Dear Contractor Doctor,
I'm currently a permanent employee and intend on going contracting. Do I need
to hand in my notice before I start applying for contract positions?
Thanks
[Name supplied]
Contractor Doctor says:
Yes. I'll explain why.
When contractors are sought for positions the client generally wants them to be
able to interview immediately with a view to starting within a couple of
weeks.
The optimum time to start looking for a contract is when you are available
the next day. If your availability is over about 3 weeks then you reduce
your chances.
Also, a major factor is the agent. An agent will prefer to put forward a
candidate that is available in the shortest available time to maximise their
chances of getting their candidate the position. Often, even with 4 weeks to go
I've been asked if I could leave earlier by the agent.
Worse for the agent than a long availability time is a permanent employee
who has not yet handed in their notice. There is always the risk that the
employer of the candidate comes up with a counter offer resulting in the
candidate no longer being available and subsequently wasting the time of the
agent and making them look bad in front of their client.
Sometimes a client will wait up to 4 weeks for the right person if there
are after a niche skill which is difficult to find. This is rare though.
Basically, to optimise your chances considerably you need to hand in your
notice and take the plunge.
Good luck with it all.
Contractor Doctor
Updated Wednesday, December 21, 2005, [Originally published Thursday, May 13, 2004]
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