Reply to: End of contract etiquette

[Euro-commuter]

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I wouldn’t mind staying, but at the same time if something else came up I would be happy to go elsewhere. I obviously don’t want to be out of work so I am currently working on the assumption that whoever gives me an offer first gets me.

My Q is, should I tell the agent/my client that I am going for other jobs? Also what do I say when I disappear for a few hours to attend an interview? Are people honest or do they make trips to the dentist?!

Good assumption. They are not employing you, so they will not feel any obligations in regard to your continuing "employment". They'll offer you a contract/extension if they want, otherwise not.

Your attitude should be the same. You have no obligations to ensure your continued availability.

Tell them you're looking? Sure. Then they can take that fact into account when they are deciding what to do and how quickly they want to do it.

And you don't have to hide the fact that you're going for an interview, that's permie thinking. You don't have to tell them either. What you do when you are not fulfilling your contract obligations to your client is not something you have to account for.

[youngguy]

Good attitude. That client might ask you back one day.

Also, an agency will move you up their hit list if you have good relationships with their clients.

Regarding the possible extension - have you been at that client long?

Only been with them a 4 months and this would be the first extension

[wendigo100]

Thanks All

To answer the Q’s – I think it very likely that I will get extended. The thing is I’m not sure if I want to (hence why I haven’t pushed the client yet). Its ok here, but not great so I want to keep my options open as long as possible.

What I don’t want is the client to assume I am staying and then me leave at the end of my contract. I guess you could argue that its their fault (if they REALLY wanted me they could have started talks a month ago) but I don’t want to leave them high and dry.

Good attitude. That client might ask you back one day.

Also, an agency will move you up their hit list if you have good relationships with their clients.

Regarding the possible extension - have you been at that client long?

[VectraMan]

What I don’t want is the client to assume I am staying and then me leave at the end of my contract. I guess you could argue that its their fault (if they REALLY wanted me they could have started talks a month ago) but I don’t want to leave them high and dry.

It's nobody's fault. You were contracted until a certain date; as long as you've fulfilled that there's no reason to feel in any way that you've done anything wrong or let anybody down.

I'm not sure why you'd want to hide an interview from your current client, in fact it could be a good idea to pretend you have interviews even if you don't. Last time round I informed the client on Friday I wouldn't be in Monday morning of my last week (I didn't give a reason but it was for an interview), and by 10am Monday morning the agent phoned me saying they wanted to extend. I took the new role instead, but clearly that morning off is what forced their hand.

[youngguy]

I originally read this as contract etiquette was coming to an end; I thought “what the feck is that”.

I'm just happy that I managed to spell eticet correctly without a dictionary

[Buffoon]

I originally read this as contract etiquette was coming to an end; I thought “what the feck is that”.

[Ardesco]

If you really want to go with a bang you could always arrange a staff do, bang your bosses secretary on his desk while the security camera is running, piss in his filing cabinet, and tulip on his seat.

You will certainly be remembered for the next few years

[wendigo100]

How many people get an extension to their contract in the last week of their current one?

This always seems to happen to me. Usually because of some approval from someone who doesn't even know you who controls spending etc.

They never seem to be able to plan ahead.

I usually get to know earlier than a week.

However, clients might be waiting on a contract signature from their customer, or hitting their financial year-end. Both of those affect everyone where I am at the moment. As it happens I have found something else.

[youngguy]

Of course!

There are ways of telling them of course, so be diplomatic, but if the client wants to keep you, it focusses their minds to come up with something a bit quicker than the day before you finish.

You're not a permie so they cannot hold it against you. You are expected to be looking for your next bit of work.

If your agent were any good they'd be looking for you too, in case you aren't asked to extend.

Thanks All

To answer the Q’s – I think it very likely that I will get extended. The thing is I’m not sure if I want to (hence why I haven’t pushed the client yet). Its ok here, but not great so I want to keep my options open as long as possible.

What I don’t want is the client to assume I am staying and then me leave at the end of my contract. I guess you could argue that its their fault (if they REALLY wanted me they could have started talks a month ago) but I don’t want to leave them high and dry.

[wendigo100]

My Q is, should I tell the agent/my client that I am going for other jobs?

Of course!

There are ways of telling them of course, so be diplomatic, but if the client wants to keep you, it focusses their minds to come up with something a bit quicker than the day before you finish.

You're not a permie so they cannot hold it against you. You are expected to be looking for your next bit of work.

If your agent were any good they'd be looking for you too, in case you aren't asked to extend.

[Sysman]

How many people get an extension to their contract in the last week of their current one?

A couple of times - the last day.

One colleague got a year's extension during his leaving do (at the end of his last day).

[Troll]

How many people get an extension to their contract in the last week of their current one?

This always seems to happen to me. Usually because of some approval from someone who doesn't even know you who controls spending etc.

They never seem to be able to plan ahead.

You can usually get a feel for the likelyhood of extension... are others being extended or are they shedding contractors

[Cowboy Bob]

How many people get an extension to their contract in the last week of their current one?

Never had it any other way.

[oxtailsoup]

How many people get an extension to their contract in the last week of their current one?

This always seems to happen to me. Usually because of some approval from someone who doesn't even know you who controls spending etc.

They never seem to be able to plan ahead.

[oxtailsoup]

This happens quite a lot.

When I've got two weeks left I always tell my agent and employer that I will have to start looking for work and explain (if true) that I'd love to stay but as there is no contract on the table I need to start looking. Never had a problem with this approach.