An experienced contractor knows that his/her contract could end any day. Even with the knowledge that the position is temporary, it‘s hard not to take it personally when your staffing agency calls to tell you that your contract assignment is over.
Sometimes contracts end based on performance but now a days many contractors are being let go for budget reasons.
So let’s put all this into perspective:
Companies are making less money now so budgets are tighter. If technology is not part of the company’s end product but rather a vehicle, then IT as a whole is perceived as overhead. In many cases, budgets are reduced strictly on a mathematical basis by bean counters not necessarily based on prioritization of IT projects and the business impacts and strategies of existing systems.
Budget managers and financial coordinators see contractors on the ledger under temp labor and manage it as a monthly or even weekly burn rate. Calculate how many “contractor x bill rate” make up the difference between old budget and new. Simple math.
Also there are a lot of contractors documenting for that transition to the outsource company. Instead of the headache of resource allocation, monthly burn rates and the work itself –outsource and just manage contracts and invoices (a much easier math). A reasonable approach if only projects and support and maintenance were that simple and the same skillsets available at all price ranges and change requests were free.
So what does all this have to do with leaving gracefully? What’s the point because these corporate decisions affect your livelihood and you’re mad and terrified?
The point is: there are a lot of decisions being made based on numbers not people. So when it happens to you and you get the tap on the shoulder, realize that it is out of your control and not about you as a person. It’s math.
Take the emotions out of the equation, hand in your badge, shake some hands with a smile and walk out confident that you will be fine. Because you will be.
Keep on Billing,
Tae FitzSimons
Tell us about your experiences with leaving contract positions in the comments below.