Contract vs Permanent?

18 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 20,2021 at 4:24PM UTC

   I have had many contract jobs only becasue that was all I could get. I never felt like part of the office/team. They all reap great benefits, paid days off, paid holidays and I didn't. However, I still had to do the work just like the rest of them. Bitterness sets in and I felt really bad.

2. AnonymousNovember 20,2021 at 9:49PM UTC

   I have felt the same. The lack of benefits is frustrating and very notable around the holidays/bonus payout times.

   Good cultures I’ve worked with have treated me as part of the team. One environment was particularly transactional, and I very much didn’t like that.

3. AnonymousNovember 30,2021 at 2:42PM UTC

   Agree totally! You feel like a second-class citizen, don't you? Like you're not "good enough" to get the perks your team members get. Totally get the bitterness and resentment.

4. AnonymousNovember 20,2021 at 5:15PM UTC

   I hated it. I got good reviews from the places I worked at and got on well with people I worked with only to get a call on Friday saying the assignment was over (these were temp to perm positions) and gather my stuff. Too unstable for me as I'm the sole breadwinner. Plus either non existent or very expensive benefits.

5. AnonymousNovember 20,2021 at 9:50PM UTC

   I’m sorry you had that experience. That unfortunately can happen as a contractor, and is very frustrating and inconvenient.

6. AnonymousNovember 30,2021 at 2:39PM UTC

   I hear you! Seems like you are the only other one on here who is fed up with the temping BS! Those out-of-the-blue agency calls on Friday afternoon are the worst. Most of the time you can never even learn why they let you go! Best of luck in your permanent job search. Luckily I have good unemployment benefit and saved my stimulus checks, so I am doing well financially as I enter my 5th month of unemployment.

7. AnonymousNovember 21,2021 at 1:20PM UTC

   I have done both, and I am now finding myself getting laid off at the end of December due to new management and restructuring, and this was a full time position I started in May. I think these days its a toss up, as NY is an at will employee state. I am now facing opportunities that could be permanent or temp to permanent. Its a toss up- I have told recruiters that I am open to temp to perm, but only if it genuinely has that conversion. I know no guarantee, but at least it has the potentional. I share your frustration in many companies I have worked for when I was temp- to perm and dragged through the mud if it were going to be so, but three did. I am in an odd situation where a permenant one didn't but it is what it is. I'd say in these times thouroughly reasearch the company and if its the right fit, take it regardless. You never know what can happen, but at least it shows you have solid work experience. I have heard from recruiters that when you take temp assignments because you can't find perm, employeers consider that Jumpy and have advised me to take them out. Then I have heard from other recruiters that they are not tolerating that from their clients and to keep them in because they should be more understanding in this very awful time where its not uncommon for people to be moving around if they have been laid off.

8. Wole IkotunNovember 21,2021 at 1:49PM UTC

   I've done both and very much prefer to stay on the contracting end of the spectrum, mainly because i have a very low tolerance for office bs and politics, and the pay has worked out so much better for me over the years.

   If your consult in the private sector, i get that the short stints can be frustrating, but there are other options.. public sector consulting tends to be longer and more lucrative.. i was actually on one for 3 years and just left recently.

   So for me i'd rather stay on the consulting/contracting side of the fence.

9. Sharon RosendahlNovember 21,2021 at 2:52PM UTC

   While there are great things about contracting-variety, avoiding politics, opportunity to learn, there is a downside for me. I am the sole bread earner in our household. The security of having a perm job along with the need for really good health insurance, life insurance and 401k are really important. When I was offered to transition to perm at a major company I took it.

   I work too much right now but also have better opportunity than I did before. My benefits are a million times better.

   I have a friend who works for a premium consulting firm she has excellent benefits but her pay is not as good as mine, either before or after conversion. She does have way better work life balance.

10. Lorna Rose, J.D., M.S.November 21,2021 at 3:26PM UTC

    I prefer contracting because it allows me to work with my disabilities rather than try to succeed in a place where I don't have total freedom to accommodate as I need to, especially when it comes to "office culture."

    Additionally (and equally as important), I've come to learn that benefits that I have control over are the only stable benefits. Time off, 401k, health insurance through my full-time job? Gone once my job is. The pandemic showed us that much. There is no such thing as "job security" when you're working for someone else, because you are always at their mercy. No job is permanent if you think about it :(

    One note for everyone here based on reading the comments left so far: THERE IS A LEGAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN *EMPLOYMENT* AND *CONTRACTING* - a "contract position" is not the same thing as being an independent contractor. There is a rampant abuse of employee misclassification going on for the past decade at least and it's only getting worse. PLEASE don't get taken advantage of.

11. Lorna Rose, J.D., M.S.November 21,2021 at 3:27PM UTC

    ETA I'm a lawyer with a background in employment & labor law. I am more than happy to provide general information to anyone who wants clarification on their job status. Please feel free to PM me.

12. AnonymousNovember 21,2021 at 9:31PM UTC

    Glad you found a working style that works well for you. Contracting can be a great option for those of us needing more flexibility or control in our schedule.

    On the note of benefits, I agree they aren't really a loss as long as you can find work consistently as a contractor as well as factoring in the value of them in your hourly rate. Unfortunately, I have found LTD very difficult to obtain privately. An application I submitted was declined due to a medical condition that is chronic, but doesn't affect my ability to work.

13. surfnwriteNovember 22,2021 at 3:49AM UTC

    I'm not an independent contractor as in 1099. I'm a W2 employee that works on a temporary basis. Projects can last for a week or a year or more. There is no paid vacation and medical/401k kicks in only if the job last longer than 90 days. BUT, I love the variety of doing different projects and I like that I can take a vacation whenever I want to. Plus I never have to ask to take a day off and can mostly set my own hours. So what I sacrifice in money I gain in freedom. I've been offered permanent a few times but the money would have to be SIGNIFICANTLY more for me to accept the tradeoff.

14. Patricia ManroeNovember 22,2021 at 4:25AM UTC

    I did contract work for over 10 years and loved it. I enjoyed the freedom. But I was dedicated to my work too.

15. Carolyn HipkinsNovember 22,2021 at 12:22PM UTC

    I'm a W2 employee of a staffimg agency. I"m looking for a permanent position because the benefits are lousy.

16. AnonymousNovember 22,2021 at 12:37PM UTC

    I have done both contract and employee and I too love the contract freedom. You own your time and can choose your work assignment, culture and how much time is spent. I like to travel and involve myself in artistic endeavors so contract work allows me to be well paid but not tied to being part of a specific company and team. I can live my life on my terms and that speaks to me.

17. AnonymousNovember 23,2021 at 1:50AM UTC

    If you're happy contracting, that's great. But I have had enough of being treated like a second-class citizen: no benefits, no paid holidays, no PTO, no performance reviews. You are hired to do ONE task, that nobody else has time to do, and that's it. You never feel like you are part of new initiatives or plans. No real inclusion in the culture either (only if they take pity on you are you invited to company events).
    Being converted to permanent? Ha! I've been told that lie before.
    And as far as taking vacation when you want: if you're on a project contract, you can't just swan off on a sabbatical any time you want. You have to wait until your project is finished. And hope you've saved enough money to go without pay for x number of weeks.
    For those considering temp or contract work, just remember this: if the client you are working for decides to let you go, you are the last to know. Getting a phone call from the agency at 5:30 on a Friday afternoon kind of puts a damper on the weekend . . . just sayin'.
    I am now looking exclusively for permanent work. I am DONE with temping, hopefully forever!!

18. Enny GibsonNovember 28,2021 at 10:46PM UTC

    Hi There -
    I did the opposite went from Permanent to Contract. I love it and it really has allow me to have more life/work balance. I say maybe stick with an agency and/or try to look for gigs on your own and take breaks in between long hours contracts.
    I do not recommend going permanent if you want to keep your week at 40 hours. Permanent typically translates on salary which means you have to work as many hours as needed with your workload.
    I hope this helps your decision!
    Enny