Dilema - Give up a permanent job for a one year FTC?

Nakss

Hi,

I've recently been offered a dream job at my dream employer, but it's on a one year full time contract.

I went for a permanent role but was told they've chosen someone else, however as someone in the dept has been seconded to another job, they'd like to offer me this one year contract.

I've been told it's highly likely it will turn into a permanent position as they expect the seconded person to stay in their new role (but they can't guarentee that). I also get most of the benefits a permanent employee gets during that year long period.

My current permenant job is a good solid one, I've done well there, everyone is lovely and I've moved up the ladder but I'm very bored and I don't see my career there progressing in the way I would like if I stayed.

I've been to a number of interviews and been offered permenant jobs but turned the offers down because it didn't feel right.

Taking this temporary role does feel right and may open other doors, however it's a gamble which could pay off, but may not and leave me unemployed in a year.

I have a mortgage, no children (however my biological clock is ticking as I'm 33 years old and we're starting to think about having a family one day) and some savings that will cover me for a few months if the job did come to an end in a year.

This is the biggest decision I've had to make but I'm concerned I'm being clouded by the exciting opportunity and not fully taking on board the risks, impact on starting a family and the stress it may cause in nine months when I may need to start looking for another job.

Normally I'm very much a risk averse pessimist and wouldn't take a risk like this, but for the first time I'm feeling optimistic about this situation, which is scaring me a lot to!

Has anyone been in the same situation or can offer advice?

xapprenticex

Only you can decide this one, it WILL be a risk if you move on. May pay off, may not.

Just keep in mind after 6 months you will worry the remaining 6 months till you hit that 1 year.

You just have to hope the person who is seconded does well/enjoys their role and does not decide to take their old role back.

sammyjammy

You know how the saying goes "you only regret the things you don't do not the ones you do"

xapprenticex

^ Most BS saying ever lol

gardner1

go for it ...live dangerously....life's to short

gettingtheresometime

gardner1 wrote: »

go for it ...live dangerously....life's to short

2nd most BS saying!

Personally I wouldn't.

What happens if you fell pregnant unintentionally during that year?

My view is that you need to sort out the children issue first if only to give you some idea of how long long you could realistically afford to take off on maternity bearing in mind that many employers have a minimum length of service policy to get the enhanced maternity benefits.

xapprenticex

its easy to advise someone to do something risky.. when its not them at risk, personally, i wouldn't leave a perm job for a 1 year contract.

paddyrg

How permanent is permanent anyway these days? A one year contract may actually be more secure than monthly PAYE.

Look at the options - rest of your life being 'safe' but bored, or taking a chance and doing your dream job with your dream company for at least a year.

I've not had a permanent job since the late 1990's, I feel trapped and stifled if I do. Instead I followed my heart and have had times of big money 3 month holidays, times of eating baked potatoes for a week with no other options, but all in the industry that excites me. I've tightened many a belt, but I've also been taken all over the world to do jobs that have terrified and thrilled me.

There is zero chance any of this would have happened if I'd carried on playing it safe in that job since the 90's. Instead, I'd be middle management and getting lardy and bored. I've had challenges, but they've been real ones. I've made decisions, I've remade some of them several times, but I can. And I work in a great industry and have got to the stage where I can command decent fees.

So, choose - a half life forever or a full life and rolling with it. Different things suit different people, and maybe you want to be bored and watch the years tick by, or maybe you realise if you're ever going to take the leap, this is the time to do it...

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

If it's your dream job, take it. It's a year. I've stayed in lots of permanent jobs not much longer than that, because other opportunities came up.