Reply to: What's the longest you had to wait for a contract after being offered?

[suityou01]

Just had a call from the agent. They are putting the start date back ANOTHER week, as they are still waiting for the HR department of the client to get the paperwork together.

I did ask what the hold up was, but got a non-answer and told that they have been chasing daily.

A part of me thinks this is because they didn't get budget signoff first, and are struggling to do so.

I am back looking of course, and have been for a few days. Kin quiet out ther still though.

[strawberrysmoothie]

Possibly. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. As Ted Kennedy said to Mary Jo.

[expat]

Is it really an agency you have to find - might you be better off through an umbrella if they already have an umbrella on their purchasing system?

Possibly. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. As Ted Kennedy said to Mary Jo.

[MPwannadecentincome]

I have done: my current contract is direct. If this ends soon, as it might, my next 2 possibilities are also with direct contacts but the clients' HR will not work directly with contractors, I would have to find an agency and work through them.

Is it really an agency you have to find - might you be better off through an umbrella if they already have an umbrella on their purchasing system?

[Drewster]

I once "waited" about 18months (or put another way 3 other contracts).

I worked on a project that got "held up" due to other priorities.....
The Client asked "Would you come back and finish off when we start up again"........
I started another contract..... at a VG Rate......
I Spoke to (ex)Client again..... still "waiting"........
I renewed........
Spoke to (ex)Client again.... still "waiting" but getting nearer.... What rate would I want..... (as I was getting a little peed) I named a monster Rate (never expecting to hear any more).....
New contract.... much poorer rate.... downturn in market etc......
Spoke to (ex) Client... still waiting......
Plod on... near end of contract
(ex)Client contacted me!!! Could you still do it for the previously mentioned rate??
Me (straight faced) well as we had previously discused the rate blah blah blah.....

Finished contract and started back at (ex)Client on VVG Rate.....

I believe the word is BOOMED!!

But that was years ago - not expecting it this time!!

[expat]

Never believe an agents word. You should keep looking regardless of what they say. It also increases the possibility that a better offer may arise.

Ab-so-effin-lutely. Just to repeat the important bit: never believe an agent's word.

Find another contract anyway. That's win-win: at best you get the choice, at worst you have something. No, seriously: scouting for work is part of what you do. It's normal to keep doing it. The way that a client or agent gets you to stop doing it is by giving you a contract, not by giving you a bit of unsupported verbal encouragement.

And never love a contract that you don't have (I think it was me that said that, and I think it's pretty good though I say so myself).

And never believe an agent's word.

[Turion]

Got a call this morning from the pimp. Needed to know my company reg no. I guided him to the scanned image of my certificate of incorporation that he asked me to email him last week.



Then he sent me the same questionaire again to fill out.



He sounds young. Then he muttered under his breath - I never did one of these limited company ones before.

In a peverse way, I am reassured because it means I am kept waiting not because of the nefarious underhand dealings of the client, but because of the pimps general incompetency.

On the other hand, this incompetent is making money out of me, and is probably only just old enough to shave.

Never believe an agents word. You should keep looking regardless of what they say. It also increases the possibility that a better offer may arise.

[Moscow Mule]

I have done: my current contract is direct. If this ends soon, as it might, my next 2 possibilities are also with direct contacts but the clients' HR will not work directly with contractors, I would have to find an agency and work through them.

Fortunately, current clientco are big enough to have a commercial ops team who deal with the contractors - HR are not involved at all. Which, I guess, is a good thing as they are generally a pile of festering uselessness.

I've had one previous good experience with an agency who would do good rates for direct (<5%) I've no idea if they still do it, but PM if you want the details.

[expat]

You're not fed up with contracting, you're fed up with agents. Start developing your contacts and start cutting them out of the loop.

I have done: my current contract is direct. If this ends soon, as it might, my next 2 possibilities are also with direct contacts but the clients' HR will not work directly with contractors, I would have to find an agency and work through them.

[Moscow Mule]

That is probably what will eventually cause me to give up contracting. I have just had enough of it.

You're not fed up with contracting, you're fed up with agents. Start developing your contacts and start cutting them out of the loop.

And for the OP, my last four contracts have been thus;

Current: 0 minutes - hiring manager is my mate (direct)
-1: 0 minutes - was recommended by the PM (direct)
-2: 0 minutes - was recommended by the PM (direct)
-3: <1 day - new agent involved who didn't know me or the product very well but was Pref at the bank.
-4: 0 minutes - was offered the job in the interview, agent phoned to ask how interview went and was surprised to hear the good news.

[TykeMerc]

Longest I ever waited was about 3 years, well arguably 13 years since they still haven't sent me one and I left 10 years ago after 3 years

[expat]

...
On the other hand, this incompetent is making money out of me, and is probably only just old enough to shave.

That is probably what will eventually cause me to give up contracting. I have just had enough of it.

[expat]

Yup this happened to me just before the Xmas break. Was told by pimp I was the only person being put forward for the role, then I got told it was on hold until after the Xmas break.. come Jan 5th I chased it up and got nothing back. It was only when they called me about a completely different gig that I quizzed them and discovered someone else had been sent.

You could always play the "I've got another offer on the table, I need an answer today" card.. if you genuinely have the gig they will come back and give you a fast answer. I used this last week and it worked (for confirmation of an interview after getting null replies from agent).

Never mind playing the card, go and actually get another offer. You don't have the contract till you have the contract.

If anybody asks you to wait, with nothing but the word of an agent to go on, ask yourself both of these questions, not just the first:
1. Do I want to wait for this one?
2. How much do I want to wait? I.e. how much of my money will I bet on it?

[NotAllThere]

I waited three months once. But that was because it was the security clearance taking time.

[suityou01]

Got a call this morning from the pimp. Needed to know my company reg no. I guided him to the scanned image of my certificate of incorporation that he asked me to email him last week.



Then he sent me the same questionaire again to fill out.



He sounds young. Then he muttered under his breath - I never did one of these limited company ones before.

In a peverse way, I am reassured because it means I am kept waiting not because of the nefarious underhand dealings of the client, but because of the pimps general incompetency.

On the other hand, this incompetent is making money out of me, and is probably only just old enough to shave.