Reply to: Contract vs Permanent offer

[metallica]

Take option 1. Then invoke your right to substitution.

Excuse the newbie ignorance, but how would it work?

As I understand I need to provide an alternate staff with equivalent skills.

[metallica]

Thanks fellas.

I am not going for the permie for the comfort and because the contract is difficult, it is due to personal circumstances

Right, so going to start the contract and then wait for things to shape on the permie side. The maximum I could push the contract is for a week and unlikely to get anything on perm side within that timeframe.

So gotta do it the hard way hopefully without pissing of the client.

[jmo21]

Agencies, and agents have incredibly short memories if you can make them a £.

I pulled out of an interview last year as I got offered a contract (I didn't want to waste their time, the start date was 4 weeks away, so couldn't have strung it out), the agent was really unhappy with me, even though it was only for pulling out of an interview.

Sure enough, the contract fell through at the last minute.

Sent out CV's again, including to the pissed off agent. He phoned, all smug, "well that role you pulled out of is gone, but I do have this role that has came in this morning, would you work in a place called {my small home town}"...... urm....yeah.... I live there.... BOOM, all sweetness and light again, and got the role.

[ChimpMaster]

It's quite possible you'll end up with neither option in the end.

[BrilloPad]

Take option 1. Then invoke your right to substitution.

[BlasterBates]

It's not the agency that is important, it's the client you don't want to upset if the client is constantly offering opportunities.

My experience is that a client taking on contractors is looking more or less on a continuous basis, and if you turn down an opportunity, another one will appear pretty soon. That's why it's a good idea not to burn bridges.

[SlipTheJab]

Never feel bad about lying to agents as they're almost certainly lying to you.

And as long as you end every email with "Regards" you'll be fine.

^^ This. Don;t worry about upsetting the fragile ego of an agent. As mentioned, stall by telling Pimp A you're getting the contract reviewed which will take a few days, in the meantime tell Pimp B to pull his finger out sharpish. Once your deadline has passed make a decision and stick to it.

[northernladuk]

Stall agent 1, tell them you need to get the contract terms reviewed or somesuch. Tell agent 2 that you have done this and need an offer sharpish. Put a deadline on it and stick to it.

Do not accept offer 1 if you plan to bin it in a couple of weeks. You'll piss off agent 1, which isn't too important, but you will piss of client 1 who may not forget. Whatever, this sort of thing gives contractors a bad name.

This. Advise you are having it IR35 checked by QDOS. They can have up to a 5 day turn around and they are off over hols. That should be good for 7 or 8 extra days.

[SlipTheJab]

If you ask and can't make a proper differentiation between the two except for one is a bit more difficult then go perm. Leave the dirty contractor work for those of us who have the cojones and relish the challenge. A nice comfy permie desk sounds must more like your cup of tea.

Ouch!

[northernladuk]

If you ask and can't make a proper differentiation between the two except for one is a bit more difficult then go perm. Leave the dirty contractor work for those of us who have the cojones and relish the challenge. A nice comfy permie desk sounds must more like your cup of tea.

[VectraMan]

Never feel bad about lying to agents as they're almost certainly lying to you.

And as long as you end every email with "Regards" you'll be fine.

[metallica]

Thanks all.


I was thinking of pushing the contract to delay start date by a week to buy more time. The dillemma is if I should be honest and tell of other interview which may result in me losing the offer OR use other delaying tactic...anyways they may not be happy as they know I am not working and know I can start immediately.

The IB knows of the contract offer, but with easter hols they are finding it difficult to move things fast, so I am told. It may still take several weeks for the offer and I cant realistically hold the contract offer till then.

[Chuck]

Stall agent 1, tell them you need to get the contract terms reviewed or somesuch. Tell agent 2 that you have done this and need an offer sharpish. Put a deadline on it and stick to it.

Do not accept offer 1 if you plan to bin it in a couple of weeks. You'll piss off agent 1, which isn't too important, but you will piss of client 1 who may not forget. Whatever, this sort of thing gives contractors a bad name.

[BlasterBates]

I would tend towards being honest with the agency, as you say rep. is important. Be straight up and honest you have a permie interview if it works out you're going there, otherwise you take the contract.

If a client is looking for contractors they usually are seeking more than one contractor. There will be other contract opportunities.

Only if I was desperate for cash would I take the contract position, knowing I'll probably disappear.

[barrydidit]

Take option 1 and then give notice to go to option 2 once you've landed it. It's a permie role so they'll be expecting to wait for a month anyway. Win-Win