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To refuse or not refuse an extension offer

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    To refuse or not refuse an extension offer

    Hello all,

    I'm an IT contractor based in London.

    Currently I'm on a contract which will end in 2 months. I think it is likely to be extended as there is more work to be done throughout the year.

    The problem is I'm entirely unsatisfied with the project. It's mainly a support project and the technology used is not quite cutting edge. Also I'm on the front end side of it but before this I've always worked as a full stack developer handling both backend and frontend.

    So I have a dilemma and trying to weigh my options. On the pro side of extending the contract:

    - Good money and ready client. No unpaid time spent to find a new client.
    - Extension is a reference on its own. Clearly the client is happy working with you so it looks good on CV

    On the con side:
    - Stuck with a dead end technology and will miss out on the new stuff that's coming out everyday
    - Hard to sell that I've been working on heavily supporting an existing application rather than doing active development work.

    I've always accepted extensions in the past and never been in this situation before. I'm wondering what you guys think and what would you do if you were in a similar position.

    Thanks in advance.

    #2
    IMO extensions aren't a factor on your CV. You come. In to do a piece of work and it ends when it ends. Sometimes it's 3 months sometimes it's 2 years. Any decent client will understand that.

    I'd say you are only as good as your last gig. If it's a long stint in a dead tech then you've made your bed for the future...
    'CUK forum personality of 2011 - Winner - Yes really!!!!

    Comment


      #3
      Agencies do look at length of contracts when reviewing CVs. If you have a number of 3 and 6 monthers on it, they will very easily put it aside. Even if you have very successfully completed the work you were supposed to do, they are just too stupid to understand some projects last longer than others. They like to see many 1 year or longer contracts on your CV. Endclients will see through it, but your CV has to land on their desk in the first place and in most cases you will depend on the agency.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by NobotTheRobot View Post
        Hello all,
        I've always accepted extensions in the past and never been in this situation before. I'm wondering what you guys think and what would you do if you were in a similar position.
        I'd suggest that you wait until you're 5-6 weeks away from renewal, and start looking for opportunities elsewhere. If you get any tempting offers, accept them and move on. If you don't get offered anything, consider carefully whether you'd prefer to stay in this dead-end contract or end up on the bench. If you get a renewal offer from your current client, sit on it for as long as possible to enable you to explore what else is out there.

        I've declined extensions from my last 3 clients (after already taking a number of previous extensions) and am thinking of doing the same with this one. If working at a given client is starting to cause you concerns in any way (or is simply doing your head in), you owe it to yourself to at least look at what might be available out there.

        Comment


          #5
          Firstly I agree that extensions do matter on the CV. I ensure mine prominently mentions that all my previous contracts have been extended beyond the initial period (typically 3 months). i.e. I'm not some obnoxious know it all that punches project managers, even if I have been tempted to.

          Secondly, as mentioned, wait till near extension time then see what opportunities are out there (if any ) and decide whether to use a possible 'moving on' as a way of seeing if the client can repurpose you closer to where you want to be.

          I presume you started the contract thinking it was going to offer something different than it transpired so either they misled you, gave you something else in the interim (best chance of getting moved to something else if they have other requirements to fulfil at some point), or you slipped up (at interview stage where you find out what the role entails) and now have to bail after realising your mistake.

          Some of those possibilities (and any others I haven't thought of) may sit better with the client than others when it comes to reasons why you won't be renewing, should you require a reference later down the line. If the client is otherwise decent and it's just the work on offer that you aren't liking then better to not burn any bridges if it just means sucking it up for a few more months. Nothing changes that much in that space of time.
          Last edited by Hobosapien; 16 February 2018, 10:38.
          Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down. Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.

          Comment


            #6
            I agree with others - it shouldnt matter but I'd say clients/agencies do think like this. i.e. extensions are good. I've been in contracts where it was never ever going to be extended because that was clear from the start - so its a little unfair.
            Rhyddid i lofnod psychocandy!!!!

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by northernladuk View Post
              IMO extensions aren't a factor on your CV. You come. In to do a piece of work and it ends when it ends. Sometimes it's 3 months sometimes it's 2 years. Any decent client will understand that.
              Seems a bit personal.

              Take the extension if you have nothing lined up. It can be a long time on the bench.

              qh
              He had a negative bluety on a quackhandle and was quadraspazzed on a lifeglug.

              I look forward to your all knowing and likely sarcastic and unhelpful reply.

              Comment


                #8
                Hmm. Difficult one but I'd say think long and hard about it.

                Theres always a tendency to think, hmm I'll stay where I am, its not that bad, and how long will it take me to get my next gig etc. what if the next one is worse etc.

                For me, having 3 months on the bench once got me thinking like this. Accepted a 2nd extension on a gig which really was crap. It was local so of course, Im thinking hmm will next one be further away, and I also had a holiday planned and didnt want to be thinking of going back to no contract.

                Week after starting new gig I realised it was a mistake. So think about it...
                Rhyddid i lofnod psychocandy!!!!

                Comment


                  #9
                  I have six weeks left with current client co, was told at start it was three-month but I am looking now.

                  Aside from Death and Taxes there are no guarantees with anything in this life. So bored of the bench right now, invoicing is the way forward.


                  qh
                  He had a negative bluety on a quackhandle and was quadraspazzed on a lifeglug.

                  I look forward to your all knowing and likely sarcastic and unhelpful reply.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Hobosapien View Post

                    I presume you started the contract thinking it was going to offer something different than it transpired so either they misled you, gave you something else in the interim (best chance of getting moved to something else if they have other requirements to fulfil at some point), or you slipped up (at interview stage where you find out what the role entails) and now have to bail after realising your mistake.
                    The nature of the interviews were completely different than what I'm working on now. Basically starting this year they decided to divide the teams into two to specialise in certain areas and the project I got is not something I have much experience on and it's mostly a support project. So you're right this is exactly not what I was expecting.

                    In hindsight, my mistake was I didn't ask detailed questions in the interview as my previous 2 contracts were greenfield projects. It didn't even occur to me I'd spend a whole day without writing any code or tests!

                    I hate being put in this position because it's hard to sell what I'm working on now but if I quit early it's even harder to sell. My only consolation is up until this one all my contracts were extended. So just thinking if can I get away with this one...

                    A little bit off topic but just wondering what do you guys tell the recruiters when they ask why it wasn't renewed?

                    If I say my actual reasons (old tech and mostly support), does it come off as nitpicking?

                    Thank you all for your responses by the way, it was very helpful and valuable for me.

                    Comment

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