How do you handle bench time & holidays?

[bren586]

But what happens when you're on the bench? Do you then think "Oh crikey now I need to save money because I don't know when the next contract is coming along". So you spend your time worrying about lack of income and trying to find the next contract. So you can't relax.

During the last down turn my contract was terminated on quite short notice - I was expecting another 4 or 5 months but all the money was pulled from projects.

This left me with some modest savings but I went from working to not working with out any thought on what I was going to do.

I did brush up on a few skills but nothing structured and to be honest I just wasted the time I had off. And all the way through my time out I was watching my bank balance dwindle.

This time it will be different.

I have been saving seriously for the last 18 months so bank account(s) are looking very healthy. I have paid off everything. And I have a plan for my time off which is linked to my financial plan.

This means that I can spend money with out being stressed and at the end of the time out of contract I hope that my only regret is that the time was too short

[minestrone]

I've decided to learn either C++ or Java. Which do people think has the best long term prospects?

Java by a mile, C++ is a dead language now, of course I will now get attacked by sandal wearing bearded C++ programmers for that statement.

Anyway I tend to get up and do some exercise for an hour or so, get cleaned up and do TV + internet or piano until lunch time, then I try to get out and do something. Cinema, take the camera out, go to courts on a Monday to see the Glasgow scum get dragged in after a weekend in the cells .

I was off for 5 months in the summer there but the weather was so bad it was pointless, hoping for something better this year as I am benched in a few weeks.

Looking forward to the ashes and afternoon bevies with my benched mate who lives close by.

[TheFaQQer]

This might in fact be the problem for me, because the skillset I have is dead and I've been a little lackadaisical towards I.T. in general over the past 3 years.

Project Management, then?

[MPwannadecentincome]

so what if you go on holiday whilst on the bench, take the laptop with you so you can still browse the job boards etc or drop into an internet cafe - just plan the day to allow yourself time to enjoy the holiday as well!

[OwlHoot]

This might in fact be the problem for me, because the skillset I have is dead and I've been a little lackadaisical towards I.T. in general over the past 3 years.

What is your skillset, out of interest?

I've decided to learn either C++ or Java. Which do people think has the best long term prospects?

[AlfredJPruffock]

This might in fact be the problem for me, because the skillset I have is dead and I've been a little lackadaisical towards I.T. in general over the past 3 years.

Aye TM

I was supposed to be dead-in-the-water skillset wise back in 1996 - then again in 2000 - then again in 2003 - and its all been bull.

Hope that helps.

Also chant Hare Krishna - I have found this to be incredibly useful.

[ChimpMaster]

dont fall foul of the thought - what if I never get a gig again - dismiss this as self-defeating talk .

This might in fact be the problem for me, because the skillset I have is dead and I've been a little lackadaisical towards I.T. in general over the past 3 years.

[AlfredJPruffock]

When you're billing, and especially if you bill pretty much continuously for a long time (months/years), you might think like me which is "I'll take a nice long well earned break when the contract ends".

Invariably this might mean that you don't get a decent holiday in a while.

But what happens when you're on the bench? Do you then think "Oh crikey now I need to save money because I don't know when the next contract is coming along". So you spend your time worrying about lack of income and trying to find the next contract. So you can't relax.

I ask because I haven't yet experienced any serious bench time, but I may have to face this possibility soon.

Oh I can give you plenty of advice on that one.

Scenario One : On the bench for six months with six months savings - result - happiness.

Scenario Two : On the bench for six months with no savings at all - result misery.

erm actually in my case I borrowed a bit more to tide me over the bench period- tsk tsk but dont forget when on the bench - you always end up with a contract - dont fall foul of the thought - what if I never get a gig again - dismiss this as self-defeating talk .

[Bluebird]

Just came of the bench after 3 months, wasn't too bad over Christmas as luckily enough got the ko on Crimbo Eve, meant I could relax a bit.
I had a bit put aside but it wasn't enough - need to make sure I've got at least 3 months money to make it comfy.

[Cheshire Cat]

Plan your bench time whilst you are still invoicing, so you can spend it wisely, even if that means scheduling in a week or so away somewhere, or just having a few days in front of the xbox.
Assume you'll be on the bench long enough to get done whichever big domestic job has been hanging around for ages. No point procrastinating about ripping out the old bathroom or whatever, because you're convinced you'll be back in work any day soon; in three months time you'll wish you'd just got it out of the way.
Break up your bench time into chunks (of whatever length suit) that you can tackle and feel a sense of achievement, which is especially important if you do end up being benched for months.
And mix up your activities (bit of DIY, bit of exercise, bit of catching up on the entire back catalogue of 24, Lost, West Wing, etc) so you don't get bored just doing one thing for - potentially - months.

My advice is free and disposable. Do with it whatever you see fit.

[happyroggat]

When you're billing, and especially if you bill pretty much continuously for a long time (months/years), you might think like me which is "I'll take a nice long well earned break when the contract ends".

Invariably this might mean that you don't get a decent holiday in a while.

But what happens when you're on the bench? Do you then think "Oh crikey now I need to save money because I don't know when the next contract is coming along". So you spend your time worrying about lack of income and trying to find the next contract. So you can't relax.

I ask because I haven't yet experienced any serious bench time, but I may have to face this possibility soon.

I have been on the bench now for 3 months, this is the first time in nearly a decade that i have had this much time off.

First few weeks was great, caught up with the training etc, updated skill etc. However as the weeks go by, its getting boring, there plenty DIY nonsense to do, but don't fancy that.

[Bagpuss]

Quite happy to chill for a couple of months, but then I've set up my finances in such a way that I'm not over reliant on contracting income. I know some contractors who can't even afford a month off, even though they earn good money.

After a couple of months I start to get a little anxious though, just because long benched periods are sometimes seen (by the client) as a negative.

[PM-Junkie]

When you're billing, and especially if you bill pretty much continuously for a long time (months/years), you might think like me which is "I'll take a nice long well earned break when the contract ends".

Invariably this might mean that you don't get a decent holiday in a while.

But what happens when you're on the bench? Do you then think "Oh crikey now I need to save money because I don't know when the next contract is coming along". So you spend your time worrying about lack of income and trying to find the next contract. So you can't relax.

I ask because I haven't yet experienced any serious bench time, but I may have to face this possibility soon.

If you haven't had a break for a while - enjoy it. Recharge, re-evaluate and fine tune or update your skills.

And if you're married, be ready to be told to do all those jobs you couldn't do when you were maxed out working....you'll soon want another gig just for the rest!

[ChimpMaster]

When you're billing, and especially if you bill pretty much continuously for a long time (months/years), you might think like me which is "I'll take a nice long well earned break when the contract ends".

Invariably this might mean that you don't get a decent holiday in a while.

But what happens when you're on the bench? Do you then think "Oh crikey now I need to save money because I don't know when the next contract is coming along". So you spend your time worrying about lack of income and trying to find the next contract. So you can't relax.

I ask because I haven't yet experienced any serious bench time, but I may have to face this possibility soon.