Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about being assigned a new bid where the account team said upfront they would need weekend support on a tight timeline, after a bitter experience with a delivery expert on the previous bid. I have rewritten it into advice on bids that ask for weekend work from day one.
After doing nearly all the work on the previous RFP with no acknowledgement from the delivery expert, I moved on to a new bid. This time the account team's first mail said they would need support on weekends and were working to a tight deadline. I was a little alarmed about the expectations. On the first day, I called the delivery expert, who seemed knowledgeable and supportive, and the initial requests were normal, though more were expected in the coming days.
What does "weekend support" really mean?
It can mean anything from being reachable by phone to full working days. Ask what is expected, on which days and for how many hours. Vague requests tend to grow into full weekends if they are not clarified.
How do you limit weekend work on a tight bid?
- Front-load your part: finish your sections early in the week.
- Agree a weekend window: for example, two hours on Saturday morning for review changes.
- Share a contact plan: who is on call, and how to reach them.
- Ask for time off in lieu: many companies allow a compensatory day.
How do you recover from a bad experience on the last bid?
Leave it behind with the new team. Judge the new expert by what they do, not by the last one. A supportive first call is a good sign, and a quick thank-you encourages more of the same.
Should you ask for acknowledgement?
You can ask your manager to note your contribution, particularly if someone else's name will appear on the submission. Recognition is easier to secure at the time than months later at appraisal.
Is weekend work unavoidable in presales?
Occasionally, around deadlines set by clients. It should be the exception, planned and compensated, rather than routine.
No comments
Post a Comment