Bench regrets..things we should do whilst we can....

[Cliphead]

I'm trying to negotiate a month's gap off with my client after securing work for another whole year to manufacture bench time for precisely that reason.

Go for it!

[d000hg]

Bench time = Plan B on steroids.

I'm trying to negotiate a month's gap off with my client after securing work for another whole year to manufacture bench time for precisely that reason.

[Cliphead]

Bench time = Plan B on steroids.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Seriously do not understand those guys who are both benched, and have plenty of warchest for a few months, yet have panic attacks at home, claiming nothing to do.

1) I have a NEVER ending 'To-Do' list....it gets longer, constantly getting added to faster than I clear it down;

2) I LOVE leisure...lazing around a coffee shop, catching up on fan-fiction, or getting around to choosing what post-Soprano's series I want to spend 70 hours watching (yes, Breaking bad, I know, I know!!!), which probably explains #1....

This is all saying NOTHING about firming up my plans to GTFO of this crappy business.

I can understand (and have every sympathy and solidarity with) those poor fellas who got caught on the hop with sudden huge bills or something, but REALLY, don't tell me there's nothing to do.

I don't think its a case of having "nothing to do" it is more of case of motivation to do something.

[Gym beast]

Seriously do not understand those guys who are both benched, and have plenty of warchest for a few months, yet have panic attacks at home, claiming nothing to do.

1) I have a NEVER ending 'To-Do' list....it gets longer, constantly getting added to faster than I clear it down;

2) I LOVE leisure...lazing around a coffee shop, catching up on fan-fiction, or getting around to choosing what post-Soprano's series I want to spend 70 hours watching (yes, Breaking bad, I know, I know!!!), which probably explains #1....

This is all saying NOTHING about firming up my plans to GTFO of this crappy business.

I can understand (and have every sympathy and solidarity with) those poor fellas who got caught on the hop with sudden huge bills or something, but REALLY, don't tell me there's nothing to do.

[Support Monkey]

Every bench time I try to sell all the junk/unused gifts/kids toys etc on eBay.

Last load going on today.

qh

Same here first job is go holiday then get rid of all the clutter then do a bit of DIY get all those jobs done that have been hanging around, go cycling/Gym every day because i can, then when i have nothing left get booked on a course do some learning and then finally make my job gettting a job.

you gotta have a system

[Damon]

Every bench time I try to sell all the junk/unused gifts/kids toys etc on eBay.

Last load going on today.

qh

Hahaha yes done that and it's paid for this year Xmas gifts!

[quackhandle]

Every bench time I try to sell all the junk/unused gifts/kids toys etc on eBay.

Last load going on today.

qh

[SueEllen]

Not doing DIY and other little jobs while I had the time instead seeing friends and getting pissed.

[Damon]

I’ve seen RichardCranium’s pyjama’s thread mentioned on several threads so I got round to reading it end to end last night. It has some very insightful observations on the recruitment industry as well as being very thought provoking.

I find time on the bench great at first, getting jobs done you’ve not got to, catching up with friends and trips away for holidays. Eventually though well established routines start to break, and the constant CV submissions into black holes takes its toll and motivation begins to decline.

Depending on how long you are off the bench and your character you alternate between bursts of activity on CV writing, applications and networking and time saying ‘sod’ it I am going to enjoy myself doing what I enjoy and something will happen.

Then when a contract comes along and you are back at it in the work routines quicker than you’d choose and the opportunities have gone.

Quickly you start look back at your time on the bench and reflect on the the time you had and how you used it.

I am entering my third month on the bench and already I am compromising the time off by not just enjoying it by spending too much time on gig websites as the outcomes of that don’t correlate with time put in on them. I guess I work on the basis you have to put sufficient time in to give yourself the chance of getting a gig, if you don’t you could end up using more of the war chest than is necessary.

So I thought it would be interesting to discuss what are the bench time regrets we have to motivate myself and others to use the time more positively as sure enough it will be over at some point and we should make the most of it!