Reply to: Poor contract (no work, low rate) vs Bench

[unemployed]

£10.98

2p for you

[MrMarkyMark]

£10 ?

£10.98

[unemployed]

so the war chest is very healthy.

£10 ?

[MrMarkyMark]

So by way of update, I have got off my sorry backside, updated my CV and have 2 interviews lined up for later next week. Fingers crossed...

Good luck..

[kaiser78]

This is the dilemma I am currently facing - contract I am currently in is very slow going. There is no literally work currently (and only so much surfing you can do) and the rate is lower than normal. I took the role in order to add an additional skillset to my bow, although need the work to develop the skillset !

Part of me thinks I should hit the bench, have a bit of a break, and refocus on securing another contract, albeit conscious of the difficult market currently.

Tricky one - any thoughts to get my motivation up ?

So by way of update, I have got off my sorry backside, updated my CV and have 2 interviews lined up for later next week. Fingers crossed...

[MrMarkyMark]

have you thought about studying some books while doing nothing and practicing what you'd learn? doqnload some pdf and learn new skills...
thats how i learned mean stack (nodejs etc)

Did a lot of this when I first started, otherwise I concur with WTFHs last comment

[WTFH]

have you thought about studying some books while doing nothing and practicing what you'd learn? doqnload some pdf and learn new skills...
thats how i learned mean stack (nodejs etc)

Some times the best thing about having time to do nothing related to earning money is that you get to spend time doing nothing related to earning money.

[diseasex]

This, I have been enjoying time off since my last one very much
One of the reasons I chose contracting, however have just finished 3.5 years back to back, so the war chest is very healthy.

have you thought about studying some books while doing nothing and practicing what you'd learn? doqnload some pdf and learn new skills...
thats how i learned mean stack (nodejs etc)

[MrMarkyMark]

How far on in your contracting career are you? Is money everything? In the first couple of years, like most of us, it was but I hit a point where I could be flexible with the work I took and time off. Not become utterly miserable in dead end gigs. Two years ago I was in exactly your situation and was stuck between stay or go but was getting to the point I couldn't be arsed to get up, days seemed years long. I put it to the client manager there was nothing to do and what I did have could be passed on. Do you want me to stay and it will ramp up or do you know it's not going to change and we end. He chose to end and it was the best decision ever. 3 months off (2 with one while looking really) and was 'appy as t'pig in muck.

I have a warchest so I don't have to put up with that kind of crap. It's why I went contracting and it's finally come round to the point I can do what I started it for. Are you there yet? Is time on the bench a nightmare full of stress or is it pleasant downtime between gigs? What's your warchest like and are you not afraid to dip in to it?

Those questions and knowing how utterly miserable you are (or aren't at the moment) should make the decision pretty easy.

This, I have been enjoying time off since my last one very much
One of the reasons I chose contracting, however have just finished 3.5 years back to back, so the war chest is very healthy.

[kaiser78]

How far on in your contracting career are you? Is money everything? In the first couple of years, like most of us, it was but I hit a point where I could be flexible with the work I took and time off. Not become utterly miserable in dead end gigs. Two years ago I was in exactly your situation and was stuck between stay or go but was getting to the point I couldn't be arsed to get up, days seemed years long. I put it to the client manager there was nothing to do and what I did have could be passed on. Do you want me to stay and it will ramp up or do you know it's not going to change and we end. He chose to end and it was the best decision ever. 3 months off (2 with one while looking really) and was 'appy as t'pig in muck.

I have a warchest so I don't have to put up with that kind of crap. It's why I went contracting and it's finally come round to the point I can do what I started it for. Are you there yet? Is time on the bench a nightmare full of stress or is it pleasant downtime between gigs? What's your warchest like and are you not afraid to dip in to it?

Those questions and knowing how utterly miserable you are (or aren't at the moment) should make the decision pretty easy.

Yes agree to all of this - my war chest is pretty good and I can take the financial hit on the bench for some months if I needed to. I think deep down the lack of motivation is being countered by the fact that as I am in contract, I should remain in contract (not topical pun intended), almost a guilt thing given the current state of the market.

Some other good suggestions provided as well, so thanks all round - I will take step back over the weekend and see how best I can ride this out.

[ChimpMaster]

How far on in your contracting career are you? Is money everything? <snip>

I have a warchest so I don't have to put up with that kind of crap. It's why I went contracting and it's finally come round to the point I can do what I started it for. Are you there yet? Is time on the bench a nightmare full of stress or is it pleasant downtime between gigs? What's your warchest like and are you not afraid to dip in to it?

Those questions and knowing how utterly miserable you are (or aren't at the moment) should make the decision pretty easy.

Good post and echoes my experience very closely.

I'm almost there too NL. Almost

[northernladuk]

This is the dilemma I am currently facing - contract I am currently in is very slow going. There is no literally work currently (and only so much surfing you can do) and the rate is lower than normal. I took the role in order to add an additional skillset to my bow, although need the work to develop the skillset !

Part of me thinks I should hit the bench, have a bit of a break, and refocus on securing another contract, albeit conscious of the difficult market currently.

Tricky one - any thoughts to get my motivation up ?

How far on in your contracting career are you? Is money everything? In the first couple of years, like most of us, it was but I hit a point where I could be flexible with the work I took and time off. Not become utterly miserable in dead end gigs. Two years ago I was in exactly your situation and was stuck between stay or go but was getting to the point I couldn't be arsed to get up, days seemed years long. I put it to the client manager there was nothing to do and what I did have could be passed on. Do you want me to stay and it will ramp up or do you know it's not going to change and we end. He chose to end and it was the best decision ever. 3 months off (2 with one while looking really) and was 'appy as t'pig in muck.

I have a warchest so I don't have to put up with that kind of crap. It's why I went contracting and it's finally come round to the point I can do what I started it for. Are you there yet? Is time on the bench a nightmare full of stress or is it pleasant downtime between gigs? What's your warchest like and are you not afraid to dip in to it?

Those questions and knowing how utterly miserable you are (or aren't at the moment) should make the decision pretty easy.

[SueEllen]

I did that last week and so have only been back a week for my new found motivation to erode...

Book a short break e.g. one where you have to take Friday and Monday off for the end of June/beginning of July.

Then plan to do the same at the beginning of August.

That way you have something to look forward to.

In the meantime work on learning new skills that the client has the technology for on-site.

[ChimpMaster]

Location is daily 1hr commute which is the norm for me. And no other issue really other than the lack of work and trying to keep the day going.

At least you're getting home each day, which is always a plus assuming you have a family.

Bank the cash and try to learn something new even if just at a high level. Then you can apply for new contracts that might allow you to use the new skill, or you can try to secure a permanent job for a short while to bolster new skills.

[SimonMac]

2 weeks notice as well for me but the idea was that when this contract had properly ended to have a long break then. Have been in limbo for the past 4-5 weeks - am very nearly at the point of seeing what Mumsnet is up to

I have been extended until end of August, however the system goes off line this weekend, and even with decommissioning I don't see it lasted too much longer so making hay while the sun shine