Keep rubbish permanant job or take good contract job?

piggeh

I was in the same position 16 months ago - stay in a job that paid ok but was totally unfulfilling, or take the plunge and take a 2 month contract job and look for something else. The two month contract went permanent and is more money, much more fulfilling, in hindsight it was the right choice. It might not work out the same, but the extra in those 6 months will give you a cushion and it might open up some new doors. I don't think it's ever wise to stay in a job you don't want to be doing, especially when you have little financial commitment to do so.

Oldernotwiser

Don't forget to allow for the extra you'll be paying on your student loan on a higher salary; that'll knock nearly a grand off for a start.

InsideInsurance

Mistral001 wrote: »

I am not sure whether contract work counts much as experience - at least good experience - with employers.

Unless you are only staying with companies for a few months at a time there is no need for future employers to know if you were a perm or contractor at any company unless they explicitly ask.

Most the contractors I know tend to spend circa 12-18 months in each role (unless they are highly specialised) which could easily be perm work. Of cause if you are applying for another contract role you point out these were all contracts and they were all renewed X times

What you can lack is the initial opportunity for stretch. They bring a contractor in because they can do the job from day 1, you don't bring one in because you think they have potential and you can train them up. Prove your worth though and once the initial job is done you have some opportunity to get stretch opportunities

scheming_gypsy

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Don't forget to allow for the extra you'll be paying on your student loan on a higher salary; that'll knock nearly a grand off for a start.

After claiming for everything allowable the taxable income may well be less than they're currently on.

Tiddlywinks

Only you can answer this as there are a lot of factors at play: your approach to risk (do you like to know where your near future lies?), the external environment of the work area (funding, competitors, possible changes in legislation etc), your finances (can you wear "down time" when the contract ends, the list is endless...

I'd suggest a SWOT analysis exercise for both situations: staying with current job and moving to the new contract.

http://www.selfhelpwellness.com/self-help-motivation/swot-analysis-for-personal-development.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05_1.htm

It's not as complicated as it looks - just get a sheet of paper, divide it into four quarters and head each part with the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and then just dump your thoughts down - just remember to do one for moving and then another one for staying and then compare the results.

Doing this exercise should help you to take an ordered approach to this decision.

I might sound sad by admitting this but I even use these to decide on house moves, new cars etc