Old Job wants me back... butI'm in a situation that is new to me. About a month ago, I got laid off. My position moved to another city and the position I was supposed to go to got cut in some lay-offs. The office I was in was tiny, so there was no place for me to go. Well, last week , my old company called and wants me to come back.... BUT it would only be temporary because they have a couple of people going on maternity leave. They told me that since it would be a temp position, that I could still look for another job at the same time. HOWEVER, I interviewed for a job at another company this week that I REALLY want. I don't know if I will get it though, and I'm sure there will be more rounds of interviews. I need to let my old company know if I will come back by the end of next week (3/9) - I'm also supposed to hear next steps from the company I want to go to next week. Is it kosher for me to go back, to my old company but continue to interview with the other company? I'm concerned that I may only go back for a couple of weeks and then leave. I don't want to burn any bridges. If I did go back, I assume that I wouldn't get my usual benefits: 401K, FSA & Medical. If that's the case, should I negotiate for a "consulting" salary? If so, how the heck do I do that? Thanks so much for the help. I think you need to ask more questions before you accept the job with the old company. Are they going to hire you through a temp agency? That's what most places do in these situations so that they don't get into paying benefits. If you like the answers and want/need the work, then there's no reason not to take it, with the understanding that if something permanent comes through while you're there, you're going to take that instead. Tess If I understand what you wrote, I think you can take the temporary job and continue interviewing with the company you really want to work for. Didn't your old company tell you that you could "still look for another job" since coming back would be only temporary? If that's correct, I don't see the problem. With regard to the temporary position, I think you need to find out how you will be compensated and whether or not you'll receive benefits while you're there. If you're going to be, in effect, a "contract employee," you may want to come up with an hourly rate that's reflective of what you were earning plus about 30% more to cover the value of the benefits you'd otherwise get if you were a permanent employee. Benefits, generally speaking, are worth anywhere from 25% to 35% of salary, so a "right in the middle" amount would be 30%. Figure out what you earning per hour before the lay off and add 30% to it to come up with a reasonable hourly rate - in the even that you won't receive benefits while on this temporary ####. Paul W. Barada The Negotiation Expert | |
|
Career Tips
|