Reply to: Shorter extension offered

[speling bee]

How can you assume that based on the little information offered?

It's got to be better than signing on.

[cojak]

I've only been offered 3 weeks, and I'm on holiday for one of them.

I'll take it though. The commute is ok and I'm expecting my next contract to be in London, so I'll make the most of what I've got now.

[darrylmg]

Well i've just been offered an extension till the end of the year, been with current client co for two years. The strange thing is that i've been told up front that this will be my last extension - sort of like seven months notice period! This is due to client co rules around length of engagement for contractors.
Now, how to keep motivated for the rest of the year?!

A lot of big companies seem to be putting in these rules. Like, max 3 months, then they must get a different contractor.
Not sure how that works for big project work.
At the end of the day, it means more contractors will get a shot at working for that client.

[northernladuk]

I dunno. Been there two years and they're fair enough to let you know 7 months in advance. Seems nice place to work.

How can you assume that based on the little information offered?

[Support Monkey]

surely thats why they get contractors in, when they have the funding they can use you when they lose it your out the door, I had a contract for 4 years and it went 3 months then down to a month then 3 months again and I got to clear the desk on several Friday afternoons before they told me it had been extended, most of this was down to differnet projects i worked on and the department getting outsourced.

On my current contract I am out the door next week because the fellow I was brought in to cover for whilst on secondment was expected to take it as a permanent position and he turned it down, the budget was there but why would they spend it if not required, it's not always a clear cut decision.

Yes its a pain but if I want certaintly I would go permanent

[MyUserName]

Well i've just been offered an extension till the end of the year, been with current client co for two years. The strange thing is that i've been told up front that this will be my last extension - sort of like seven months notice period! This is due to client co rules around length of engagement for contractors.
Now, how to keep motivated for the rest of the year?!

By earning the money they are paying for you?

[psychocandy]

Well i've just been offered an extension till the end of the year, been with current client co for two years. The strange thing is that i've been told up front that this will be my last extension - sort of like seven months notice period! This is due to client co rules around length of engagement for contractors.
Now, how to keep motivated for the rest of the year?!

I dunno. Been there two years and they're fair enough to let you know 7 months in advance. Seems nice place to work.

Try staying motivated on a friday pm when you've asked client/agent 50 times and they still havent been arsed and you dont know if you're going to be there monday am.

[OrangeSquash]

Well i've just been offered an extension till the end of the year, been with current client co for two years. The strange thing is that i've been told up front that this will be my last extension - sort of like seven months notice period! This is due to client co rules around length of engagement for contractors.
Now, how to keep motivated for the rest of the year?!

[psychocandy]

You need to get to the bottom of why the shorter times. Budgets are not the only reason, internal politics, changes to the project, possibility of permie resource freeing up etc. From that you can make a decision on how it will affect you. You also need to make a decision on how important the project you are working on is. If it's a top 10 project for your client you can bet your bottom dollar they will get future budget to get it finished so they may be messing with 1 monthers but you know it's still got legs.

Two examples..

I was working on putting a CRM for a clients business customers. Didn't get it finished in time, good 5 months work left yet and they went to rolling months. It was too important to not finish so I knew I was good for 5 months so accepted rolling months. As expected I stayed until it was complete.

A developer at current client go was doing so sharepoint customisation and we ran out of budget. Three months work needed. We managed to argue another month for the developer but it just wasn't important enough to keep throwing money at it so was pretty obvious there would be nothing after that month and he got canned after the 1 month.

Know what you are working on and see through the clients budget problems and make your own decision.

Sometimes clients don't just try and take the piss out of you. They do have genuine reasons for what they do that has **** all to do with pissing you about so you have to shake off the hate for the client and try and understand what's happening.

Will agree with this that there are all sorts of reasons. Sometimes its just red tape.

In this particular instance, contract role exists to backfill the legacy stuff so that the permies can go off and work on the new project stuff. I've heard the new project stuff has not gone as well as hoped hence they aint coming back any time soon.

Agree that clients dont deliberately piss you about but there is a huge difference between ones who treat you fairly and those that will shaft you for all they can get for as little as they can pay.

I've worked for many types and have found that a lot of it comes down to budgets. If theres tons of money there, then they'll happily sign 3 month extensions and be too bothered if it takes 2 months. Then there are others who will do as you say, do the rolling month crossing fingers that it wont go on to next month (but it often does).

Finally, you've got the ones who are so tight they'll do anything to save a few quid. Like lop the last week off the contract, force you to take 4 weeks off over xmas etc.

[psychocandy]

Tut, tut not a team player are you?

Yep I am - Team Psychocandy

[The Spartan]

Yes I see your point. But sometimes I think we've got to be careful to look after yourself as well.

IMHO, too many clients get away with murder at times. Yes, we are a flexible resource but theres a limit. Too many contractors IMHO just bend over and take whatever the client gives - I've worked with a few like that. Work weekends for free, work without extensions agreed etc.

Tut, tut not a team player are you?

[northernladuk]

You need to get to the bottom of why the shorter times. Budgets are not the only reason, internal politics, changes to the project, possibility of permie resource freeing up etc. From that you can make a decision on how it will affect you. You also need to make a decision on how important the project you are working on is. If it's a top 10 project for your client you can bet your bottom dollar they will get future budget to get it finished so they may be messing with 1 monthers but you know it's still got legs.

Two examples..

I was working on putting a CRM for a clients business customers. Didn't get it finished in time, good 5 months work left yet and they went to rolling months. It was too important to not finish so I knew I was good for 5 months so accepted rolling months. As expected I stayed until it was complete.

A developer at current client go was doing so sharepoint customisation and we ran out of budget. Three months work needed. We managed to argue another month for the developer but it just wasn't important enough to keep throwing money at it so was pretty obvious there would be nothing after that month and he got canned after the 1 month.

Know what you are working on and see through the clients budget problems and make your own decision.

Sometimes clients don't just try and take the piss out of you. They do have genuine reasons for what they do that has **** all to do with pissing you about so you have to shake off the hate for the client and try and understand what's happening.

[psychocandy]

I get what you're saying, you're both businesses, but in our cases, these are our customers.

So it IS different.

Of course, if you aren't happy with the extension, or want to reduce notice or whatever, wire in, but just remember it is a supplier-customer relationship.

The approach I take is that I want to leave my customers happy, so if their budget only stretches to an extra month, that's fine. I am expensive and easy to get rid of for their convenience.

My last contract, the boss in charge of the budget was really apologetic on a couple of extensions of only a month, but I just told him "don't worry about it, I'll be here til you don't need me any more"

Yes I see your point. But sometimes I think we've got to be careful to look after yourself as well.

IMHO, too many clients get away with murder at times. Yes, we are a flexible resource but theres a limit. Too many contractors IMHO just bend over and take whatever the client gives - I've worked with a few like that. Work weekends for free, work without extensions agreed etc.

[psychocandy]

One month extension => one week notice period

In the past, I've also said that I was only interested in a one month extension if it came with an increase, as I'd potentially be missing out on other more lucrative roles.

EXACTLY my point. Accepting bits and pieces extensions without a get out rules you out from other stuff.

In this instance, I will insist on this.

[TheFaQQer]

One month extension => one week notice period

In the past, I've also said that I was only interested in a one month extension if it came with an increase, as I'd potentially be missing out on other more lucrative roles.