Permanent to Fixed Term Contract

Partake0486 on 17/08/2017 - 22:55
Last edited 18/08/2017 - 09:35 by 1 other user

Hi,

I am currently employed as an IT sys admin for a government dept for 10 years where my job is extremely secure, pay is good, good hours and no stress. Despite this, I'm interested in new opportunities to grow, in terms of my role, skills and pay, and won't find them with my current employer as I feel I've reached "the ceiling".

I started applying for jobs a month ago and the majority of the sys admin roles I'm seeing are for 3-6 month fixed term contracts. My personal situation is that I'm in my early 30s with no dependents, no debt, no mortgage and a 6 month emergency fund. So while moving into a fixed term contract is high risk, I feel I'm in the best position I'm ever going to be in, to make such a move.

I got a call today from a recruiter for a 3 month job I applied for and it was an interesting conversation where she questioned if I was sure it was a move I wanted to make, to the point of almost discouraging me. It's been left with me to decide if I want to proceed and now I'm second guessing myself.

To be clear, I want permanent roles and don't want to jump from contract to contract. As I read up more about fixed term contracts, there seems little to no benefit to employees and much more benefit to employers. But to me, at least, it seems the only way to progress is to take a contract in the hope I get picked up in a permanent role down the road. On the flip side, perhaps I need to remind myself that I've only been looking a month and should remain patient for a permanent role to come up.

Interested in people's thoughts please.

Education & Work

Comments

  • garetz on 17/08/2017 - 23:08
    +7

    You are not going to find a more secure job than the current one you have. Most jobs you are looking for are short term contract positions. It depends on how much extra money you will be getting vs losing your job security. If you arent making at least 2-3x your current pay, and the contract is at least 12 months. I do not see how it can be worth your while. Alot of people would kill for your current job im sure.

    • dogboy on 18/08/2017 - 11:23

      Yes. Please let us know if you resign from your current position and who the employer is so we can apply!

  • WhyAmICommenting on 17/08/2017 - 23:28
    +1

    Why not take unpaid leave for 12 months and do the contract thing, see what floats your boat..

    • [Deactivated] on 17/08/2017 - 23:46
      +1

      You'd have to disclose it to both employers to avoid a conflict of interest. I can see lots of employers having an issue with it.

      • Partake0486 on 17/08/2017 - 23:50

        I initially considered this (specifically taking long service), but have cooled off on the idea because I agree with sp00ker.

        • altomic on 18/08/2017 - 09:06

          Through, if you worked in the private sector during leave then it may provide you with new, improved, alternate ways of doing your regular job. Thus could you look at it as "doing paid training".

          Also doing this might give you the answer to whether you want to continue in a govt roll or go private.

          Anecdotally, both my brothers work in senior private sector IT jobs for a large IT company. They are both pretty stressed. I work in a govt job and have been so less stressed since leaving the private sector

  • [Deactivated] on 17/08/2017 - 23:50
    +2

    Lots of large private sector employers prefer to hire contractors these days, as it gives them a more flexible workforce.

    The larger employers tend to have a bunch of projects going on all the time, so the initial project might only be 3 months, but chances are they'll find something else for you, if you're a good employee.

    There's some tax benefit to being a contractor to, but it can get complicated with PSI rules.

    The downside of staying in the government job, is that you'll eventually be promoted into a non-technical/management role, then retrenchment when they want to cut costs … it'll be difficult to find another job, because you don't have any technical skills left and you're pigeon holed as a government employee not suitable for the private sector. Becoming a contractor is an easy way to stay relevant in the current workforce.

    • Nugs on 18/08/2017 - 06:16
      +1

      "then retrenchment "

      also seen as 'free money'.

      • original15 on 18/08/2017 - 08:15

        Why would anyone leave a job they hate of their own free will when they might get lucky one day and get some free money!!

    • SydBoy on 25/08/2017 - 18:47

      There are no real benefit to be contractor…. See my post : https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/325779

      I fully agree eith you on that government employee are not relevant to private employer.

  • DemocracyManifest on 18/08/2017 - 00:09
    +2

    Hell no, stay where you are. Take a holiday if possible and enjoy holiday pay and the like. Have a break. Job security is horrendous at the moment, especially in IT. Work sucks but remember: if you don't work you don't eat, if you don't eat you don't shit, and if you don't you shit you die. 6 months savings won't get you far and you don't want to end up on the Centrelink queue.

  • original15 on 18/08/2017 - 08:13
    +1

    I started a 3 month fixed term contract out of uni (different field/specialty though) with one of Australia's largest employers and ended up staying there for 2 and a bit years before leaving
    However recently was approached with a Fixed term gig with a company and wouldn't even consider leaving my perm position (was similar pay and company but slightly more senior)
    But as you've said, factors to consider are financial situation, kids/family/mortgage and your engagement. So many people I've worked with that have been around for 10+ years (large corp/govt) stay put in jobs they hate or get nothing out of and ends up impacting mental state but they don't want to leave as they want a payout

    Nothing wrong imo with being bold and politely asking while it's a fixed term gig, what the likihood is of it being extended if performing strongly
    Alternatively, you obviously want to get out given you're looking, so how many perm or longer contract roles are you seeing? Can you wait a while longer looking for more secure roles? Or are you just jumping at any opportunity..?

  • Slippery Fish on 18/08/2017 - 08:23
    +3

    Personal and sex lives are for exploring and growth, work life is for making the buck to do that….

    • altomic on 18/08/2017 - 08:58
      +5

      User name checks out.

  • Hardlyworkin on 18/08/2017 - 17:27

    Redundancies often come up, maybe you try and time it right if you're not in a rush? Otherwise less than 12 months doesn't sound that appealing. Even if you do sign a fixed term contract, a lot don't require you to be. Paid for the full term if for some reason it ends early.

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