To select a short term work assignment over a permanent one?

[LifeHope11]

I have received 2 x job offers, one for a 6 month interim assignment the other for a permanent one. The interim is the more senior one, specifically requires the professional qualification I have gained, and is in an industrial sector it would be good to have experience of.

The permanent one is more junior & does not require the same qualification level, the hiring manager himself said at interview he was concerned I might get bored. The interim one is far more suitable in terms of the work content, far more in line with what I want to do career wise. If both jobs were permanent there would be no contest. But- the more suitable one is an interim one.

It sounds enviable to be in the position of having 2 job offers. But it took weeks and weeks of aggressive jobhunting to get to this point, the jobs market is not an easy one. So here is my dilemma: I know DH is worried about me being out of work & our consequent lack of financial security. But my job security (or lack of it) affects him & the family too so surely he deserves a say?

So: all my heart & part of my head say 'go for the interim assignment, it could jump start your career & lead to better things' but there are no guarantees, I could find myself out of work & back where I started in a few months time. I am not asking anyone to make this decision for me but would be interested in anyone's take on it just to try to get some perspective. So this is a straightforward WWYD?

[Joiningthegang]

Go for it - of course the interim one

[lisianthus]

Definitely take the interim one. It will also give you contacts in the industry. Join all the professional associations you can, network like a maniac and good luck! If you take the permie role, you could really mess up your chances of getting the sork of job you studied and sacrificed to get as you will then be competing BOTH with the people with recent good experience and with the people with recent fresh educational qualifications.

[Littlehousesomewhere]

Yes yes take the interim one! You never know what it will lead to and it will give you a step up to your next job which will hopefully be similar but permanent. Also other jobs within the company may come up and you will be in an excellent position to apply from within.

I do feel for your dh though. That is sad that he has little job satisfaction and he is probably envious of you having a choice.

[Springforward]

Very best wishes for your new challenge!

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

Yay! God luck,

[ShadowStorm]

Good luck!

[Kungfutea]

Good luck!

I think given that you have savings to tide you over IF you have some time out of work when the interim jobs ends, you've made the right decision.

[LifeHope11]

I would like to thank you all for your posts. After a lot of thought I have decided to go for the interim role.....I am hoping that at the end of the assignment the experience will look good on my CV and jobhunting will be easier next time around. I also think that if I take the junior role it may be difficult trying to explain the rationale for accepting it, when applying for a more senior position in the future.

At bottom I think I am a little intimidated by the position and anxious to make a success of it....have never been one of the most overconfident of people but will have to trust that I can make a success of this role.

Thanks for your contributions, I have appreciated them ALL and they have helped give me some perspective.

[Springforward]

I have been in this position early in my career, I took the interim job and never looked back.

[badguider]

Based on the fact you have savings and have recently upgraded your qualifications I think the wisest option is to go for the more senior post.

If you go for the permanent one you'll get stuck in it permanently (or near to) and will struggle to progress as you'll never be able to justify leaving it for a short-term post.

Now is the time to risk the short-term post IMO.

[ShadowStorm]

I think I'd take the interim job, especially given what you say about your savings.

It'll look much better on your CV and make you look more employable in higher level permanent roles.

[fedupwithdeployment]

After about 4 years as a SAHM I was offered an interim 6 month mat cover...it was extended to a year, and then made perm when the woman left. I stayed 5 years.

My DH has just been offered a 2 year fixed term contract (public sector) because they don't have to advertise it externally if it is a FTC. What will happen in 3 months time when he is (hopefully) doing a good job is that it will be advertised, and he will be the best man for the job. Not sure I approve, as it seems a total fudge around the rules, but that is the system.

I would take the interim role - am sure it will lead places.

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

... Which could have longer term financial effects.

[TheDoctrineOfSnatch]

YY tab re the perm Job bringing a risk of "downgrading" you.

[Tabliope]

Also it would be harder to get a permanent job at a higher level if you take the permanent lower level job. A bad career move in my view.

[Tabliope]

The interim job. Regardless of the economic climate I don't believe you should ever stop believing in yourself. You got these two jobs and no reason why you can't do it again after the interim job is up. If you take the permanent one you could be stuck there for years on lower pay, lower prospects and less satisfaction and overall it might be detrimental to your career. I'd take the view that the interim one could be the chance to make contacts and prove yourself. But then I tend to gamble on these things. I wouldn't play it safe with the permanent one as I think once you start questioning yourself your self-esteem goes down and it's a viscious downward spiral.

[maddening]

Well tell your dh you'll have a year of this interim job and chasing senior roles that further your career and in a year will take the first perm job you're offered then it is his go to get where he wants to go.

[LifeHope11]

Many thanks for all your posts. And just to be clear: I pursued my studies whilst working full time and paid for them out of my own savings so supported myself throughout, have never asked DH for any of 'his' money. I felt it was my responsibility to organise things so that my studies have minimal/no impact on family life. I want a return on my investment so that we can all benefit.

I do feel for DH and want him to be free to pursue what he wants just the same.....would be more than happy to be the principal earner (if I get the opportunity to do this) to free him up in the future to look for something better. We have had an extremely hard few years, I have posted elsewhere on this but in brief: severely disabled/sick DS, sick MIL, redundancy, both DH & I with health problems - so have not been in a position to prioritise careers. I think it is this rather than lack of ambition per se which has held DH back, by necessity has kept his secure, plodding job whilst dealing with everything else.

[ivanapoo]

Take the interim job

BUT

also help/encourage your DH find a job he likes more. No one WANTS to be in a job they hate but maybe he feels he can't take a similar risk to the one you're considering for financial reasons.

[larrygrylls]

I agree with the majority, here. A career is about building one's CV these days. The experience that you gain in the 6 month assignment will enhance your CV and give you more chances throughout your career.

I think you are a little cheeky re your husband, though. I assume his "unrewarding" job has produced the income to support you through your professional qualification. Someone has to be a stable earner in a partnership and you are lucky that he is prepared to take that role.

[caramelwaffle]

The interim job.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Interim job for sure. You never know they may love you so much they make a position for you, the mat leave person may not come back.

Even if it ends, it will look great on your CV and could well elad to permanent jobs at that level. wHEN you're at a more junior level it can be hard to break through. Take the opportunity and get the experience.

[mummytime]

I would say the Interim one, with some experience in the senior role you will look far more attractive. Also if you do the job well, you may be far more attractive for them to higher for another role with that company than someone "unknown". Being in work looking for another role makes you far more attractive to employers, you even have a nice easy reason why you left to put on your CV at the end.

Your DH sounds totally unambitious and so is not going to "get" how ambitious people have to take some risks to get on.

[Planetofthedrapes]

The permanent job could also turn out to be temporary in today's economic climate, and it could be a "last in first out" situation.

Better to take the more senior role.

[Xmasbaby11]

You have enough savings to last a year? It's a no brainer - take the interim job! I think you're convinced now, aren't you?