because its friday.

[northernladuk]

True of course. But you cant worry too much about that.

It's not about worrying, it's about considering it when you are making a decision. I think that was the point.

[northernladuk]

Very unfortunate it is so close to the start of this contract. Makes it 10 times worse delivering sod all and then leaving the client in the lurch.

I do think it is bad form to leave a client for anything but that is in a perfect world. Is doing it bad form yes but more importantly will it affect your career to do vary rarely in exceptional circumstances then I have to say the answer would be no. The problem is most of the scenarios we get on here are pretty trivial and show the OP's lack of consideration to short and long term effects. Thinking about switching just because the other contract 'might' be more interesting or for £20 a day more is just a mercenary attitude in which case am happy to stick to my perfect world answer.

In a case where it is a decision not taken lightly and the factors for ditching far outweigh the downside then go for it. Taking a contract nearer to home with a new baby is probably near the top of that list. As annoyed as the client he (or someone in the org) is going to at least understand that.

I have to say in this case it's a no brainer. Take the contract that suits the little one.

Oh and +1 to everything else TFaQ said.

[psychocandy]

If past performance is anything to go by, the new role will be awful. You will spend the whole year moaning about how awful the client are, hating every minute. To be precise, you will spend the whole year on here moaning about how awful the client are, asking whether anyone else in the same position would jump to anything else.

It would be unfortunate to jump to something else and then find that it gets terminated early, though. Even worse if it gets terminated before you even start.

Karma can be a real bitch when it wants to be.

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That all said, given that you have a baby at home, I'd take it and hope that:

1. The role doesn't die early / before you start
2. The role isn't awful
3. You manage to get some brownie points from staying near home
4. You never need anything from the previous client / anyone who works with or for the previous client
5. You don't regret jumping
6. We don't regret you jumping

You know me. I like moaning. :-)

Yes it could all go wrong as you say. Thats a chance of course. But then so could current gig. But I agree.
Bottom line then is we're looking at PROBABLY 6 weeks where I am or PROBABLY one year with the other one.
Either one could not pan out as expected.