A short-term sure thing or a longer-term maybe?
March 5, 2016 8:35 AM Subscribe
My wife faces a career dilemma. She has an offer for a 6-month position to start immediately. At the same time she is waiting to hear back about a full-time position at another company. Seeking advice from MeFites who have been in a similar position!
M wife needs to accept or reject the 6-month position very soon, but she doesn't want to miss out on the full-time position, which is a great fit for her in terms of future career prospects, salary, other benefits, etc. The 6-month position also has a lot of benefits in terms of professional development and would add to her resume.
The time-frame of the full-time position is unclear. They may make a decision in a month or two, but it is a new position and we think that there is chance that she could negotiate a start-date 6 months from now, assuming she gets an offer.
Is it too risky to commit to something for 6 months, hoping for flexibility if she does get offered the other position? Or, should she forgo the 6-month job, holding out hope that she gets an offer and assuming a non-negotiable start date?
M wife needs to accept or reject the 6-month position very soon, but she doesn't want to miss out on the full-time position, which is a great fit for her in terms of future career prospects, salary, other benefits, etc. The 6-month position also has a lot of benefits in terms of professional development and would add to her resume.
The time-frame of the full-time position is unclear. They may make a decision in a month or two, but it is a new position and we think that there is chance that she could negotiate a start-date 6 months from now, assuming she gets an offer.
Is it too risky to commit to something for 6 months, hoping for flexibility if she does get offered the other position? Or, should she forgo the 6-month job, holding out hope that she gets an offer and assuming a non-negotiable start date?
Response by poster: That's a good point. She has a good/valuable professional relationship with the person who offered her the 6-month position (and who she would be working with closely). Part of her dilemma is she doesn't want to burn that bridge.
posted by AceRock at 8:39 AM on March 5, 2016
posted by AceRock at 8:39 AM on March 5, 2016
I don't see this in your original query, so I'm just suggesting this in case you haven't tried it yet (Suggesting scripts, and it worked for me to at least get the information.)
Contact people at (long-term) job and tell them that you are very excited about the job for (reasons, positive adjective), you see at as a good fit, but you have a job offer right now from another job. Your question is: What is the time-line for a decision? Some companies will significantly speed up the decision, and/or give you the exact time line of the decision. IF the time line is close to the time of the decision for short-term job....
Contact the short-term job and tell them...you are very excited about the job for (reasons, positive adjectives), but you have another interview. You just want to meet them to see if it would be a good fit or not so that you make the best decision and commitment. (aka you are asking for an extended timeline for the decision).
In other words, I try to be up front with everyone and don't lie (ie, don't speed up people for time lines and decisions unless there is a job on the table.)
I'd also be very open and communicative if you decide to take one and still like the first or second job. So let's say your partner decides to take the short-term job. When long-term job contacts her, do express that you had enthusiasm/regret, but you took other job because it was immediate...and keep in contact with everyone (even as far as linkedin, etc, or collect business cards). Then communicate at various points - hey, this looked to your field, or an email a few months later - hope things are going well, just wanted to check in ...because if you play it carefully, you might position yourself to be there when another job comes along in the other place.
Good luck.
posted by Wolfster at 9:03 AM on March 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
Contact people at (long-term) job and tell them that you are very excited about the job for (reasons, positive adjective), you see at as a good fit, but you have a job offer right now from another job. Your question is: What is the time-line for a decision? Some companies will significantly speed up the decision, and/or give you the exact time line of the decision. IF the time line is close to the time of the decision for short-term job....
Contact the short-term job and tell them...you are very excited about the job for (reasons, positive adjectives), but you have another interview. You just want to meet them to see if it would be a good fit or not so that you make the best decision and commitment. (aka you are asking for an extended timeline for the decision).
In other words, I try to be up front with everyone and don't lie (ie, don't speed up people for time lines and decisions unless there is a job on the table.)
I'd also be very open and communicative if you decide to take one and still like the first or second job. So let's say your partner decides to take the short-term job. When long-term job contacts her, do express that you had enthusiasm/regret, but you took other job because it was immediate...and keep in contact with everyone (even as far as linkedin, etc, or collect business cards). Then communicate at various points - hey, this looked to your field, or an email a few months later - hope things are going well, just wanted to check in ...because if you play it carefully, you might position yourself to be there when another job comes along in the other place.
Good luck.
posted by Wolfster at 9:03 AM on March 5, 2016 [9 favorites]
+1 to Wolfster, I would try to speed up the decision on the full-time gig and stall on the 6-month gig. But if the short-term job says 'now or never', I would take it. The reason being it sounds like a good opportunity that will take her forward, and that is not something to throw away on a gamble.
posted by PercussivePaul at 12:19 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by PercussivePaul at 12:19 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Take the short term gig and move to the long term gig if it comes up. Obviously you want to be kind to the folks behind the short term gig, but this is a business agreement and professionals understand that she can't turn down the full time position.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:12 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 1:12 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, it doesn't actually take that much to hire someone once the decision is made, it's just that you're usually dealing with people who are like "we need someone" for the past year or four, so letting days and weeks drag out doesn't seem significant. A little reminder that she's interested but a little, "hey, can we do this thing?" phrased diplomatically, isn't out of line.
posted by rhizome at 3:13 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 3:13 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am a manager. I just had a staffer leave a contract position for her dream job, which was open-ended. I was sorry to lose her, but certainly didn't begrudge her the opportunity to have more stable employment! With any luck, the people at the 6-month contract job would feel the same way. You really just can't expect people to have that kind of loyalty for a very short-term job like that.
posted by lunasol at 6:21 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lunasol at 6:21 PM on March 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
She has a good/valuable professional relationship with the person who offered her the 6-month position (and who she would be working with closely).
I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but I would be tempted to discuss the situation with the person who offered her the job, if the relationship is there.
Maybe if your wife suggests a shorter committed contract, say 2 months, with a "month-to-month" type clause up to 6 that lets either party say "at the end of this month we are done". Maybe the project they have in mind will work this way, maybe it won't. You won't know unless you ask.
I wouldn't do this if the relationship wasn't there, of if the nature of that relationship is not something where this wouldn't backfire. It's a judgment call.
posted by CathyG at 11:54 AM on March 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't know if this is a good idea or not, but I would be tempted to discuss the situation with the person who offered her the job, if the relationship is there.
Maybe if your wife suggests a shorter committed contract, say 2 months, with a "month-to-month" type clause up to 6 that lets either party say "at the end of this month we are done". Maybe the project they have in mind will work this way, maybe it won't. You won't know unless you ask.
I wouldn't do this if the relationship wasn't there, of if the nature of that relationship is not something where this wouldn't backfire. It's a judgment call.
posted by CathyG at 11:54 AM on March 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:37 AM on March 5, 2016 [2 favorites]