What is the end date on your contract? Yes, there is a double standard! Contractor, Software QA/Test Engineer

   ROB DAVIS, P.E.

Q42: What is the end date on your contract?

The short answer is, my current contract doesn't have an end date.

The long answer is, when you buy a certificate of deposit from a Bank, you always have to sign a fixed term contract that is written in favor of the Bank. And then, once you sign that contract, you cannot withdraw your money unless you pay the Bank a fat penalty for early withdrawal.

Similarly, when you buy (wireless or other) service from a Corporation, you always have to sign a fixed term contract that is written in favor of the Corporation. And then, once you sign that contract, you cannot terminate it, unless you pay the Corporation a fat penalty for early termination.

The MYTH is that we, contractors, get similar contracts when we provide service for Banks and Corporations. The FACT is that no, we don't. Why? Because there exists a double standard. It isn't in any recruiting manual, but recruiters are encouraged NOT to subject Corporations to the same high contract standards that we, Corporate customers, have to put up with. And when you observe recruiters, they do indeed treat Corporations more leniently.

Based on this double standard, when you're a contractor, are your contracts written in favor of you? NO, they never are. Do your Corporate clients ever pay you anything for early termination? NO, they never do. Do your contracts ever SAY anything about how long your services are needed? NO, they never do.

My current contract doesn't have an end date.

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