Fixed Term contracts jobs

[JoDolce]

I've seen an advert for two 12 month fixed term contracts with an estate agent. One is for an accounts role & the other is to do with property lettings. Neither appear to be for maternity leave. Why do companies do this? Either there is a job that needs to be done or there isn't.
What makes them think they won't need an accounts doing or their property lettings dealt with in 12 months time?
They're willing to train someone up in the property lettings role. I'm really tempted by this role as I love property; but with another 9 years to go until retirement, in a decent enough job with good holiday allowance, Bupa etc is it best to stick to what I know, rather than chopping & changing at my time of life. I'm pretty sure I'm safe in my current job until I retire.

Maybe someone (or given there are two jobs, a couple) has taken a sabbatical? Someone at my work did that last year. That are due back at the end of summer.

Maybe they prefer to give someone a job for a year initially, to make sure that they are competent?

I'm sure there are plenty of other possibilities.

It's difficult to know. If you apply and get an interview you could ask.

I wouldn't give up a permanent post for a year long contract though, personally, unless it was my absolute dream job

In our company fixed term contracts are to cover pieces of work that are only expected to cover a - er- fixed term. Or because we want to see how the business grows over the short term before investing in permanent resource in the long term.

In the case of the estate agent - property sales do ebb and flow. They might be taking on extra staff to cover a temporary peak that they are not sure will continue. You can ask about the likelihood of it being extended/made permanent?

9/10 at our place it's because someone has gone on a project.

So many reasons - cover for many different things like predicted long term sick (planned surgery, etc). Timed project that ends after 12 months. Expected influx of work with no idea if it will continue past a year. Trying out a post to see if it’s needed long term. Fixed term funding only given.

Accounts - might want a closer eye on their financial planning for a fixed period.
Sales - judging or not whether the extra capacity is needed.

I'm on an FTC, and me and my sister both like to bounce around companies on 1/3/6/12m contracts.

Slightly higher pay, come in, sort something, get out again. No career ladder, just a steady stream of interesting roles and sort out our own qualifications. You can enjoy your colleagues a lot more if you know it's only for a little while!

I work in a university and fixed term are very common, usually linked to grant funding which has an end date, and then also for staff being seconded elsewhere for specific projects. It's much easier than hiring permanent staff then having to make them redundant. I've been on fixed term most of my career so far, it's not ideal but it's always been extended or I've got another role internally.

How do you know it's not a maternity cover? No reason why they'd put it on the ad

It offers some form of convenience for them. Someone within the team could have taken a sabbatical, they might be testing the waters regarding their hiring/resourcing needs, perhaps they plan to outsource finance at a later stage etc. Is there any indication within the advert of whether it could potentially lead to a perm position, or is it advertised as a straight FTC position?
It's up to you whether you decide to apply for it, go through the motions of the recruitment process to see if the opportunity is for you. Of course, there is a slight risk involved if you took the role because you would be leaving your current position (which you seem reasonably comfy and happy in) with potentially no guarantee of the new role becoming perm. You may not receive any Bupa benefit there too due to the type of contract it is. It's a risk, but you just need to weigh up whether it's worth it and go by what will fulfil you the most!

Thank you all for your replies. I've posted a couple of threads over the last few months as I'd like a change instead of just doing the same thing every day waiting to retire. Not done anything about it though as it has a good salary package & decent holiday allowance at last. But by god I'm bored! Every Sunday night I get that sinking feeling (like a lot of people do in much worse employment, I appreciate that).
30 years ago I met a lady on hols who worked for an estate agent looking after their property lettings. I thought then that's what I'd like to do. I stuck with accounts as it paid the bills, had my children & forgot about it really. Until today when I saw the advert on Indeed.
Now the dc have gone, we have no mortgage. I'm guarantor for dad's rent, but that is all the commitment we have; but the 12 month ftc part is off putting

Dad's rent - meant to say dd's rent

My current job started off as a fixed term contract - my team's workload is tied to election cycles and we have a very involved redundancy process so they don't like to commit beyond what they know for sure they have work for. But they also like to hang on to people they like, so I've ended up permanent.

You'd be trained in a new career that you could then use later - at about 10 months you can start looking at what's around, the fixed term means you know when the end is to be ready to apply for new jobs.

Plus there is always the chance of a role being extended if the work load remains steady, the person it was to cover (not just maternity that mean people leave for a while) doesn't return, another member of staff leaves and they offer you that job...

If you're bored, dread going to work and the money will still work for you then go for it

It works the other way too, don't forget, if you find the job isn't for you long term then you know it'll end on X say5

How "safe" is your job though? What's to say your employer won't have a downturn or hire a hot shot CEO who "saves money" by firing a ton of people? Or they get taken over? Very few jobs are safe these days, so if you fancy a change why not go and do it? Also in year you'd have a year's experience and so could apply at other companies for a more permanent role or another fixed term contract.

I see! I say, grab the proverbial bull by the horns and take the leap! No harm in applying and using the recruitment and selection process to find out more about the opportunity and what they are looking for, see if you are a perfect match. At any time you can walk away from the process. I wouldn't want "what ifs" to prevent you from exploring something that you might actually find fulfilling and relish. Even if it is for an initial 12 months. It could lead to something more or spark something in you which will take you onto your next role after that.

I took a leap of faith a few years ago (which is not typically like me). Was in a perm role and not feeling valued anymore, wondered where my career was heading. I interviewed for a role (same profession, mind you, but a step up) which was a 6mth FTC and without the benefits I was getting in my existing role. I just thought, it'd give me a chance to figure out where I will work next, like a stepping stone, a great chance to discover more about a different company and industry. From day one, I was having a blast! So refreshing. Two months in, I was made perm and I haven't looked back since. I'm so glad I took the plunge. I had a mortgage as well (single occupier), although some savings behind me. I dunno... I just decided to give a go and see what happens!

You have no idea that it isn't maternity leave

My job was 2 yr fixed term due to funding. I got told them got permanent when it came up. It’s a risk but I wanted to move to new area. If I had have left after 2 yrs I’d have had 2 yrs experience to apply elsewhere was how I looked at it.