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Message
Leaving permanent position for contract-to-hire position
Posted on 5/28/17 at 11:20 am
Posted on 5/28/17 at 11:20 am
Last week, I received a phone call from a recruiting firm in Houston in regards to a contract-to-hire position for one of the "Big 4" oilfield service companies. They're offering me a few more dollars an hour, I would be an employee of the recruiting firm so I wouldn't have to worry about doing my own taxes, would have benefits, etc. It's a 6 month contract with no guarantee of having a job after, but according to the recruiter "a good majority of the people end up getting hired direct after their contract's over". Not sure if it's true or if he's just blowing smoke up my arse, but anywho.
Part of me wants to take the risk and go for it because even though I have a permanent position right now, it's soul sucking, I'm WAY underpaid, and over worked. What the recruiting firm is offering me pays better than what I'm making now, and I think contracting for one of the majors would look good on my resume'.
The other part of me wants to pass on it because despite the circumstances with my current position, I have much better job stability. Although, if things don't work out with this contract-to-hire position, I'm certain I wouldn't have trouble getting on with another company when my contract runs out and if they decide they don't want to bring me on full time.
Has anybody else had experiences with this? Thanks in advance
Part of me wants to take the risk and go for it because even though I have a permanent position right now, it's soul sucking, I'm WAY underpaid, and over worked. What the recruiting firm is offering me pays better than what I'm making now, and I think contracting for one of the majors would look good on my resume'.
The other part of me wants to pass on it because despite the circumstances with my current position, I have much better job stability. Although, if things don't work out with this contract-to-hire position, I'm certain I wouldn't have trouble getting on with another company when my contract runs out and if they decide they don't want to bring me on full time.
Has anybody else had experiences with this? Thanks in advance
6
Posted on 5/28/17 at 11:54 am to Ellis Dee
I have experience with soul sucking roles. Life is too short man, I would make a change before it affects your health.
If they don't want to deal on pay, you can ask for per diem or more paid time off. It's worth asking and they can only say no.
If they don't want to deal on pay, you can ask for per diem or more paid time off. It's worth asking and they can only say no.
This post was edited on 5/28/17 at 11:56 am
Posted on 5/28/17 at 11:57 am to down time
quote:
per diem or more paid time off
my current company offers neither
Posted on 5/28/17 at 1:08 pm to Ellis Dee
I did it at my current (O&G) company. They ended up hiring me after 3 months. Seems to be the norm here.
Posted on 5/28/17 at 1:38 pm to Ellis Dee
Really comes down to your family situation.
Evaluate the worst case scenario (what happena if you dont get hired full time?). weigh that risk against the upside of leaving.
Evaluate the worst case scenario (what happena if you dont get hired full time?). weigh that risk against the upside of leaving.
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:08 pm to Ellis Dee
What recruiting company is it that reached out to you? There are some good ones out there and a lot of those opportunities are six month contract to hires. In general you'll be brought on perm at the duration of those six months.
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:13 pm to UnluckyTiger
quote:
What recruiting company is it that reached out to you?
Orion Group
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:15 pm to Ellis Dee
Ah never heard of them. Have they told you it's a six or three month contract to hire? Or life of contract? If you're content enough at your current job it doesn't hurt to ask for a little more on your contract portion.
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:17 pm to UnluckyTiger
quote:
Have they told you it's a six or three month contract to hire?
The recruiter told me it's a 6 month contract
quote:
f you're content enough at your current job it doesn't hurt to ask for a little more on your contract portion
nah, I'm pretty miserable where I am right now, hence why I came here for some advice
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:23 pm to Ellis Dee
Ask the recruiter if they've placed anyone else at this company and if they've converted permanent. If they have I'd ask to try and speak with them about their experience. If that company has placed contractors before successfully they shouldn't have an issue with this as long as that person isn't part of the interview process.
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:26 pm to UnluckyTiger
Will do so next time I talk to the recruiter. Appreciate the advice and input 
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:33 pm to castorinho
quote:
Really comes down to your family situation.
Evaluate the worst case scenario (what happena if you dont get hired full time?). weigh that risk against the upside of leaving.
That's a good answer.
From my perspective, contract-to-hire is a truly wonderful thing that's worked out great for me. In a 21st century economy, there are a lot of industries out there that need highly skilled people, and who are willing to throw tons of money at them, but are scared about getting tagged with wasteful, long-term FTE costs.
Is the recruiter blowing smoke? Possibly, but he likely just doesn't know what will happen. These things are often a crap shoot in terms of whether you're a good fit or not. However, even if it's not, you can usually parlay your higher pay as a contractor into a higher-paying FTE somewhere else if you want to, if you put in the effort. Employers value and recognize striving skilled workers who are willing to move around and get different experiences.
The caveat here is that I don't really know anything about the O&G industry, specifically, so a lot of this might be a whole different ballgame there. However, trying to play it safe as a FTE in a cyclical industry doesn't always work anyway. So I'd say go for it and make things happen for your career. But then again, maybe you don't need for things to happen for your career. Really, it comes down to your family situation.
EDIT: Also, if you're truly on the fence, then you might want to consider asking for a higher hourly rate. There is usually a pretty big markup to what the contracting company is paying to the recruiter, versus what you will be getting paid. (This is what makes some people want to go out and start their own consulting firms, and negotiate their own work contracts directly.)
This post was edited on 5/28/17 at 2:38 pm
Posted on 5/28/17 at 2:40 pm to Doc Fenton
quote:
Really, it comes down to your family situation.
No wife/kids, just a live in girlfriend (no pics)
quote:
From my perspective, contract-to-hire is a truly wonderful thing that's worked out great for me. In a 21st century economy, there are a lot of industries out there that need highly skilled people, and who are willing to throw tons of money at them, but are scared about getting tagged with wasteful, long-term FTE costs.
What I've heard from a couple of people is that some of these companies to contract-to-hire to minimize risk (like you said). If things don't work out, or if the price of oil doesn't pick up like they expect it to, it's a lot easier to let someone go.
quote:
Is the recruiter blowing smoke? Possibly, but he likely just doesn't know what will happen.
He pretty much told me that my mileage may vary. Some people he's picked up have been hired full time one month into their contract, others got hired after their 6 month contract was up, others got let go (which in my line of work you have to really frick up for that to happen
) quote:
However, even if it's not, you can usually parlay your higher pay as a contractor into a higher-paying FTE somewhere else if you want to, if you put in the effort. Employers value and recognize striving skilled workers who are willing to move around and get different experiences.
Exactly what I was thinking, it would look great on a resume'
Posted on 5/28/17 at 3:57 pm to Ellis Dee
Is it a job you are confident you can perform well at? Recruiters will lie to companies telling them the candidate is strong at X while assuring the candidate who doesn't have any experience with X that it's not an essential job requirement. Trust your gut feeling with the recruiter, a lot are snakes.
My mom once got told to leave her first day on a contract to perm job because the recruiter lied about her qualifications. She was pissed.
My mom once got told to leave her first day on a contract to perm job because the recruiter lied about her qualifications. She was pissed.
This post was edited on 5/28/17 at 4:00 pm
Posted on 5/28/17 at 4:21 pm to Ellis Dee
quote:then I'd be more inclined to leave, after doing my due diligence of course.
No wife/kids, just a live in girlfriend (no pics)
Posted on 5/28/17 at 4:30 pm to TheWalrus
quote:
Is it a job you are confident you can perform well at?
Yep. I'll be doing the same thing I'm doing with my current company, which I've been doing for the past 6 years
Posted on 5/28/17 at 5:31 pm to Ellis Dee
Is Houston a much better location than your current city? That would be the biggest factor in my decision.
Posted on 5/28/17 at 5:35 pm to Epic Cajun
It's a field position so I'd be able to stay where I am at
Posted on 5/29/17 at 8:02 am to Ellis Dee
Go with your gut, if you don't enjoy your job at all then take the risk. What is there to lose? Bust your arse and most likely you will be hired on. At least you will be able to say you went for it.
Posted on 5/29/17 at 10:32 am to Ellis Dee
quote:
Orion Group
My company works with Orion and we have hired a bunch of their field guys.
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