Been offered a Permie post.....

[Wilmslow]

Not sure I want it, but opinions VERY welcome.

Background - Taken on board as an interim quality consultant.

Contract due for renewal in end of Jan.

They are now asking me to be permie.

All well and good if local. However... I live close to Manchester Airport and the job is in Bradford. Hence I need a couple of hotel nights and the commute is 2 hours in office hours.

Not much flex time opportunity - 4:30 leave is as good as it gets.

Very flattering for the offer though.

How can I go about negotiating a mutually agreeable extension? I would be happy to take a cut of up to £50 per day as a sweetener if needed to secure staying here, but just don't want to commit to permie forever as the commute is a killer without the money in the pot for a couple of stop-overs.

[tay]

Sorry.. but it sounds really tulipe... and not overly falttering. Are you new to contracting?

[TheFaQQer]

Sounds to me like you're a disguised employee already.

I wouldn't go back to permiedom, unless the job was fantastic, local and the pay obscene. Doesn't sound like this meets any of those criteria, and so for that reason, I'm out.

[Wilmslow]

Sorry.. but it sounds really tulipe... and not overly falttering. Are you new to contracting?

Yes, this is my second contract. Been working for a couple of cunsultancies as a permie, this is the first proper contract. Ends on 1st Feb.

I want to stay here, but as a contractor, not as a permie.

Hence need to think carefully about options.

If local I would genuinely accept. However, it is 60 miles away and a 2 hour commute each way, hence I hotel twice a week. Could not contemplate doing this as a permie.

[Wilmslow]

Sounds to me like you're a disguised employee already.

I wouldn't go back to permiedom, unless the job was fantastic, local and the pay obscene. Doesn't sound like this meets any of those criteria, and so for that reason, I'm out.

Job is fantastic.
Not local.
Pay obscene as a contractor, but not as a permie.

Hence looks like I am also out.

Just worried that my next contract will not be as interesting and wanting to stay here for as long as poss - just not happy to spend £200 a week on travel on permie money!

[TheFaQQer]

I wouldn't offer to cut the rate to stay. Explain that you don't want to move into a permie job, as you're enjoying what you do at the moment etc. etc., new to it and want to give it a valid shot, want to take lots of holidays which you can't do as a permie, etc.

If they want you to stay, then hopefully they will offer an extension on the same rate (or more, if you're really lucky).

If not, then move on - that's what contracting is about.

[Wilmslow]

I wouldn't offer to cut the rate to stay. Explain that you don't want to move into a permie job, as you're enjoying what you do at the moment etc. etc., new to it and want to give it a valid shot, want to take lots of holidays which you can't do as a permie, etc.

If they want you to stay, then hopefully they will offer an extension on the same rate (or more, if you're really lucky).

If not, then move on - that's what contracting is about.

It is the moving on part that scares me.

Getting very happy and settled here.

Just not prepared to commite to permie 60 miles away on the highest motorway in England!

If only it was local I would jump.

I guess I need to think about moving on

I should get a glowing reference and am delighted to have had the chance to move out of testing and into Quality. Another skill in life, so a great experience.

[TheFaQQer]

Wait until the start of the new year, and then start looking for something. They may well want you to stay - if they are talking about a permie offer then they want you around, and if they want a permie they won't have found one by then, so will need someone...

[Wilmslow]

Wait until the start of the new year, and then start looking for something. They may well want you to stay - if they are talking about a permie offer then they want you around, and if they want a permie they won't have found one by then, so will need someone...

Good point. They asked me to let them know by Christmas, so will give them the decision to say No by the 20th.

With Christmas closedown should give me another 3 months at least, then hopefully more as the new project starts to ramp up nicely.

[TheFaQQer]

Good point. They asked me to let them know by Christmas, so will give them the decision to say No by the 20th.

With Christmas closedown should give me another 3 months at least, then hopefully more as the new project starts to ramp up nicely.

When you tell them no, I would make sure that you explain it as a "lifestyle choice" rather than a rejection.

My last permie job begged me to stay, but I wanted to take more holiday than the 20 days they offered each year, and the only way I could do that was to work for myself.