Reply to: The next contract.....

[SueEllen]

The only people who have questioned me before interview are 21 year old agents.

Clients' aren't interested at all. Older agents are only interested when I have to complete stupid credit check forms but that's just to pass the process.

[Ticktock]

I've never had an issue with breaks between gigs, either with agents or clients. Then again, my CV is "MyCo Ltd 20xx -", and just has a " Key Projects" section under that, rather than listing every contract, so it's not as obvious

[rl4engc]

Only problem with my approach is trying to explain to pimps that I choose to take so much time off, thankfully I now have a core of 3-4 agents I trust and regularly use

I'd still take a few weeks off between contracts, after all that's why I contract, but I'd need to have answers ready for then I go to the first interview. My answer would contain the following phrases:

".. spend a bit of time with my family .."
".. I wanted to update my skillset with <insert name of skill needed for new contract> .."
".. I successfully completed my last contract, so wanted a few weeks off to relax ready for my next challenge .."
".. I needed to <insert some large scale DIY tasks or hobby .."

I figured if any or all of the above phrases put them off, I wouldn't want to work for them anyhow.

[oracleslave]

Never in any financial danger .

With your standard modus operandi per your signature - how could you ever be?

[ChimpMaster]

Have been going for back to back gigs up until now, although have still had about a month between gigs on average.

Warchest is over 12 months now, so will be more relaxed about it from here on. Plus I have 3 clients on the go so losing one wont be a major blow. Saying that I'll be milking it for all it's worth while it lasts. I can get two months warchest in the bank for every month worked atm. If it lasts a year I'm planning on some serious time off.

I said that 10 years ago. I really need some time off now!

[cojak]

I dislike being distracted in my last month of contract by taking agents calls and constantly nipping out to talk shop.

It irritates the client as well. They are paying me to be there so I like to give them my full attention. Also I like to have a week away on holiday immediately after contract end but it doesn't feel like a holiday if I'm talking to agents.

So I start looking for a contract in earnest once I'm back from holiday.

I can afford it so why not?

[psychocandy]

+1 to this. I did start looking 4 weeks before I finished and was desperate for end to end gig's and then everything suddenly changed. I think the defining point was during a 6 week gap between gig's. I wasn't running out of money, the need to be in a gig wasn't there and life was just good. Since then my attitude to end of gig's completely changed... And very much for the better. It's a shame its not something you can tell people. Have to find out for themselves by being in situation that suddenly gives them that light bulb moment.

On the flip side, I came out of a 2 yr gig, then a REALLY well paid 6 week one which ran right up until I had a holiday planned which was great.

Chilled out for hol but then as the weeks rolled by I got more and more stressed. Had decent warchest but it went quicker than I thought and it annoyed me that it was getting wasted away.

Never in any financial danger but ended up having to take a crap paid contract after 3 months+ on the bench.

Maybe its just me.

[Ticktock]

Secure new gig while in prior gig, push out the start date 4 weeks. Worked so far.

Would be nice, but I get a lot of "Can you interview Wednesday and start Monday" type of timescales.

Current gig really worried me as I interviewed Wednesday and didn't hear anything on the way home. It took until the Monday for them to say they wanted me, another week to get a contract through, and the start date was 2 weeks after that. That's the longest process I've had.

[Dallas]

Secure new gig while in prior gig, push out the start date 4 weeks. Worked so far.

[DaveB]

Have been going for back to back gigs up until now, although have still had about a month between gigs on average.

Warchest is over 12 months now, so will be more relaxed about it from here on. Plus I have 3 clients on the go so losing one wont be a major blow. Saying that I'll be milking it for all it's worth while it lasts. I can get two months warchest in the bank for every month worked atm. If it lasts a year I'm planning on some serious time off.

[SimonMac]

Only problem with my approach is trying to explain to pimps that I choose to take so much time off, thankfully I now have a core of 3-4 agents I trust and regularly use

[northernladuk]

I never bother looking until I'm out of the door from the previous contract. I'd prefer to spend up to a week doing sweet f.a., then slowly start sniffing around, and hopefully end up with about 4 weeks off before I start the next place.

Sometimes it's been shorter - I've had agents lining things up back to back - and sometimes longer - 6-8 weeks off, but I don't really care.
When I look at it, what I bill for one week is enough to pay one month's bills, and that doesn't count my wife's salary. So, if it came to it, one 3 month contract would be enough for me to take a year off, if I didn't mind spending it all.

+1 to this. I did start looking 4 weeks before I finished and was desperate for end to end gig's and then everything suddenly changed. I think the defining point was during a 6 week gap between gig's. I wasn't running out of money, the need to be in a gig wasn't there and life was just good. Since then my attitude to end of gig's completely changed... And very much for the better. It's a shame its not something you can tell people. Have to find out for themselves by being in situation that suddenly gives them that light bulb moment.

[DannyF1966]

I've only completed two contracts so far but each time I've started looking for the next one a couple of weeks before the previous one ended. Was lucky enough to secure my second contract a week before the first one ended so no time on the bench there.

My last contract ended on Friday, I sent in my CV in response to a jobserve ad on Sunday, agency called me on Monday, called me back on Tuesday to confirm interview, the interview was yesterday (Wednesday) and the offer was made yesterday afternoon. Am I still on the bench if I'm just waiting for checks and paperwork now, with a start date pencilled in for the end of the month?

Next time I probably won't start looking until the contract has actually ended, the warchest will be bigger by that stage and I'm growing in confidence that my CV and skills are good enough to land roles, so next time I won't panic as much. Might even take a small sabbatical

[Ticktock]

I never bother looking until I'm out of the door from the previous contract. I'd prefer to spend up to a week doing sweet f.a., then slowly start sniffing around, and hopefully end up with about 4 weeks off before I start the next place.

Sometimes it's been shorter - I've had agents lining things up back to back - and sometimes longer - 6-8 weeks off, but I don't really care.
When I look at it, what I bill for one week is enough to pay one month's bills, and that doesn't count my wife's salary. So, if it came to it, one 3 month contract would be enough for me to take a year off, if I didn't mind spending it all.

[FatLazyContractor]

No, you are doing the right thing.

Life is too short to not enjoy stuff with kids and family. When you've got a family, keep them happy (and yourself too)

Alternatively, slog your arse now and work without a break till your kids grow up and have kids of their own. If you are still alive, have a good time with your grandkids.