TempToPerm

December 14, 2009 10:21 PM

What are your experiences with temp-to-perm contracts? Advice, things to watch out for?

I was recently offered a position with a great company in a field I would very much like to move into. While it is technically a 6 month contract, everyone I talked to very much indicated that they were looking for a long term hire. So, if they were happy with my performance and I fit in with the team, I would be offered a salaried position at the end of my contract or before. Should I take them at their word? I have never worked as a contractor before, so I am open to any advice regarding this type of work.

posted by sophist to Work & Money (6 answers total)

Best answer: Never take a job only for future vague promises.

Always be certain you are happy enough with the current job (in this case, temp contractor) that you would take it happily forever. Negotiate the terms of the temporary job as if it's forever, and don't accept "well it's just for now, we'll fix that later" on the details. Make it a good-enough job now.

And then if/when you are offered something better, it's a bonus.

Any other way of approaching this is bound to be fraught with stress and disappointment.
posted by rokusan at 10:24 PM on December 14, 2009 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Or, a more pragmatic way of looking at it: all jobs are essentially temporary. Especially for the first 3 months. Are you currently working a full time direct hire job? If so, then you should stay put for the health insurance. If not, there's no reason not to accept their offer.

I'm a recruiter, FWIW, and in the past year I've seen virtually all my clients bring new people on board with the temp-hire model. Even attorneys with over 15 years of experience are being brought in as contractors for their first few months. Yes, it's like a three (or six) month job interview. That can be unnerving. But another thing to consider is that even if you accepted a full time direct hire job right now, you wouldn't have any job security for the first 3 months anyway. Think of it as dating before you get married.

If you are currently unemployed, and if this seems like something you might enjoy, I'd say go for it. You have much more to lose NOT accepting their offer.
posted by ohyouknow at 10:32 PM on December 14, 2009

Best answer: It depends if you're going to be an independent contractor or if you'll be working through a recruiter. The latter usually provides benefits (which can vary WIDELY in cost and quality - mine are quite good) and they handle your taxes. Being independent can be a sweet deal if your spouse has good benefits that will cover you. Make sure you read the contract carefully and know what happens if they want to cancel it early. Do you get paid holidays and vacation? Sick days? Overtime? If you have to be on-call, do you get compensated?

I'm working a contract job now that was 6-months-contract-to-hire and I just hit month 15. All of the employees started as contractors and I honestly believe they had every intention of hiring me. However, at month 6 they extended my contract to a year. No big deal as I followed rokusan's advice and negotiated the job as if it was permanent. Then, as I finally approached month 12, the company had financial problems and only extended my contract again. Again, no big deal. Now I find out they will be letting all contractors go early next year (followed by some employees). This seems like a rough break but I'm no worse off than the employees that will be getting laid off. On the contrary, my recruiter has already presented me with a list of available positions.
posted by bda1972 at 11:42 PM on December 14, 2009

Make sure your contract does not make you liable for SSI & stuff taxes in the event the state comes after your employer for hiring a contractor instead of FTE
posted by zia at 12:17 AM on December 15, 2009

The people at the job will lie their asses off. If there's any agency involved, they will lie a thousand times more than the people at the job.

Ask them how many people currently working there, today, have been hired off contract. Try to find out specific names of real people. That's the only evidence of their intent that will be reliable.
posted by drjimmy11 at 2:09 AM on December 15, 2009

In my experience, temp-to-perm hardly ever goes perm. (I can think of exactly one person who went this way, and many who remained "long-term temps" until they got dumped.) Temp agencies require the company to pay a big chunk of cash to "release" the temp worker for permanent employment. Temps are just cheaper too, getting no benefits or vacation, so there's little incentive for an employer to make somebody a permanent employee as long as they can get a temp to do the job. As usual, I'm echoing drjimmy11 on cynicism about the workplace, but don't buy the promise of a real job coming out of this.

I'd say take the temp job - at least it's a paycheck and a chance to make new contacts. Meanwhile, look for a real job and bail as soon as you find something better. Good luck! Know anybody who's hiring biochemists?
posted by Quietgal at 10:00 AM on December 15, 2009