Reply to: Should I Renew?

[TheRightStuff]

mate, i came back from a year off, and worked a few short term contracts.

4 monther, 3 monther, it really doesnt matter.

Im currently on a 12 monther, all that really matters is the big names and big projects and big cash.

no. just the cash. Next.

[TheRightStuff]

Hi All,

First time poster, so please be gentle

I'm in the middle of a 3 month contract which I'm NOT keen to renew (if offered). The problem is that I'm not sure how a mere 3 month stint at one company would look on my CV? My previous contracts have lasted 6-18 months.

Would a mere 3 month stint look bad and should I look to renew for at least another 3 months, or do employers care less about this for contractors? What are people's experiences?

This is further complicated by the fact that I've just taken a year long career break to go travelling.

Do we care?
NEXT.

[el duder]

Hi All,

First time poster, so please be gentle

I'm in the middle of a 3 month contract which I'm NOT keen to renew (if offered). The problem is that I'm not sure how a mere 3 month stint at one company would look on my CV? My previous contracts have lasted 6-18 months.

Would a mere 3 month stint look bad and should I look to renew for at least another 3 months, or do employers care less about this for contractors? What are people's experiences?

This is further complicated by the fact that I've just taken a year long career break to go travelling.

mate, i came back from a year off, and worked a few short term contracts.

4 monther, 3 monther, it really doesnt matter.

Im currently on a 12 monther, all that really matters is the big names and big projects and big cash.

[DS23]

Thanks everyone, you've all been really helpful

has this ever happened before?

[Troll]

Thanks everyone, you've all been really helpful

We have failed....

[wendigo100]

There must be something in the air...

Did I hear a thunderclap?...

[axonrg]

Thanks everyone, you've all been really helpful

[shoes]

I think it can help if you have a long contract at a particular firm on your CV. It indicates the company found you helpful and didn't want to ditch you at the first opportunity. Many '3 months+' gigs use the initial 3 months as a trial period. However the converse is not true, a short stint doesn't mean you weren't any good, it just means it was a short stint.

[swamp]

WTF is wrong with a three monther? My first contract was three days!

As for how it looks on your CV it depends what you do. If you're a firewall specialist then three months is a long gig, but as an architect or a project manager then it may look a bit short. If you are worried about this then spin it. Turn a PM role in to a crisis management one, architecture becomes 'integration design' etc.

[thunderlizard]

I think you've already made your mind up.
A 3 monther's a 3 monther. You did your time, nobody can say fairer than that. Captain of ship, master of fate &c.

tl

[wendigo100]

Unless it's a permie job, then they expect you to work 10 years at the same company and sink with it, if necessary.

Yes, permyism is a different kettle of fish. But matey says it is a 3 month contract.

[Francko]

Only joking.

Three months isn't a problem. You went in to do a job that took 3 months, and that's that. I did a one-monther and a two-monther last year and nobody has even mentioned the shortness.

Unless it's a permie job, then they expect you to work 10 years at the same company and sink with it, if necessary.

[wendigo100]

Better a 3-month contract at UBS or Deutsche Bank than a 12-month one at some company nobody has heard of. At least it shows that you passed the interview and survived the contract. Make a list of blue-chip clients at the top of your CV.
Good luck mate.

Excellent point. The very fact I had Microsoft on my CV (regardless of what I did there) swung me at least one good contract, and having Prudential got me another.

I suppose it sounds a bit like collecting badges, but it pays off in the long run.

[TinTin]

3-months is OK

Better a 3-month contract at UBS or Deutsche Bank than a 12-month one at some company nobody has heard of. At least it shows that you passed the interview and survived the contract. Make a list of blue-chip clients at the top of your CV.
Good luck mate.

[wendigo100]

Hi All,

First time poster, so please be gentle

I'm in the middle of a 3 month contract which I'm NOT keen to renew (if offered). The problem is that I'm not sure how a mere 3 month stint at one company would look on my CV? My previous contracts have lasted 6-18 months.

Would a mere 3 month stint look bad and should I look to renew for at least another 3 months, or do employers care less about this for contractors? What are people's experiences?

This is further complicated by the fact that I've just taken a year long career break to go travelling.

Only joking.

Three months isn't a problem. You went in to do a job that took 3 months, and that's that. I did a one-monther and a two-monther last year and nobody has even mentioned the shortness.