UPDATE I have been been working as as a temp for for the past two and a half months.

Carol Sardinha

August 20,2022 at 1:04PM UTC

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I have been been working as as a temp for for the past past two and months. Last week I was on a phone phone call with with HR. During the phone call I was offered the offered the job full-time permanent. Yesterday my recruiter called me and and told me that I wasn't wasn't wanted there there any longer. I was shocked as was my my direct supervisor. There were no issues during the past week. I tried to to contact HR immediately after I was was told. Unfortunately no one answered my phone call. Any thoughts as as to what what might have happened?

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Gretchen SkalkaAugust 20,2022 at 2:54PM UTC
Have you tried reaching back out? That sounds like a miscommunication perhaps.
Carol SardinhaAugust 21,2022 at 11:46AM UTC
I tried immediately after I got the phone call, and no answer.
I did leave a message...
Gretchen SkalkaAugust 21,2022 at 9:38PM UTC
Go ahead and try again.
That's not pestering - it's professional.
There are myriad reasons for delays in responding, so go ahead early this week and reach back out - to both.
If you get no response after 48-72 hours, and you have emails for both the HR person and recruiter - I would email them both together to see if you can get clarification.
Lisa M.August 24,2022 at 2:46PM UTC
No, don't keep pestering, just move on. If they wanted they would've kept you. This has happened to me also, I kept it moving.
AnonymousAugust 20,2022 at 3:04PM UTC
Could be budget issues not entirely worked out. Keep your options open and keep applying elsewhere. Even if they call you back I would look at them both side-eye for the duration of being there.
JJAugust 20,2022 at 4:42PM UTC
Could be an internal candidate found out the job was created and jumped in.
Crystal HowellAugust 20,2022 at 8:13PM UTC
Your direct supervisor should be contacting HR, and you should request a meeting with both and have the recruiter on the phone as well. Get to the bottom of it, you deserve that much. Then find a new recruiter and firm.
Carol SardinhaAugust 21,2022 at 11:45AM UTC
My direct supervisor was as shocked as I was....
AnonymousAugust 20,2022 at 8:54PM UTC
This has nothing to do with you or your work. Someone higher up overrode the offer and made a decision to cancel the position for whatever reason. Perhaps they didn't want to pay your recruiter the fee necessary to convert you to a permanent employee.
Carol SardinhaAugust 21,2022 at 11:49AM UTC
Honestly, that seems like the most reasonable of all the thoughts.
There are multiple locations. Should I just apply (outside of the recruiting company) at another location for the same job? Would the mother company still have to pay whatever fee?
AnonymousAugust 21,2022 at 4:49PM UTC
That director sounds like your advocate. You should ask them for a LinkedIn endorsement and/or to be a reference
Leonor FitzgeraldAugust 22,2022 at 4:04PM UTC
I used to work in a staffing agency and did placements. In my short lived time there, many companies would try to "steal" employees, and avoid paying the buy-out of the contract. They would offer the employee the job and then cancel the contract with us. The canceling fee was less if any, compared to the buy-out. I don't know if this is the case, here. I would contact the HR department to find out if the job offer was still on the table. Depending on what they say, it's up to you to decide if you want to work there. Now they may have also changed their minds, but you won't know until you ask. I wouldn't just go off the word of the staffing agency.
Carol SardinhaAugust 22,2022 at 4:09PM UTC
I eas thinking the same thing, but I just heard that the HR person sent out an email to EVERYONE that Im not working there any longer... I guess they just changed their mind.
Bosslady579011August 23,2022 at 12:23PM UTC
Some one messed up and forgot to factor in the conversion fee which is built in to the agency contract. The decision to have a permanent staff is still valid for them, so the only option is to go with a non agency candidate.
AnonymousAugust 23,2022 at 12:51PM UTC
I know many take temp work over being unemployed, which makes sense, but it's one reason I tried to seek permanent positions, and never liked temping. These agencies and recruiters are often times unprofessional and self-serving. Very underhanded. With LinkedIn, I hope this recruiting industry tanks. Too many unethical recruiters out there.
G C HesseAugust 23,2022 at 1:31PM UTC
What's the difference between a temp and a contractor?
Sorry I thought it was one and the same. I work as a contractor and what I like is that I can pick and choose where I work and with who. In this case I would go with another firm and don't bother to give a reason afterall that how they did you.
Always remember that YOU make these agencies money and you have control.
Mara Jevera FulmerAugust 23,2022 at 3:03PM UTC
We have both in our institution. A contractor is just that, an independent contractor, one who is responsible for their own taxes, can be let go at any time, etc. BUT there is never an agency bringing them to us. A temp, on the other hand, is usually hired through an agency. That's when the fee for hire comes in. If hired within a certain period of time, the agency picks up a fee which can be rather large, and this could be what has caused the whiplash the OP wrote about.
The confusion between temp and contractor can be brought down to semantics. Both are technically temporary employees. It's how they come to the institution that is different.
G C HesseAugust 23,2022 at 7:29PM UTC
I'm a licensed Engineer....so don't do a lump sum categorized....vast difference between a temp and contractor.
But since you want to continue down this path....a contractor's hourly rate start at 40 where a temp is around 16.....vast difference in skill sets.
Carol SardinhaAugust 25,2022 at 1:22PM UTC
I think what they are stating is that if YOU apply directly to a business as a "contractor", there IS no contract with an agency. Therefore, there is no buyout clause, i.e. no additional fee to hire a person permanently. A temp worker goes through an agency to get hired. Thats were the buyout clause comes in. Your statement regarding wages is actually not very accurate. I was taking home a very reasonable wage as a temp. I know many engineers that are temps and they are paid a similar wage as you, with the same skill sets.
G C HesseAugust 23,2022 at 7:32PM UTC
I should have recognized your answer comes the so called Education world. LOL
Maggie StoneAugust 23,2022 at 1:53PM UTC
I am sorry this happened to you. That sucks. I would have emotional whiplash. Sounds like your direct supervisor wanted you there permanently, but they got overridden.Which means this probably has nothing to do with you. Is the agency willing to offer feedback or help you with another placement?
Shelby CAugust 23,2022 at 2:10PM UTC
It sounds like someone jumped the gun and they want you; however, there are likely budget issues at play. With people that are on contract there is a fee if they're taken temp to hire during a certain period. It is usually the first 90 days, but sometimes as long as 365. I would ask for clarification and express your interest to your insight supervisor (not the agency) that you want to stay.
RickAugust 23,2022 at 2:11PM UTC
It is possible that the recruiter got their information wrong. I would follow the lead of the company. Hopefully by now you have some updated and good news.
AnonymousAugust 23,2022 at 3:22PM UTC
It sounds like the company made you an offer directly without talking to the recruiter.
The company may have done so not to pay the fee to the recruiter. I wouldn’t believe the recruiter. Talk to the company directly to straighten things out, the recruiter may be saying things to you to cause conflict as they didn’t get their commission as a result.
AnonymousAugust 23,2022 at 4:01PM UTC
Agree with the previous posters that it sounds like the company told the recruiter they weren't renewing your contract, but probably because they were trying to convert you to full time but didn't do it properly through the recruiter. Your manager should be the person escalating this if they want to keep you on the team.
AnonymousAugust 23,2022 at 4:09PM UTC
Your agent/recruiter should always handle these type of conversations. They hold your contract on your behalf. They get a conversion fee when this happens and it sounds as though the company did not want to pay the fee. Getting your recruiter involved is important in these type of employment situations. You actually work for the client on the agents behalf. The client pays the agent not you.
Carol SardinhaAugust 24,2022 at 1:27PM UTC
Ty that does make sense.
G C HesseAugust 25,2022 at 6:32PM UTC
Not in the Engineering World.
A Contractor is paid high dollar because we bring experience and knowledge to the position.
A Temp is exactly what it is... an "Admin. Position" with no skill set or experience.
Carol SardinhaAugust 26,2022 at 1:47PM UTC
Not accurate, as I said before. I worked at an enginering firm and my direct boss would have me call a specific temp agency that handled engineers to get new employees for the engineering department. The new employees would be paid much more than minimum wage workers, but much less than someone who had many years of experience.