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?

I can assure you now that no man would ever think "what if I need to leave after 5 months".

What if you hated the job and wanted to leave early, what if the job was made redundant whilst you were doing it? What if what if. So many what ifs.

Again, I can assure you if things changed in that job and they needed to make you redundant, they would. It's not personal, its business. So you need to do what is right for YOU. Not the person on mat leave.

And if you did leave, they can't force the person on mat leave to come back. If they were without someone for a few months. They'd cope. Not ideal, but they'd cope.

Probably easier to recruit for, Flev. And nice to have a handover period.

I think I'm right in saying that if any employer gives you say, a six month contract then it has to be at least six months on their side (unless there are grounds for dismissal, redundancy or not passing probation) whereas on the employee side, you have say, a months' notice after probation and can't be forced to work the full period.

I think I'm right in saying that if any employer gives you say, a six month contract then it has to be at least six months on their side (unless there are grounds for dismissal, redundancy or not passing probation) whereas on the employee side, you have say, a months' notice after probation and can't be forced to work the full period.

But a 9 month contract will be spent nearly entirely on probation and the mat leave person returning early would make her redundant - plus, like all employees, she can be easily dismissed before two years. It would be very easy to get rid of her early if they wanted to, and they almost certainly would if the person on mat leave returned early. You have the same rights as other employees when on a temporary contract, but you don't have any guarantee that permanent employees don't.

Adore the beach....they had no right to do that to you and you should not have agreed to come in from maternity leave. Very unfair to put this on the OP.

Op..you do whats right for you. You dont owe anything morally or any other way to the person you covering. It be the company problem to sort. Youve only one life.

I’d go for it.

You're 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

This

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

And also this

Stop worrying about employers (who can look after themselves) and fictious pressurised women on mat leave. Do what is right for you and don't give it a seconds further thought.

Brilliant, thank you so much. Going to go for it. You're right, I do need to be a bit tougher in work (and life in general).