Reply to: Fourth week on bench

[Jeebo72]

Getting nervous now.
Two clients interviewed. Both said they'd confirm by COP today.

If you were any good then it wouldn't take 4 weeks. You should go permie.

[Battenburg]

Yes, husband is actively looking but not contracting these days. He's resigned to doing low paid temp roles now. Currently he's awaiting (and waiting and waiting...) security clearance on an MOD project at just above minimum wage.

I haven't entirely given up the idea of contracting again but I'm coming close. I just remind myself every now and then that my last contract was one of my best, for a leading investment bank (ha!), on a good rate, in a great team. (Not often you can say that.) So, on that basis I will stick with it.

[suityou01]

Getting nervous now.
Two clients interviewed. Both said they'd confirm by COP today.

Keriste, what a bedwetter

[ChimpMaster]

I've never been out of work in the 17 or so years since graduation (last 8 contracting), but I know I have a long bench period coming up next year. Frankly I have enough of a warchest to last me a long time but still I am very worried about how to handle bench time. I don't think I'll be mentally prepared at all - and with a young family I will be worried about providing for their future.

It's a mindset that I haven't yet experienced, but certainly one that I've got to work around to.

I must admit that if I had a marketable skillset then I would love to work a few months and then take off a few months every year.

Having said that, no matter what happens I am grateful for having been given the chance in life to improve my standing through contracting.

[Clippy]

Fourteen months now and war chest just about holding out. Husband over and out for four years. In a contracting career lasting 15 years I've experienced two significant gaps like this. I happens. At the moment I'm hoping things pick up but there's no sign of that and maybe I should just retire. Sad to say I've been rejecting what are clearly rubbish roles for about six months now, and with a scarcity of decent projects around perhaps this is curtains for me this time round. It wouldn't worry me, there's more to life...

Is hubby actively looking?

If so, the agents must be automatically binning his CV due to the prolonged gap.

Best of luck to you both.

[Bunk]

Fourteen months now and war chest just about holding out. Husband over and out for four years.

Ouch, now those are hefty bench periods. Good luck.

[nomadd]

Fourteen months now and war chest just about holding out. Husband over and out for four years. In a contracting career lasting 15 years I've experienced two significant gaps like this. I happens. At the moment I'm hoping things pick up but there's no sign of that and maybe I should just retire. Sad to say I've been rejecting what are clearly rubbish roles for about six months now, and with a scarcity of decent projects around perhaps this is curtains for me this time round. It wouldn't worry me, there's more to life...

Exactly the same with me. Not sure now if I'm retired or not. Certainly no way I'm going to work on rubbish projects at rubbish rates - I enjoy my free time far to much for that. Had an interview last week for a job that turned out to be for 11+ hour days at 8 hour a day pay rates. Politely declined.

Weather was beautiful yesterday, and I spent all day out in the green-belt. Same again today. Lovely. ...Although I really should wash my motorbike at some point today.

[psychocandy]

Fourteen months now and war chest just about holding out. Husband over and out for four years. In a contracting career lasting 15 years I've experienced two significant gaps like this. I happens. At the moment I'm hoping things pick up but there's no sign of that and maybe I should just retire. Sad to say I've been rejecting what are clearly rubbish roles for about six months now, and with a scarcity of decent projects around perhaps this is curtains for me this time round. It wouldn't worry me, there's more to life...

14 months! crapola.... My warchest wouldnt survive that :-(

Reckon I could do about 9 months at the mo. (Been back contracting only 15 months mind).

[Platypus]

<hic>

<haec>

<hoc>

Ah, a classical education!

[Battenburg]

Fourteen months now and war chest just about holding out. Husband over and out for four years. In a contracting career lasting 15 years I've experienced two significant gaps like this. I happens. At the moment I'm hoping things pick up but there's no sign of that and maybe I should just retire. Sad to say I've been rejecting what are clearly rubbish roles for about six months now, and with a scarcity of decent projects around perhaps this is curtains for me this time round. It wouldn't worry me, there's more to life...

[Support Monkey]

Getting nervous now.
Two clients interviewed. Both said they'd confirm by COP today.

4 weeks!! its not even a good Holiday

[nomadd]

Getting nervous now.
Two clients interviewed. Both said they'd confirm by COP today.

4 months for me. Don't give a damn.

Warchest large. Planned well ahead.

Relax and enjoy the break. No point being a contractor otherwise.

[Gibbon]

What's the bench? Is it in the park where the vagabonds hang out?

[Mich the Tester]

5 weeks here, longest ever was nearly 4 months. 4 months should be survivable with a warchest and sensible outgoings. Just spend less and enjoy having the time for simple pleasures that you're normally too busy to do, like walking, cycling, reading some good books or enjoying the garden.

Still, interview on Turdsday.

[Scrag Meister]

4 weeks, oh well, that's your contracting career over with, pop down the job centre, I'm sure they'll find you something suitable.

4 weeks is nothing, as other have said wait til 4 months.