First time benched - what to do?

**MarillionFan** · 19 January 2011, 09:53

Obviously the agents screwed you on the last one.

Do you need to get back on the horse again today or could you take a holiday? See it as a natural break.

**DimPrawn** · 19 January 2011, 09:54

Originally posted by NorthWestPerm2Contr View Post

Actually I am currently enjoying the time off and not having to commute 2.5 hours a day. Then again I am making no money..... It's kind of stressful and fun at the same time. Really wierd feeling.

I have 1 interview confirmed and another one possible for today....

Should I relax or stress? Anybody else in the same position?

Have a look round. If you can secure another decent contract in the next few weeks great.

If not, why not book 2 weeks or even a month away somewhere warm and when you return, we might have a spring bounce.

**EternalOptimist** · 19 January 2011, 10:01

EO's strategy - just for you. read this, then eat the intenet.

Put your rate way up and start applying. If you get a gig, great , you had no break but the money makes up for it.

every week, lower your rate. eventually you will get a gig, the money will be poo, but at least you had a nice break

**DimPrawn** · 19 January 2011, 10:02

Originally posted by EternalOptimist View Post

EO's strategy - just for you. read this, then eat the intenet.

Put your rate way up and start applying. If you get a gig, great , you had no break but the money makes up for it.

every week, lower your rate. eventually you will get a gig, the money will be poo, but at least you had a nice break

It's a good strategy.

There's much more demand for high end contractors than the low end, and often the difference between a high end contractor and a low end contractor is just the high end contractor demands 2x the rate of the low end contractor.

**NorthWestPerm2Contr** · 19 January 2011, 10:11

Have a look round. If you can secure another decent contract in the next few weeks great.

If not, why not book 2 weeks or even a month away somewhere warm and when you return, we might have a spring bounce.

Very risky. Only 3 months warchest available. But I can send my wife out to work as a worst case scenario. She works as a self employed pharmacist and can find jobs immediately.

**lilelvis2000** · 19 January 2011, 10:13

I know the stress. But take a couple of weeks off. Don't think about work at all. Then get back to looking. you'll appreciate the break.
EO's advice sounds good to me.

**NorthWestPerm2Contr** · 19 January 2011, 10:17

I am going to go and visit some family and friends down south this weekend. That's a reasonable option in terms of cost and it's a break.

**MarillionFan** · 19 January 2011, 10:19

Originally posted by NorthWestPerm2Contr View Post

Very risky. Only 3 months warchest available. But I can send my wife out to work as a worst case scenario. She works as a self employed pharmacist and can find jobs immediately.

That's plenty of warchest. Couple of weeks off, 2-6 weeks to get back in to the saddle.

Sorted.

**Mich the Tester** · 19 January 2011, 10:19

1 Start thread on CUK entitled 'Doomed'
2 Send CV to those agents you've had good (or at least less than awful) expereinces with
3 Take a few days off altogether
4 Plan each day to spend a couple of hours actively calling agents to 'discuss your skills and wishes' or some such guff plus calling people you've worked with before to 'hear how they're doing' and spend rest of day doing household chores, studying or enjoying your free time
5 If after a couple of weeks nothing, then spread CV around to more agents and be prepared to lower rate if you're feeling the pinch
6 when contract comes, start thread on CUK entitled 'Boomed'

First time benched - what to do?