Reply to: Ending early when the work dries up

[TykeMerc]

Mental strength is what separates the men from the boys in contracting. Working away from home turns a lot into alcoholics.

Boredom? Never! Turn a boring task into an interesting one- solve boring problems in interesting ways. Selling those solutions to the boss - that is a skill in itself.

Coping with boredom takes self discipline. That's another skill worth developing.

Mostly utter bollocks!

Why not take your own advice, use some self discipline and stop creating these futile sockpuppet accounts?

[GusOSlaine]

Now for the small task of keeping sane while doing this. What a life.

Mental strength is what separates the men from the boys in contracting. Working away from home turns a lot into alcoholics.

Boredom? Never! Turn a boring task into an interesting one- solve boring problems in interesting ways. Selling those solutions to the boss - that is a skill in itself.

Coping with boredom takes self discipline. That's another skill worth developing.

[DieScum]

Thanks for the replies. To answer a few of the questions...

I've got so many plan Bs I could start a hive. It's a large part of the frustration. So much productive stuff to do yet I sit there twiddling my thumbs. I'm in the middle of a busy open plan office and while there is some plan B stuff I can do I can't just set up shop or openly surf job sites.

No working from home unfortunately. That would be rather fantastic but it's not on the cards.

Money wise I'm fine, not financially independent yet but there would be no worries for years. Talked to the missus and she's supportive of whatever I decide.

As for cutting back hours. I've actually done that for the past three months. I've cut back to four days a week, but (and this is just a peach) the renewal is only being offered for five days a week.

But having said all that I know what I have to do. Keep my head down, keep invoicing and looking busy, find the next contract and move on as soon as possible while making sure all the work is covered and everyone is happy. Now for the small task of keeping sane while doing this. What a life.

[GusOSlaine]

I once was extended for 2 months after I had completed KT to the permies. I was told by the manager he didn't want me to actually do anything, I was just to sit around and help the permies (who were on another site) if they got stuck. I was happy with that although I couldn't WFH. I was able to work on Plan B, surf Jobserve and have nice long lunches just like being on the bench but invoicing.

That sounds bl00dy brilliant. Id be having boozy lunches every day. Happy days

[northernladuk]

Isn't sitting there waiting to be given odds now sods by the client gonna look very much like D&C?

[EternalOptimist]

Done a year of a contract. Has been ok, but I've pretty much completed everything that will need doing.

They have offered a six month extension and are eager for me to accept but there is only going to be dribs and drabs of work that needs doing.

So I'm coming in to an office and sitting twiddling my thumbs for eight hours day finding things to be getting on with. It's torture.

Been sending my CV out but nothing yet.

What's the best gameplan?

Just sit it out, wait for a new offer and quit?

Sit it out the whole extension twiddling my thumbs. Safest option but I think I will go on a Falling Down style Michael Douglas rampage after much more of this.

Turn down the renewal and sit down with them and discuss how I can do an orderly handover and who would be suitable to do the bits and pieces of work that will come up over the six months?

I want to make sure I leave them happy, all the work is covered and I have a good reference but I need to get back out working.

You will look back on this in years to come, and laugh. HA HAHA . HO HO.


probbly

[Contractoid]

Sit it out the whole extension twiddling my thumbs. Safest option but I think I will go on a Falling Down style Michael Douglas rampage after much more of this.

.

I'd go for that one and then actually go on the Falling Down rampage. Have had several fantasies about it myself with various Saw film inspired gruesome endings for the various knobheads I've had to deal with.

[Batcher]

Back in the early 90's in was common, especially in the banking sector, that people would complain to Computer Weekly about a lack of work in contracts. It was said then that the banks were just retaining good contractors for any new projects they had coming up and also to keep the contractors away from working for their rival banks.

I once was extended for 2 months after I had completed KT to the permies. I was told by the manager he didn't want me to actually do anything, I was just to sit around and help the permies (who were on another site) if they got stuck. I was happy with that although I couldn't WFH. I was able to work on Plan B, surf Jobserve and have nice long lunches just like being on the bench but invoicing.

[FatLazyContractor]

Most of it covered by others. If you can pull off WFH, make sure you are logged in to the relevant system Email/Work while you are "busy" with the missus/mistress!

[unixman]

If the client is laid back about web surfing, then help yourself.

Look for a system that needs upgrading and write a plan for it, especially if there is no cost. Get your boss on side and carry on. Don't forget to add it to your CV.

That is if the place and people are nice. If they aren't, get another gig or ask to go 3 days a week (to save them money).

Having periods where you do nothing is sometimes inevitable. The client probably realizes this. They need your services but the work doesn't always add up to 40 hours a week.

[NickyBoy]

a big tranche of work with the client may be forthcoming.

This is what I would assume is the reason behind an extension after a completed project that coincides with a drop in work.

I would suspect they have something coming up and want you for it and don't want to risk loosing you to another contract.

Try to find out what's going on. If there is a big project on the way that they need you for and the inactivity is driving you nuts, you could probably negotiate some sort of retainer arrangement. It would be less money, but it would leave you free to work on a plan B/some personal training/professional research/short term freelance gigs.

[BolshieBastard]

Its weird (although not really) but, I bet a pound to a penny the client offering a 6 month extension would withdraw it completely if the contractor effectively said 'Im not fully utilised so Id intend only working 3 days a week for you and the other two doing my own thing \ working for someone else'!

When the market is bouyant, that is no problem as you could quickly pick up other work but, depending what your specialism is, the market may not be in that position.

Best advice is carry on invoicing while looking for something else. In any event, you never know, a big tranche of work with the client may be forthcoming.

[d000hg]

If you can wing working from home then this could be ideal as you can work on something else or just bum about as long as you do all that they require from you.

I would share your unease though at doing nothing day after day. Don't they require you to log how your time is spent at all - how do you account for that?

[psychocandy]

Depends on how easy web surfing is. Is it logged/noticed etc?

If not then crack on looking for something else on jobserve, doing CV etc. Plan B.

If your forced to look busy then I agree with you. Thats a killer.
Also depends on your warchest. If your minted why drive yourself up the wall like this? If your skint then its different.

If you can smoke WFH for a few days then job done. Getting paid for being home and doing bugger all. Could then cope with 3 days trying to look busy.

Had a perm job once where I was sent to client site. That ended so I was on the bench at employer site doing bugger all. They still made me come in every day. There were 5 of us like this.
Was cool for a bit but then it got a bit much. Was glad in the end they made me redundant.

[vwdan]

This says it all......

The alternative to not doing much is to do absolutely nothing and watch your savings drain out your bank account.

When you have agents all over you and 10 interviews lined up then you can bugger off.

Exactly - unless you really hate being there then why would you contemplate spending your warchest when you could be earning. Obviously if you want some time off then that's fair game, but you wouldn't be asking us then!