Gamble or not to gamble? 23 February 2022 at 4:16PM in Employment, jobseeking & training 15 replies 1.1K views

bobblebob

Current situation - on a 6 month secondment which is a substantial payrise from my substantive role. Im really enjoying the job and the team is great. Its been hinted at that the job could become permanant. And from the way the department runs, most people who start on a secondment get made permanant. But of course no guarantee

Now another job has been advertised in another department. Pay is the same but its permanant. Going on the job spec its similar to what i do now, but not sure i would enjoy it as much

So do i take the gamble and stay where i am, in a job i know i like in the hope it gets made permanant. Or go for the other job that is permanant but may not enjoy it as much? I am leaning towards staying and hoping but wish crystal balls worked

Sandtree

How far into the 6 month secondment are you? 

How much have you had to learn to do the job in the secondment? Are you fully up to speed/independently working or still learning the ropes?

Billxx

I'd go for the more enjoyable job. If you went for and got the permanent role, and the more enjoyable one came up as an option you'd regret it.

Apologies, I have not expressed that very well, but hope you get the idea.

bobblebob

Sandtree said:

How far into the 6 month secondment are you? 

How much have you had to learn to do the job in thr secondment? Are you fully up to speed/independently working or still learning the ropes?

Im 6 week in. Hard to learn alot quickly but luckily i always tend to pick things up quickly

Im independently working now. Although bit of an odd one because just as i started we got a whole bunch of new work dumped on us that is new for everyone. So in a way thats helped because everyone is in the same boat and all learning the new task together. I wast hired to complete this task, it just happened to appear as i started.

Once this task is out the way in a few month then i will have to be trained up on stuff that the department usually does day to day

Sandtree

Being 6 weeks in you haven't really had any chance to prove yourself and whilst you could have a conversation with the manager its realistically probably too early for anything other than a basic stake in the ground that you like the new team and think you'd like to stay on. 

I'm a contractor and so a gambler when it comes to jobs anyway so I would probably gamble that the secondment becomes perm or at least some other similar opportunity will come up in c3 months time which I could apply for.  If these types of jobs are as rare as hens teeth then maybe take a different route but with 11 years as a contractor only one gamble hasn't paid off and I was out of work for 6 weeks.

bobblebob

Yea i have a 3 month review in April so thinking of saying something then if the review goes well

The department im in is ever growing and currently short staffed so signs are promising

TELLIT01

With a secondment, if it doesn't work out you return to your original role so still do have a job.  What would be the situation if you transfer to another job on a permanent basis and that doesn't work out?

bobblebob

Thats true. 2 people are leaving my small team soon (one quit other retiring), ao hopefully that improves my odds of a full time contract.

Alanp

Your working life will be long, ask yourself, do you want a job that you will not enjoy and possibly resent in the future?, or do you want something that will be fulfilling and enjoyable that you look forward to everyday, of course, life has a habit of throwing several spanner’s in the works, but , if you enjoy something then it’s not so much of a job…more an enjoyable way to spend your time..

bobblebob

Well abit of an update:

Job im doing, the department are currently getting an advert out for more staff in the same role - both secondments and permanant contracts.

Need to speak to my manager, but could i apply and hope to get the permanant one?

TELLIT01

bobblebob said:

Well abit of an update:

Job im doing, the department are currently getting an advert out for more staff in the same role - both secondments and permanant contracts.

Need to speak to my manager, but could i apply and hope to get the permanant one?

Only the manager involved can answer that question.  It all depends on company policy.