Fellow Contractors - What would you do?
Discussion
Am 6 weeks into 2nd extension (13.5 months done) at a gig in the city. Staying away Mon-Thu which i don't mind to be fair. First 10 months gig was fab, good people, challenging work. Now a consultancy has come in to deliver some stuff and my project has fallen under it. No longer fun, micro management etc.
Bearing in mind am thoroughly miserable there and have a decent war chest that a few months feet up isn't going to be too much of an issue.
Option is to stick it out till end June and walk then, give notice and walk, or look for something else then give notice. Is life too short for putting up with the crap, or should I man up?
Bearing in mind am thoroughly miserable there and have a decent war chest that a few months feet up isn't going to be too much of an issue.
Option is to stick it out till end June and walk then, give notice and walk, or look for something else then give notice. Is life too short for putting up with the crap, or should I man up?
Stick it out, I say. It's a small industry and walking out on a contract is always remembered.
Plus, 'because I can't work with consultancies' is never a good answer to 'why did you leave'. They're all the same and learning to live with idiot micro-managers is, sadly, all part of the job.
Plus, 'because I can't work with consultancies' is never a good answer to 'why did you leave'. They're all the same and learning to live with idiot micro-managers is, sadly, all part of the job.
I happen to be the 3rd PM in a (toxic) role.
CEO decided that need to bring in his pet PM Consultants, given issues at other sites.
Managed the PM specialist and now have key milestones pushed out 4 months and another £5M to spend.
Moral of the story - not all external PM Consultancies are hell.
Conversely, if they tried to micromanage me. Would put up with for a while whilst securing alternative gig, hand in notice and move on.
CEO decided that need to bring in his pet PM Consultants, given issues at other sites.
Managed the PM specialist and now have key milestones pushed out 4 months and another £5M to spend.
Moral of the story - not all external PM Consultancies are hell.
Conversely, if they tried to micromanage me. Would put up with for a while whilst securing alternative gig, hand in notice and move on.
k it. anonymous said:
[redacted]
Agree with this completely. Lots of people who are scared to leave a contract for fear of some unknown repercussions but the fact is there are an endless amount of reasons why a contractor may terminate early. In my industry it’s almost expected that they will terminate if made a more lucrative offer elsewhere.A lot of people are stuck in a contract they hate
But won't leave in case they can't find anything else
I did many IT contracts like this... especially in this time of uncertainty, I would stick it out. This time of year is traditionally bad for picking up something else and you could end up on the bench for weeks. Also doesn't look great ending something early. If it's boring, but doable, keep to it
But won't leave in case they can't find anything else
I did many IT contracts like this... especially in this time of uncertainty, I would stick it out. This time of year is traditionally bad for picking up something else and you could end up on the bench for weeks. Also doesn't look great ending something early. If it's boring, but doable, keep to it
Bottom line, if you're decent then you have nothing to worry about, re: finding another gig.
Personally I'd work up to the 18 month point and then jump onto something else if you can. I have no time for contracts that aren't enjoyable and if you're being micromanaged then this goes against contracting IMO as you're supposed to be left to your own devices and deliver in your own time (while respecting the schedule of course) and to your own methods.
Maybe my industry is different but I certainly wouldn't get agents gossiping about only working 13-18 months. It's part/parcel with contracting and how they make their money. As long as you have a good rep work wise I don't see any issues.
Best of luck!
Personally I'd work up to the 18 month point and then jump onto something else if you can. I have no time for contracts that aren't enjoyable and if you're being micromanaged then this goes against contracting IMO as you're supposed to be left to your own devices and deliver in your own time (while respecting the schedule of course) and to your own methods.
Maybe my industry is different but I certainly wouldn't get agents gossiping about only working 13-18 months. It's part/parcel with contracting and how they make their money. As long as you have a good rep work wise I don't see any issues.
Best of luck!
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff