Magic mantra to be in contract for long?

[DeludedKitten]

You're looking for something that doesn't exist - there is no magic rule to finding contracts which last a while, and they will always vary depending on what kind of work you do.

In some industries, you may be doing work for literally a few days here and there, and in others you could be working for years implementing something. So it's meaningless to look for some kind of magic formula for getting a long contract.

My shortest project to date was four weeks (brilliant work - come in, fix problems, go away please), my longest was six and a half years (same project, same role, the moment it finished I left).

Rather than look for the mantra for finding long contracts, maybe look at the kind of roles and technologies which typically take a long time to implement and go from there instead.

[SussexSeagull]

Shortest - 3 weeks (planned)
Longest - 2 and a half years. To be honest I went one or two extensions too long and should have quit earlier.

Apart from one personality clash all my contracts have ended with the project/work finishing or the money running out/budget being pulled.

Turn up and do your contract well. The rest isn't up to you.

[hungry_hog]

My industry (banking) traditionally has long contracts. Reason being I think the projects tend to be huge and drag on and on (some may take 3 years!).
That may be changing with the way the market is now.

As an example I was at one client (call it Bank X) for 4 years. Did two other gigs lasting 2/3 years each, returned to Bank X and some contractors were still there from my first time. Defo a few people over the 10 year mark.

[northernladuk]

Some nice IR35 fodder there then.

[WTFH]

Most of the projects my company is brought in to help deliver take about a year from start to finish. Some take less than that, and sometimes (particularly with big roll-outs), once the project has finished in one region or country, it will move on to another, so they can last considerably longer.
The main client we've had over the last two years is a corporation where we've implemented solutions in 4 of their companies in Ireland and are currently putting in a very different solution in their main Scottish company.

As for the secret to a long contract - go permanent. If what you want is to be going to the same business day in, day out and just doing stuff for them, then take a permanent job

[Hobosapien]

In my experience the 'secret' to long contracts and being asked back by the client when they need the same resources again, in a not particularly specialist niche, is to find a client located away from a good source of suitable permies so they are overly reliant on contractors.

Then outperform their permies both in delivery and professionalism.

Also helps if the client has a programme of work that involves several new projects that are likely to take a number of years to deliver.

The 'secret' to being available when the client comes sniffing around for a re-engagement, is to have a decent period of time off between contracts so the work comes to you sometimes.

If you can find a few clients like this you may never need to seek new work at new clients again, or much less frequently. i.e. being in business where clients approach you direct and not at beck and call of agencies. As such my mantra regarding agencies has for a long time been 'don't call me I'll call you' when seeking work. I change my work mobile number every year or two to make sure I'm in control of how much hassle I get from the pimps. Clients always make initial contact via email (which I've had since before I started contracting) to enquire about my availability and interest in upcoming work they have.

Works for me, so far.

[MattZani]

There is no secret to finding a long contract. As many people already pointed out, it depends on the project itself and how good a contractor you are.

Having said that, in my personal experience which I have to admit is not the longest, I find contracts in the public sector tend to be longer, probably because for public sector companies it's more difficult to hire in general (both permie and contractors) so once they find a resource they tend to keep them as long as humanly possible.

[b0redom]

The contrator's mantra:

Ker-ching,
Ker-ching,
Ker-ching,
*invoice*



Shirly?

[psychocandy]

I've had two contracts eaxctly 2 years 5 months. Current one is now 2 years and 1 month. Yes I'm not a proper contractor ;-)

I've found the length of the contract is largely out of your hands (unless you're useless of course) Can all be going along nicely until suddenly some bean counter decides something or a new manager comes in on a mission to save money and thats it.

One thing. Keep the permies on side. Upset them by swanning around like you own the place or think you're bertie big bollox and the manager will start to get moans in their ear and that'll be it. It always amazes me how impressed permies can be if you buy a round of drinks at xmas or buy them all Pizza one friday. £20-£30 is nothing to a contractor.

Best places are always the ones where the permies don't care if you're a contractor or not. I'm still friendly with permies I worked with 2+ years ago in one place. Other places had a "contractor area" ( a few desks away from everyone else) which was completely different.

[jmo21]

Upset them by swanning around like you own the place or think you're bertie big bollox and the manager will start to get moans in their ear and that'll be it. It always amazes me how impressed permies can be if you buy a round of drinks at xmas or buy them all Pizza one friday.

Way to contradict yourself one sentence later!

I agree with the first, but wouldn't do the second for fear of 1).