2 offers with loyalty to 1I have received two attractive offers from 2 different companies (placement companies). A little history. The first is 65k (healthcare industry) and hour and half communte each way. The Gentlemen at this recruiting agency have gone above and beyond the call. I have worked with them in the past. My recent contract was ended with short notice and they paid my health insurance for the month will we went into search mode. The second is over 80k (banking industry) and about an hour each way. I have never worked with this company but have developed a good raport with my contact there. Here in lies my dilema. I feel a sense of loyalty to the Gentlemen who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. In a world where this is a rare commodity, it has been refreshing. Both are contract positions with the "Try and Buy", 6 months to a year each and I see great opportunity with both. Additionally if I turn down the 65K and accept the better offer is there an elequent way to stop the bridge from burning? I feel comfortable in both environments as well. I am leaning towards more money and less time on the road. A little insight please Dave
Well, just on the basis of what you wrote, I'd be inclined to take the higher paying job, all other things being relatively equal - not to mention the shorter communte - for the extra bucks! All you have to do with the $65K job is politely turn down their offer saying that another opportunity that's more in line with your career goals and objectives has come along and you simply don't feel that you can allow it to pass you by. Thank them for the offer profusely and for their interest in you, but conclude by saying that the other opportunity just seems to be a better fit. Not to be a cynic, but going above and beyond is what we're all supposed to do in our jobs, not just the minimum required to avoid getting fired or to tarnish our reputations with prospective customers - the recruiting people, while I'm sure they're very nice, will be paid well for their services. Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert Paul, Thank you for the advice. I accepted the higher pay/less commute position. As well the conversation declining the other offer went well. No bridges caught fire. I explained the higher offer, etc. and basically asked "What would you do?" The response was "It's a no brainer". I had even refered a previous co-worker to them who was looking for work It is a contract to higher position, and I do really want to get out of the contract gig as it sometimes leads to a "road warrior" position. My last position was a contract to hire which did lead to a FT offer but in the final hours the offer was resinded. (2 days before I was to start). Still really do not know all the details as to why and I may never know, but I do not dwell on it. I am good at what I do and have a knack for figuring things out on my own. So I felt it better to move on. To me it is just making the most of an opportunity, getting your foot in the door, and getting the work done. If they want me they will throw out an offer. I am still going to pursue a FT direct hire position and will cross that bridge if an offer presents itself. Again thanks for the input Dave
Good for you, Dave! Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert Well again my plot thickens... In my last comment I said that I had accepted the higher offer but would continue to look for FT position. Well it showed up sooner than later. I am to start the "accepted" contract position monday. But I now have a FT offer on the table, the moneys almost a wash (I feel I can get it to meet in the middle), the drive is way less than an hour each way. I like the FT position being offered and see opportunity, I did a little research on the FT company and they are just coming off a restructure that included a 28% reduction in workforce. Makes you a little uneasy but in this world the "security" of FT positions does not exist (personal experience) Should I go to the job on Monday? And if I can negotiate the FT job closer to my number this phone call to decline further employment could get messy (just a feeling). Or... Should I inform the accepted contract position that I cannot start on Monday and try and buy time to negotiate the FT offer. I really feel it not good business to go to a place for a day or a week and then leave. I also do not want the job in hand to go "bye bye". Insight, experience, advice? Dave
I think you should go to the job on Monday - you have a contract with this employer that requires your appearance. I don't think you should say anything about the prospect of being offered the full-time position at this point. Despite the "offer" that was made over the phone, sounds like there a few details to be worked out before it's really an offer of full-time employment, like the salary, for example. Until all the details are worked out you really don't have an offer that would justify not showing up for work on Monday - what if you can't reach an agreement on the salary of the full time position? If things reach a favorable conclusion regarding the full-time position, we can talk again about the contract position you've already accepted, like what strings may be attached to terminating the contract - stuff like that... In the meantime, I'd read the terms of the contract position pretty carefully - just in case the full time opportunity turns out to be the one you really want. Make sense? Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert I have appreciated all your input and hopefully now we are at the last step. The offer for FT has come in and is inline with what was stated earlier. Money, benefits, etc...and a heck of a lot closer to home. What I drive one way would be my total commute. I did go to the job today (Monday) and can accept the FT with no reservations. I know I would not have liked it. I went in with an open mind and worked to find how these would work out. I just can't see it, I would have worked through it if I had to. These are the details of terminating the contract: This Agreement shall be terminable at will by either party. This means that the Employer or Employee or both may terminate this agreement at any time for any reason or no reason at all with or without prior notice. There is no statement of penalty, etc... My start date will be next Monday, pending background check, drug test, all of which I have studied hard for. (will not be an issue). I still don't know if I should continue going to the contracted position until all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted for the FT position. I have a written offer from the FT and as all state, "pending this, pending that,..." thoughts? Dave
If I were you, I'd continue showing up at your contract job untill ALL the "pendings" are unpended and all the i's dotted & t's crossed. I would also ask to start a week later (are they telling you when you have to start, or did you tell them when you could?) so that you can wrap up loose ends at this contract job--you don't have to tell the new employer what "ends" you have to wrap up, but expecting someone to start a job in one week, when the background checks, etc., have not yet been done, seems a bit odd to me. As does this "offer over the phone." I hope you have done your research into this company well, and I hope you get the feeling they want you and not just a warm body in the seat. My own opinion is that I'd tread very cautiously with this new job offer. Certainly the much shorter commute is a real plus, but make sure you are not going to be "downsized" in another round of it.... and that this firm is now on very solid ground.
I think I didn't explain it clear enough. The "contract" job I am at was the one offered over the phone and being there I see why. I have been to the FT offer location and met all concerned. I had originally turned it down because of concerns but the regional head of the dept I would work in called me and explained quite a bit of what went on. I was and am continueing to the "contract" job until all is done as far as pushing it back another week I will look into it. They do want me to start as soon as possible as the ramp up for the new project/product line is starting. thanks again for all your input, it has been invaluable and appraciated.
Dave Oops, sorry, Dave, I got confused (maybe it was me, not your post!)! Not unusual for a contract job to be offered over the phone, and, like you, my DH has been unpleasantly surprised on starting a contract job. He's out of contracting now, but ended up insisting on in-person interviews for any contract job he got offered.... Good luck with the new position--sounds like it is a nice opportunity for you! | |
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