Reply to: Continue in new nightmare perm role or go back to old contract role?

[Henryboy]

Well the last couple of days have gone better, i.e. the product is intriguing, they appear to be pretty flexible with working hours and the work is much more interesting than the contract role. But there are still so many red flags, i.e. colleague just told me she was working to the early hours last night, although she ensures me that isn't normal. Trying to keep a clear head to make an informed decision is not easy, it feels like the chaos is still very much there. Plus the contract role won't be there forever.

[curtis]

I always get told give it a chance its only been a few weeks when I've been in some dire contracts.

The thing is I've had a enough jobs to know when a situation is bad, I know a lot more of the signs now.

Obviously it depends on your exact situation but I think 2 weeks is enough to know a job is bad I would leave if you have the chance to go back, don't see it as the easy option or a failure, you have to do whats right for you, what one will you be happier with?

[Lance]

Make a stand on action points or become the person who allocated those to you - bitch boy forever


Sent from my iPhone using Contractor UK Forum

Yep. This.
Reply to all to the email with the minutes, saying they don’t reflect your recollection of the meeting.

And in future take your own minutes.

[GhostofTarbera]

Thanks for the replies. I fell I should stick it out in the perm role but little things keep popping up that I've not experienced anywhere else i.e. just yesterday action points were assigned to me from a meeting that I was in and those action points were not discussed in the meeting, it's as if they've come out of nowhere....but then going back to the contract role seems like taking the easy route and I've given up on the perm role.

Regarding those that pointed out the contract role being disguised as the perm role, good point...I didn't look at it like that, I guess the role, people and environment has played out that way to make it look like a perm role.

Make a stand on action points or become the person who allocated those to you - bitch boy forever


Sent from my iPhone using Contractor UK Forum

[NotAllThere]

....but then going back to the contract role seems like taking the easy route and I've given up on the perm role

Yes. And that's a good thing.

[Henryboy]

Thanks for the replies. I fell I should stick it out in the perm role but little things keep popping up that I've not experienced anywhere else i.e. just yesterday action points were assigned to me from a meeting that I was in and those action points were not discussed in the meeting, it's as if they've come out of nowhere....but then going back to the contract role seems like taking the easy route and I've given up on the perm role.

Regarding those that pointed out the contract role being disguised as the perm role, good point...I didn't look at it like that, I guess the role, people and environment has played out that way to make it look like a perm role.

[BigDataPro]

If I were you, if I am not enjoying the role and I would leave early now rather than later (which requires probably 3 months notice). As an ex-contractor I am already aware of the pros & cons of being a contractor and I already have a decent war chest that would keep me going for at least 12 months without work.

On the other hand if I don't have a decent war chest, I would hang on to the perm role knowing that the current contract market being really really dry and seeing that no roles exist even for the top 10 technologies.

[d000hg]

Think like a permie - take six months off on stress leave


Sent from my iPhone using Contractor UK Forum

Gotta get past the probationary period first!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

[GhostofTarbera]

Think like a permie - take six months off on stress leave


Sent from my iPhone using Contractor UK Forum

[d000hg]

If the former contract role is open I'd suggest jumping back and looking for a better permie roll if that's what you want to do long term.

As has been said, you seem to view contracting more as a job from a permie mindset. That rings some alarm bells for IR35 right now.

[Grasser73]

Ask you old boss for a permie roll.

Well, he did say he likes his lunch.

[BrilloPad]

Ask you old boss for a permie roll.

[northernladuk]

Your boss?

I'd echo Lance's comment but there is very little to go on admittedly. Tread carefully.

Once this gig evaporates will there be others that will allow you to spend time with your daughter and family? If not I'd just look for another perm role and enjoy time with the kids while they are young.

[Lance]

it doesn't sound like the contracting role is anyting other than a disguised perm role.

Why not look for another contract role?

[KinooOrKinog]

Hello everyone,

Looking for some advice. I'm a product manager and recently left a contract role which had about 9 months left for a perm role. This was due to the perm role offering better career progression and the contract role not so much. Thing is, whilst the work was quite dull for the contract role, I actually liked working for the company as the people were great, flexi hours, working from home, etc. The latter two reasons especially helped as my daughter is still at nursery so dropping off and picking up can be done around work hours, plus my wife also works so the flexibility was very handy.

So I'm 2 and a half weeks into this new perm role and it's chaos, it's a small team within a large organisation but they're siloed off from the rest of the company and this wasn't explained to me in the interview. I was told it would have good work life balance and settled environment but that's turned out to be the opposite, there is no structure, priorities changing all the time (more than normal), during the handover the person I'm replacing said he's been doing the work of two PMs, some colleagues are so busy they don't take lunch (whilst a lot of people don't, I do like my lunch). I'm generally not enjoying the experience and whilst I know it's only been a couple of weeks, I have the same feeling I've had in other roles where I feel I'm not going to settle in well here and have ultimately left.

I've kept in contact with my boss at the contract role and he has said the job is still open if I want to return. Question is, do I stick it out in the perm role for the experience and future career progression which the contract role won't give me? (And look for a new role).

Or return to the contract role as it suits my personal/family situation at the moment as well as for the money/work life balance and worry about the next job when the time comes? Although I'm conscious that this is likely to coincide with the ir35 reform in April 2020

Depends what's important to you & whether you're looking for long or short term gain. If you're looking for significant career progression you generally won't get this as a contractor.

If it was me, I would probably suck it up & stay in the perm role at least for the 9 months you would spend in the contract, see what you can get from it, then re-evaluate the situation. Two & a half weeks is nothing. The contract might be better money now but consider that you might be out on your ear in 9 months & spend several more with zero income.

All that said though, only you know what's best for your situation so go with what feels right.