The elusive second contract

[ckms]

Having successfully completed my 1st gig I was told to expect the 2nd one to be harder to come by. After 20 years as a permie I'm really struggling to come to terms with a period of time on the bench having tried hard in the last few weeks to source a contract to move straight into.

I have a war chest & a supportive family but I almost feel guilty at having nowhere to go tomorrow morning!

I want to make a long term success of my limited company without the need to return to perm work. Who else has experienced this and what advice would you give?

[cojak]

Go out and have a walk tomorrow.

Stop thinking like a permie.

[worzelGummidge]

Being out of contract is a different concept to being out of work.
It does take some adjusting.

One way to look at it is that you are always working and sometimes earning.
Though that just seems depressing.

During prolonged periods of non earning I find that it helps to be active first thing.
i.e. jog, breakfast, cycle, contract search.

The worst think to do is to get into an "unemployed state" where everything is too much trouble.

On a positive note, my last contract finished in April 2014 and the extended gap only seems to have made a difference to some agents. It has not really affected the interest from end clients.

It does help though to have had something that you were doing - i.e. building work.

Good luck and take Cojak's advice.

[ckms]

Thanks. All makes perfect sense

[vwdan]

I had my first bench time at the end of last year, 4 weeks with nothing whatsoever. I found getting up properly every morning to be sat on the laptop by 9am helped me stay focussed.

Don't be afraid to enjoy some downtime, but as above, don't ever fall into feeling unemployed.

Also, try and remember that this may be your only time off for a bit!

[scooterscot]

As soon as you find something meaningful to occupy your time the phone rings.

When you've bag your next contract, start searching for the 3rd contract on day 1 of the 2nd.

[EternalOptimist]

For the first few years treat these gaps as your holidays. Let the family know that when work appears you wont be around to take formal holidays.
The penny will drop when you explain that that £2k break in Spain will actually cost 5k and maybe a contract or extension.

Spend the morning looking for contracts, the afternoon playing games and drinking.

[ckms]

Great advice. It all sounds so obvious but it's good to hear it from others who can relate