How to enjoy the bench

[expat]

Has anyone tried spending bench time somewhere interesting? I don't mean take a fixed break before the next contract, I mean take off to a distant beach, and stay there until you get a contract?

Surely the next contract is as easy to find from Thailand as from the UK? So why not stay out there until it comes along?

But how to deal with the sneaking feeling that it never will come along unless you're keeping on the case (= stuck at home and not enjoying it)?

[vwdan]

Can't answer your question, but I'd imagine this:

Surely the next contract is as easy to find from Thailand as from the UK?

Is a false premise. Even if you go somewhere where the time difference isn't going to be difficult to deal with, what happens if someone wants you in for an interview? I had a telephone interview on Tuesday, face to face on Friday and we're sorting the paperwork today. Although they may have gone for a second phone interview, I felt it important to take the chance for a proper meeting.

Then again, depends how much time you don't mind being on the bench. Nothing to say you couldn't give it a shot for a while with a fixed date to come back and really start laying down the effort.

[expat]

Can't answer your question, but I'd imagine this:



Is a false premise. Even if you go somewhere where the time difference isn't going to be difficult to deal with, what happens if someone wants you in for an interview? I had a telephone interview on Tuesday, face to face on Friday and we're sorting the paperwork today. Although they may have gone for a second phone interview, I felt it important to take the chance for a proper meeting.

Then again, depends how much time you don't mind being on the bench. Nothing to say you couldn't give it a shot for a while with a fixed date to come back and really start laying down the effort.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Personally I haven't had a face to face for 15 years: I usually work in NL-Germany-Switzerland, occasionally France, so it's not expected given that I'm UK-based.

The one thing that I would hate would be if I took e.g. 3 months away and didn't get a contract, then came back to put some effort into it, only to be benched at home instead, wishing I hadn't come back!