What would you do?

[Deleted User]

What would you do if you were offered two jobs that were fairly similar in nature. The first is temporary (a contractor position) for 6 months, with a view to the contract being extended (but this is by no means guaranteed). Being temporary, there are no benefits such as sick pay or a pension.

The second is permanent with good benefits such as a pension, sick pay, flexi-time etc. and working hours which suit you. However, while the salary is decent, it is around HALF of that offered by the first company.

I am in this situation at the moment (or rather, I could be this time next week when I take part in the final stage of the interview process for job no. 2, but want to think about this decision just now as I have already been offered job number 1). Without the pay issue, number 2 would win hands down as the company is reputable, the contract is permanent and the job is secure and has good prospects. However, considering the fact the pay is so good in job number one and my financial situation at the moment is less than healthy, I have a dilemma on my hands. What would you do?

Forgot to mention too that I have a one week holiday abroad booked for the end of March. Job number 1 will not allow me to go because they require no holidays taken in the first two months of the assignment. The holiday has been fully paid up so I will stand to lose a few hundred pounds.

want-it-all

I'd personally opt for the security of #2. However, it depends how much you need the extra money, for how long, and how you'd be able to cope with the prospect of losing your job in 6 months' time...

[Deleted User]

want-it-all wrote: »

I'd personally opt for the security of #2. However, it depends how much you need the extra money, for how long, and how you'd be able to cope with the prospect of losing your job in 6 months' time...

Thank you. That's what I'm thinking at the moment. Although I would be paid a lot more for doing basically the same job in job 1, I am likely to find myself back on the job hunt in six months time. Number one is target driven and so after the six months, they will be keeping only a few people who have performed the best.

Raksha

I'd go for the first one, no job is secure until you've been there over 12 months.

[Deleted User]

Raksha wrote: »

I'd go for the first one, no job is secure until you've been there over 12 months.

I guess by 'secure', I mean that it's permanent so it is therefore more likely the job will still be there after 6 months.

[Deleted User]

Forgot to mention too that I have a one week holiday abroad booked for the end of March. Job number 1 will not allow me to go because they require no holidays taken in the first two months of the assignment. The holiday has been fully paid up so I will stand to lose a few hundred pounds.

busyladee

I'd go for job 2. I've had a temporary contract and it wasn't a good feeling when my final weeks were fast approaching and I hadnt then secured a job.

Acc72

Firstly, I would accept job 1 and worry about this if/when offered job 2.

Being cynical I would say that these days an employee is only "permanent" for the length of their notice period.

Also if the jobs are pretty simiar, there must be a reason why job 2 is paying so much more ? (surely the roles cannot be the same?).

Do you have particularly unique skills / qualifications / experience ?

As you have found these 2 jobs, how likely would it be to find another in 6 months ?

LadyMissA

Raksha wrote: »

I'd go for the first one, no job is secure until you've been there over 12 months.

Yes I would have said option 1 for sure as no job is a job till you have been there a year and if the other goes full time perm then you are better off all round

LadyMissA

Deleted_User wrote: »

Forgot to mention too that I have a one week holiday abroad booked for the end of March. Job number 1 will not allow me to go because they require no holidays taken in the first two months of the assignment. The holiday has been fully paid up so I will stand to lose a few hundred pounds.

well then you can't take option 1 so there is no question unless you can sell the holiday to someone

DKLS

Option one every time, I am just about to do similar, planning a jump from a perm role with decent package to a contract role paying significantly more.