Live from The Best Temp Job Ever

[serene]

So the woman I was covering at The Best Temp Job Ever is missing a lot of work again. I was
here on Monday, could've been here yesterday (I had a job interview, so I
wasn't free), am here today, and may be called tomorrow (I'll have to miss
part of the day for another job interview).

Now I'm in a weird position. Continue to look for full-time work, or go
back to keeping myself free to do the Best Temp Job Ever? The past two
weeks, between this and the contract gigs, I've made more than
Unemployment would've been, and that in turn is about what I was making
here when I was doing a steady twenty hours a week.

What will really burn my butt is if I accept one of the full-time jobs I'm
interviewing for and then this one becomes available. But I'll drop something
else in a heartbeat to be here, so I guess that's okay.

(I have to keep in mind that if I work the temp job indefinitely, there
are NO benefits. I sure do like having benefits. I would also really
like the money that would result from working forty hours a week,
but part time with benefits would be good, too, because more time
at home is always a goodness.)

*ponder, ponder*

Comments

Yes, but....

[deedeebythebay.livejournal.com]

You can accept a full-time job and still quit and accept this one if it becomes available.

You can't control the way the wind blows and if your "dream job" becomes available as permanent, you'd be a bit on the silly side to walk away from it. It's not the nicest thing to do to a new employer but it isn't unethical.

At least, that's how I see it considering I walked away from the dream job that was offered to me a week after I took the "safe" job and boy do I regret that decision!

Re: Yes, but....

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it's not unethical, actually, but it's something I'm pondering.

Re: Yes, but....

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

You know, there's a reason they usually have a trial period or some sort of 6 month probationary period. Not only does the employer have the opportunity to can your a** if you turn out not to fit, but you have that opportunity in reverse. If you're feeling very honest and upright about it, you could always tell the "safe" job about the potential of your leaving. If you leave that soon, they can always turn around and call their next candidates, after all, and not have spent significantly more time and money than if you'd stayed.

Grey area for sure, though.

[maestrodog.livejournal.com]

It won't burn your butt to accept a full-time job and then have another one become available, then quit to take it. It would only be unethical if you took a job and knew FOR 100% CERTAIN that it would only be an interim before you started another a month or two later. Being "almost hired if only this person would leave" as a sub and temp does not count as being hired...for all you know, someone higher up might suddenly decide they want someone else for the job if and when she finally leaves. Not likely, but possible. I've seen it happen.

And all employers are acutely aware of how job searches go: that your resume is out at other places besides them, and that you may find a better job offer shortly after you accept another one is one of the assumed risks when you are hired.

Also, have you tried negotiating with the company to increase your temp salary a little so that you can buy some of your own benefits? With the quality of work you've done for them so far, they might just be willing.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Good points, thanks! I did tell the interviewers yesterday that if I *could* stay here as a permanent employee, I would, but it doesn't appear to be in the offering any time soon, so I guess they wouldn't be shocked if I dumped them for the other job.

[ptigris.livejournal.com]

Well, they clearly want you, so...

wait until they make a FT offer with benes, then tell them you'll work 32/wk with the benefits!

[baerana.livejournal.com]

i'd kinda advise against getting a full-time somewhere else then quitting, but that's probably just the hire-er in me talking :)

can you use this to push the best temp job ever (hereafter, TBTJE) into hiring you? I mean, say to them "I need something full time, you guys are my first choice, but if you can't offer me full time/benefits, I'll have to go elsewhere" I'm sure they don't want to lose you.

But my gut says stay with TBTJE. Just 'cause, for me, liking what I do is so much more rewarding than money, as long as I have enough for basic necessities. Doesn't your cobra last another year or so? IIRC, they phrase it in a weird way, like, 6 months coverage plus 12 months coverage, but it's 18 months, and you should probably plan to get a full-time job at least 2 or 3 months before it ends, because most places won't add you to their insurance for 60 or 90 days. But if you are without health insurance, or close to being so, then definitely get a full time job, that's way too important.

may I ask, when you've referred to contract work you do, what sort of thing is it you do?