To leave 9 month job contract after 5 months?

[HoldingOutForAutumn]

This is all hypothetical. I've applied for a (salaried) MSc, that I desperately want. But it's highly competitive, 200 applicants for 20 places. I won't hear until late November.

My current job is really unfulfilling, and I can't afford to pay my bills without my student loan now I've graduated. So am trying to find something in my chosen career area - it's slim pickings.

However, I've just found a job that sounds massively interesting, and if I don't get on the MSc this year, I probably would next year if I had been doing this as it's very very relevant.

But it's a 9 month maternity cover contract, so if I got a place on the MSc, I'd be leaving in February after 5 months. I know usual MN advice is to leave if you get a better offer, but in a fixed term short contact, this seems a little more shady morally. Plus it's kind of a Charity/ NFP (though very large).

Then again, I can't stay in my current job struggling until November, when realistically I probably won't even get a place on the MSc.

As I said, all theoretical. The new job will probably have more experienced applicants than me. Just not sure whether to give it a go or not?

Go for it and worry about having to leave early if and when you get on the MSc

Given that it's a maternity cover leaving after five months would really leave the employer in the lurch which I personally would find very unfair. It could also impact on the perm employee if they started to pressure her to return to work earlier than she wants to.

I’d do it. If you get on your MSc you can still work and study. I’m currently doing my MSc and it’s only 2 days a week, one day a week if you do it over 2 years. There is also the option to attend lectures in the evenings and at weekends with most courses as often people doing a MSc are working.
If you get on your course during the contract then explain that to your employer... they’ll may either help you or absolve you from your contractual obligations.
Getting experience in the field you want to work in is important.

You say there’s 20 places only available... but do they offer other places to do distance learning? Might be worth looking in to

How many intakes a year does the msc have? If you got an offer would you be able to postpone it to the next intake?

Given that it's a maternity cover leaving after five months would really leave the employer in the lurch which I personally would find very unfair. It could also impact on the perm employee if they started to pressure her to return to work earlier than she wants to.

The first of those could be OP's problem if this is a 'small world' kind of sector so she could piss off an important contact. The second is not her problem, at all. If they're bad employers to the person on maternity leave then that might be a reason for OP not to want to work for them, but it's in no way her responsibility.

Not even morally? Or is it now all right to throw other women under the bus?

*I’d do it. If you get on your MSc you can still work and study. I’m currently doing my MSc and it’s only 2 days a week, one day a week if you do it over 2 years. There is also the option to attend lectures in the evenings and at weekends with most courses as often people doing a MSc are working.
If you get on your course during the contract then explain that to your employer... they’ll may either help you or absolve you from your contractual obligations.
Getting experience in the field you want to work in is important.

You say there’s 20 places only available... but do they offer other places to do distance learning? Might be worth looking in to*

Unfortunately not. It's run between a university and the NHS, and you're employed full time by the NHS as a trainee for the year. Plus it's only run in a different country.

How many intakes a year does the msc have? If you got an offer would you be able to postpone it to the next intake?

Just the one. I've thought about that, but my contract would end in June, then I'd potentially be unemployed until February. But with this extra experience, maybe I'd stand a better chance of finding another job in the field for those 8 months. Though there really is barely anything available, and it's all extraordinary competitive.

I say go for it. You have to think about yourself in these circumstances. Most companies will show you absolutely no loyalty and you are under no obligation to stay for the whole nine months, you would usually be on a months' notice. As long as you give the required notice for the contract this is fine.

Would you think a man had a moral obligation to the person on maternity leave in this situation? No, I don't think it would be at all her responsibility, morally or otherwise. I'm on mat leave at the moment and it would be a pain for everyone if my cover left early, but it wouldn't cross my mind to think that she should give up a better opportunity if it came along for my sake.

Yes, I do. Whether you're male, female or something else it's a bad thing to do. I'd have no issue if it wasn't maternity cover.

You don't even know that her employers would pressure her to come back, so this is an essentially fictious pressure you're putting on OP.

OK, we don't agree. You've had your say, I've had mine. Shall we just leave it there?

And you certainly have no moral obligation to the person on mat leave

Oh Bluelady come on. The lady on maternity leave would not have to return to work. Are you just projecting a personal experience?

OP I would go for it.

You should go for the job. You might not get it and you might not get the msc place. You need as many irons in the fire as you can get at this stage of your career.

Of course you should go for it. Without a doubt.

Go for it. You may not get the masters, you may not get the job, you may as well apply.

When I was on maternity leave, I’d trained up a contracted maternity cover before going on leave. This is years ago, and due to company policies then, I was having only 18 weeks maximum. I had to come in and train a second person as first found another job (breast feeding in my bosses office, trying to change nappies in conference room table etc). Second person also got another job before my 18 weeks was up and I had to work from home as my child care couldn’t start until original agreed date. I was not happy and majorly stressed.

So of course, yes you could quit the maternity cover contract but really, should you accept knowing you’ll not finish it? Would you like that to happen to you?

Youre not gonna get far in your career if you worry about this kind of stuff.

Look after number 1. Apply for msc and job. See what happens and always make the best decision for you. The woman on maternity doesnt warrant a second thought

I would do it. If you get into the msc then cross that bridge...

AdoreTheBeach I can't imagine that happening in the majority of companies, that is grossly unfair! And either way, the OP has no loyalty to the woman on maternity, she doesn't even know her. The business will be fine to find another temp, not ideal for them but that's life.

Employers have no loyalty to staff! They would get rid of you with one weeks notice if they wanted to.

This is years ago, and due to company policies then

So not really relevant to the OP, as this was a long time ago? I'm not saying employers might not try to force someone to return to work early, but they are certainly not allowed to, and this is between the woman on mat leave and the company, and is no concern of the OP.

It's also worth bearing in mind that the person going on maternity leave might come back before the 9 months is up. My mat cover is currently being advertised (ironically for a charity /NFP - I wonder if it's the same one) and even though I have put in writing that I will only be off for a maximum of 7 months they are insisting on advertising it as 9-12 months cover.