Reply to: Screwed over by new contract

[speling bee]

100% agree with this. This post should be made into a sticky, or PM'd to Psychocandy or something.

Add a line about signing on and he'll sit up and take note.

[GillsMan]

Couple of things here that might help in future.

• You are not applying for a job, you are selling work. Be a sales beast.
• At the start of all conversations with recruiters and client position yourself as 'about to be off the market at any time'. Make it clear that you have another role that's looking 'very likely' that starts imminently (and on a higher rate) - but because you like the sound of this role it's the one you would prefer (but they need to sign you now).
• Just because you are a contractor doesn't mean you are a just a resource/commodity - position yourself as such.
• Don't treat recruiters with contempt (many do) but build relationships with them.
• Grow a big pair of balls and don't be afraid to play hard ball when required

It's all a game - enjoy!

Untouchable1

100% agree with this. This post should be made into a sticky, or PM'd to Psychocandy or something.

[northernladuk]

Couple of things here that might help in future.

• You are not applying for a job, you are selling work. Be a sales beast.
• At the start of all conversations with recruiters and client position yourself as 'about to be off the market at any time'. Make it clear that you have another role that's looking 'very likely' that starts imminently (and on a higher rate) - but because you like the sound of this role it's the one you would prefer (but they need to sign you now).
• Just because you are a contractor doesn't mean you are a just a resource/commodity - position yourself as such.
• Don't treat recruiters with contempt (many do) but build relationships with them.
• Grow a big pair of balls and don't be afraid to play hard ball when required

It's all a game - enjoy!

Untouchable1

Nice comments. Me likely.

[Untouchable1]

Couple of things here that might help in future.

• You are not applying for a job, you are selling work. Be a sales beast.
• At the start of all conversations with recruiters and client position yourself as 'about to be off the market at any time'. Make it clear that you have another role that's looking 'very likely' that starts imminently (and on a higher rate) - but because you like the sound of this role it's the one you would prefer (but they need to sign you now).
• Just because you are a contractor doesn't mean you are a just a resource/commodity - position yourself as such.
• Don't treat recruiters with contempt (many do) but build relationships with them.
• Grow a big pair of balls and don't be afraid to play hard ball when required

It's all a game - enjoy!

Untouchable1

[eek]

Always go for extensions. I like about 1 year in a place its enough to show that you are competent and liked but not long enough to get really bored.

And as for why I contract, its the easiest way to earn money.

[7specialgems]

As others of said, part of the game.

MOO means if you aren't needed, you get given notice.

Incompetence clauses are often present and abused in order to get you out the door sooner when you're not needed.

Heavily shortened notice periods in the first x weeks of your contract are a staple as well, as are clauses allowing for movement of D-Day.

All in all, you will, several times, leave a good thing for a better thing, only for the better thing to be pulled right up to the day before, deferred, cancelled and you might be lucky to bill a day if anything before finding yourself on the bench.

In my experience so far, always try to favour an extension unless the reward warrants the risk!

[speling bee]

And I thought I was the grumpy kill joy round here!!

killjoy

[northernladuk]

And I thought I was the grumpy kill joy round here!!

[TheFaQQer]

[northernladuk]

Maybe it makes more sense to compare yourself to a real IT service provider.

They might be quietly annoyed the client pulls the plug, and the pre-sales guy might be losing his commission, but they understand it is business and will thank them and say let us know when you need us again and we will be happy to come back and discuss.

+1 to this and many many other posts on here. Non of them from PC though.

Just going on off on a slight tangent here but I do strongly thing a contractor makes his own bed in many situations and will get treated to suit.

I've worked at clients, current one included where there is a little club of contractors that stick together at lunch and the like and just sit there moaning about the clients all the time. They too expect this and expect that but happy to slate their client the minute there isn't a permie in earshot. Because of their attitude they are kept at arms length from the client and not privvy to a lot of conversations about them as well. Believe me, the client knows who is a moaning contractor and who is a business partner (for want of a better word). No clients want to deal with the moaning contractors because they know they can't get it right whatever the do so the clients treat them badly. The guys that they can do business get treated much better with more openess and fairness because the client knows they can do honest business with them and won't get slated for it.

However much this bunch thinks they are putting a professional face on the client will know. If they had a professional attitude, not just an act they would get treated a lot better IMO. If they actually understood the clients drivers and situation they may not get quite so upset when the axed falls and cry foul all the time. Disgruntled employees moan about employers, not contractors.

[speling bee]

Maybe it makes more sense to compare yourself to a real IT service provider.

They might be quietly annoyed the client pulls the plug, and the pre-sales guy might be losing his commission, but they understand it is business and will thank them and say let us know when you need us again and we will be happy to come back and discuss.

Very sensible post. Thank you. And I dare say the pre-sales guy won't be popping down the dole office to sign on, but will instead vigorously pursue the next opportunity.

[jmo21]

Self-employed plumbers are paid more. Try booking one for a weeks work fitting a new bathroom then cancelling it at 5pm on Friday before. Can guarantee they wont be pleased. Will be the last time they do work for you possibly.

Maybe it makes more sense to compare yourself to a real IT service provider.

They might be quietly annoyed the client pulls the plug, and the pre-sales guy might be losing his commission, but they understand it is business and will thank them and say let us know when you need us again and we will be happy to come back and discuss.

[SpontaneousOrder]

Self-employed plumbers are paid more.

No plumber I've ever used. But even so - you're signing a contract for 6 months at a time. The plumber is doing the odd few days of work here and there. He should charge a premium for that, in the same way that you pay a cleaner significantly more than minimum wage otherwise it's not worth their time for only a couple of hours.


But anyway...

Try booking one for a weeks work fitting a new bathroom then cancelling it at 5pm on Friday before. Can guarantee they wont be pleased. Will be the last time they do work for you possibly.
.

Perhaps there's the solution to your aggrievement. You have a choice, after all.

[d000hg]

Disagree. Yes we are paid 'more' but not significantly more sometimes IMHO.

Maybe you're not...

[psychocandy]

...this works the other way around; you secure a contract, client drags heels/paperwork/delayed start/whatever, and you pursue and secure an alternative option in the meantime, which leave both the agent and client aggrieved. Yes, like everyone says, it's part of contracting, but sometimes it can swing the other way too.

True but in this case client/agent feel aggrieved. Happens to contractor - suck it up thats the way it works.