Should I stay or should I go?
June 11, 2007 9:11 PM Subscribe
How long should I wait to hear back on a job offer before giving up?
I've been working as a full time contract employee for a company for nearly a year and was about to be hired on as a permanent employee when word came from the higher-ups that, due to budgeting restraints, all contract employees had to be let go.
However, my boss, recognizing my value to the department, has decided to fight to keep me on. The thing is, it's taking forever, and furthermore, due to my absence, my boss is swamped with her responsibilities as well as mine and still needs to find time to work on persuading the leaders that I'm needed.
I get updates from my boss every couple of days and am occasionally sent forms to fill out pertaining to my rehire, but there is no clear sign of when exactly I would be called back in.
I've got my resume polished and ready, and have even sent it off to some other places just as sort of a backup, but ideally, I would like to stay where I'm at. I'm good at what I do, and everyone I work with knows it too. It's just a management decision made by people who don't see the whole picture.
So, how long is too long? How exactly should I respond to offers received from other places? I don't want to leave my boss high and dry by taking another job when she's actively doing what she can to keep me.
I've been working as a full time contract employee for a company for nearly a year and was about to be hired on as a permanent employee when word came from the higher-ups that, due to budgeting restraints, all contract employees had to be let go.
However, my boss, recognizing my value to the department, has decided to fight to keep me on. The thing is, it's taking forever, and furthermore, due to my absence, my boss is swamped with her responsibilities as well as mine and still needs to find time to work on persuading the leaders that I'm needed.
I get updates from my boss every couple of days and am occasionally sent forms to fill out pertaining to my rehire, but there is no clear sign of when exactly I would be called back in.
I've got my resume polished and ready, and have even sent it off to some other places just as sort of a backup, but ideally, I would like to stay where I'm at. I'm good at what I do, and everyone I work with knows it too. It's just a management decision made by people who don't see the whole picture.
So, how long is too long? How exactly should I respond to offers received from other places? I don't want to leave my boss high and dry by taking another job when she's actively doing what she can to keep me.
The company let you go, not your boss. You owe them nothing, and you cannot rely on your boss to be able to come through for you, even if she is trying. Start aggressively looking for other work, and let your boss know that you are doing that, but also that they are still your first choice. Do what is right for you.
posted by BobbyDigital at 9:23 PM on June 11, 2007
posted by BobbyDigital at 9:23 PM on June 11, 2007
Pursue other job offers as though you have no chance of being hired back at your current job. This place let you go... your boss can't be mad at you for taking care of business by assuring yourself of a position in case she can't get you your job back.
If they end up offering you a position before you find a nice new job then you'll be happy, but otherwise you'll be prepared.
posted by voidcontext at 9:24 PM on June 11, 2007
If they end up offering you a position before you find a nice new job then you'll be happy, but otherwise you'll be prepared.
posted by voidcontext at 9:24 PM on June 11, 2007
i agree that you need to pursue other options. if you do get another offer that you would consider taking but you would still rather work for the company where you were contracting, i would then inform your boss that you have an offer for X job but that you would much rather work at her company/for her for such and such reasons. this may light a fire under her to get moving with an offer for you but you need to be sure that if that doesn't happen, that you are prepared to take the other offer. in any event, you don't want to be waiting around hoping for something that may not happen.
posted by violetk at 9:53 PM on June 11, 2007
posted by violetk at 9:53 PM on June 11, 2007
Look around. If you find something else, tell your old boss you have to take it soon. Realistically, you are going to be in a new job, not your old job, soon. Good luck.
posted by caddis at 10:12 PM on June 11, 2007
posted by caddis at 10:12 PM on June 11, 2007
Ditto. A similar situation happened to me (they tried to create a permanent position for me) back when I was a summer intern in 2002. My old boss called to offer it to me this March -- five years later. The timetable in which you need a job so you can keep your bills paid and the timetable in which they can act are very different.
posted by ruff at 11:16 PM on June 11, 2007
posted by ruff at 11:16 PM on June 11, 2007
i would keep my options open at this time and start to interview with other companies. the thing is it usually takes a while from the moment you apply for a position, go through the interview process, and get an offer finally. it's always a smart move to get an offer first before you talk to you boss. your case is a little different, of course. however, having an offer secured may speek up the hiring decision making process at your current place.
posted by dy at 11:35 PM on June 11, 2007
posted by dy at 11:35 PM on June 11, 2007
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If she comes through with an offer, it's a pleasant surprise and you can consider it when the time comes. But putting all other searching on hold in hopes that she'll come through is not wise.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 9:22 PM on June 11, 2007 [1 favorite]