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Advice on whether to get a contracted job or not (programming.dev)

submitted 3 months ago by Clydesdalecrusher@programming.dev to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

7 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Basically, I currently work in a digital cinema company as a helpdesk for them and the job pays ok but is pretty stable as my colleagues have all been there for years. I have an interview soon for a FAANG company to be on their IT Helpdesk. It’s a job that will give me a lot of good experience, but it is a 6 month contract with potential to renew and continue. The recruiter basically snuck the contract portion in after scheduling my interview.

Both jobs include benefits thankfully the only thing that is stopping me from the FAANG job is just that it’s contracted but the experience would be great.

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

TLDR: Would you leave your fully employed job for a contracting opportunity.

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[–] MagicShel@programming.dev 14 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I've worked a lot of contract jobs and very few straight jobs. I would love to have a really good straight job at this point in my career, but the contract work wasn't bad at all. It's usually worse benefits. And make sure it's W-2 and not 1099, or you'd better ask for a lot more money, because you'll pay double the taxes you're used to. I learned a lot because it's usually a very diverse environment in terms of people's experiences, so there are lots of different perspectives from the jaded pro to the recent grad.

I've been doing this for 25 years and I'm slowing down and getting tired of constantly being in team building mode. I want a straight job where I can build up specific expertise and relationships and use my experience on a single set of products/services. But I don't regret my contracts. I mean I could tell horror stories about a couple of really shitty contractors I worked for, but the actual job and people I worked with were great even so.

[–] Clydesdalecrusher@programming.dev 3 points 3 months ago

I had not thought of the w2 vs 1099 thing but I will bring that up to them.

Hands down the experience in that environment is what’s attracting me the most of everything other than the pay raise.

[–] sanguinepar@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

As someone else said, if you back yourself to get something else later then it could be the right move.

Only thing I'd be concerned about is the idea that they snuck the contract thing in - it would depend exactly what you mean by that, but if they were trying to conceal it from you then that might be a bad sign. If it was just a miscommunication or whatever, then hopefully all good.

Good luck, whatever you do!

PS - forgot to say that I quit a permanent job to go freelance and it's been a big improvement in my life. I work from home, make a bit more money, and can be much more flexible. Downside is less income security, and as a result less favourable terms on things like mortgages. Also, I have been lucky that I basically get regular work from a small agency and have done for a number of years, so I rarely need to go hustling for clients.

[–] Clydesdalecrusher@programming.dev 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah the recruiter mis communicated it. But the company itself brought it up first thing in the interview before. I actually interviewed last month but was scared of the contract . Now they reached out to me again and I figured I’d at least take th interview as practice.

After thinking and looking at my finances I could prolly be safe if the contract ends quickly.

[–] sanguinepar@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Nice one, sounds like you're all over it 👍

Good luck!

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 months ago

but if they were trying to conceal it from you then that might be a bad sign.

Not at all surprising move from a FAANG company. Fucking people over is in their blood.

[–] thetreesaysbark@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 months ago

Ask yourself, in 6 months time will you be able to find another contract job or employed job easily? If the answer is yes then I'd say go for it and get the extra experience.