I’ve been looking for employment for several months.

18 Comments

1. Barb HansenFebruary 27,2025 at 4:52PM UTC

   First off, congrats on both the contract offer and making it this far in the full-time hiring process!

   Until you have a written offer in hand, you can’t count on any job being yours. If you need work (like most of us do), I’d recommend accepting the contract role while continuing with the full-time hiring process. That full-time offer—if it comes—could take days, weeks, or even months, and there’s no guarantee until it’s official.

   And if you do get that full-time offer later? That’s okay. You can leave a job at any time if it’s the right move for you. It’s completely reasonable to take the contract job now and, if the full-time opportunity comes through in a few weeks, transition to that role. You have to do what’s best for you.

2. AnonymousFebruary 27,2025 at 5:10PM UTC

   Thanks for the advice!

3. AnonymousFebruary 27,2025 at 5:43PM UTC

   Accept the offer and leave if the full-time offer comes through with acceptable terms.

4. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 1:24AM UTC

   Yes, contact the full-time company and ask when you may hear back. Let them know you received another offer but are still very interested in their position. Ending with I look forward to your reply. Then see what they say. Both came in it sounds about the same time. The contract offer - ask what date they require your reply. This works wonders and buys you some time.

5. Renee GillisFebruary 28,2025 at 3:56AM UTC

   Thanks for the advice. I was hesitant to call the full time job, but I will in the morning. Wasn’t sure of the etiquette.

6. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 3:29PM UTC

   Former recruiter here. It’s okay to let the recruiter or TA person you’re working with know another offer came in. That you are very interested in their full time role but wanted them to be aware. This sometimes can speed up the process. It’s never a good idea to take a job and leave within months to take a new one quickly after starting one. Maybe a year, yes, but weeks or months. No. Why? Because it brands you as a job hopper. If you’re in a very large city it may not be an issue. But if you’re in a small industry and the jobs are considered niche areas it could damage your professional reputation. I’m also now on the other side assisting employers in hiring. If it were me and I was unemployed I’d take the contract. That contract could turn into full-time but ask to see if that option to convert may be available.

7. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 5:53PM UTC

   I talked with the full-time HR today and the job offer is in their system, but needs to be routed for all the approvals. He did tell me it would be around the salary we discussed and a annual bonus. I'm going to ask the recruiter for the contract job to lask to wait until Monday for an acceepred.

8. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 9:48PM UTC

   Great news! You did the right thing and this is VERY common these days. Employers and recruiters know it. I talk with hiring managers every day. Keep us posted and can't wait to see how it all plays out for you.

9. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 3:03PM UTC

   In this environment I wouldn’t do that.

10. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 2:16PM UTC

    Take what you have in hand and if the FT offer comes through, you leave the contract role. It happens.

11. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 3:02PM UTC

    Wait for the full time gig. Wait on accepting the contract offer as long as you can. Is there a deadline? Do not push the full time company. If you haven’t heard from the full time folks take the contract gig and leave if you get the full time offer. That’s the beauty of contract work. Good luck!!

12. AnonymousFebruary 28,2025 at 5:18PM UTC

    I would let them both know you are in final conversation with another company and you need until Tuesday of next week if they plan to make an offer. Don't play one against the other and don't share any details, no info on contract vs. perm or other. Then ask the company with the FT role if they can meet that timeline, if so wait it out. If not take the contract.

13. AnonymousMarch 1,2025 at 5:24AM UTC

    Don't risk your offer to wait for another that might not materialize. Go ahead and take the contract role. If the permanent role come take it. No one would blame you.

14. AnonymousMarch 1,2025 at 3:52PM UTC

    I would accept the offer wait for the full-time off, then go with that. Employers don't care and will give you the best news, then ghost you or decline you for the position.

15. Maggie SoldanoMarch 1,2025 at 5:02PM UTC

    No. Accept, don't put it off. A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. People understand that contract positions are less desirable than FT and will understand (although they will be frustrated, so be prepared). You've got to mae decisions for your family, so if the FT position pays more, has more opportunity for growth, etc. They will understand. (Besides, they may also counter offer. You just never know!)

16. AnonymousMarch 2,2025 at 3:53PM UTC

    Accept the contract and wait on the full time offer. Both of those companies would lay you off in a heart beat or could ghost you. You literally owe them nothing. You are nothing but a number to them at the end of the day no matter how nice they are to you.

17. misskelleypMarch 3,2025 at 2:28AM UTC

    Accept the contract offer, and if the regular offer comes through just say that something that you'd interviewed for prior to accepting this (contract) position came through and it is a better fit. No hard feelings.

18. AnonymousMarch 4,2025 at 3:52PM UTC

    UPDATE!

    I got the full time offer yesterday afterwards. I put off the contract position as much as I could, but they wanted an answer by noon yesterday.

    i had talked to the HR representative from the full time job on Friday and he let me know that they were just waiting for the final approvals

    i took a chance and said no to the contract around noon, then was on pins and needles until around 4:30 when I got the offer letter.

    thanks for everyone’s advice, It helped a lot!

    Go Luck to everyone still looking!