Talk to me about your fixed-term contracts!

[losingitoverdecaf]

I have always held permanent roles in my sector (charity). But recent positions have been fairly disappointing for various reasons including poor management, resources etc.

I have recently started a year-long mat contract with a household name charity; partly because my goal is to go self employed one day. I’m already getting a sense of the challenge as I’m the third person this year to have the job title (!) owing to other people having babies…

I’m expecting to have a different attitude to the job given that I’m essentially taking care of things and then will likely move on, but I’m curious as to how other people who opt for fixed-term contracts approach their roles?

Is there anything you would get me to bear in mind?

Wisdom welcome.

I've always started jobs on fixed term contracts. It hasn't been a choice it's just what's been available. I started one12 month fixed term contract and ended staying there for 8 years.
My current job was an 18 month contract which got extended to 3 years but it is ending soon.
I think it depends what industry you work in. But in my experience they're very common. I treat them like any other job really

I am currently on my first ever fixed term contract. My approach to it is to apply a bit more pressure to myself to learn the job and hopefully excel at it a lot faster than I would have to in a permanent role - I am hoping that a really good impression will lead to permanency and, if the opportunity does not arise, packing plenty into the amount of time I have will give me more to put on my CV / reference in interview in relation to this particular role for future applications. I always put my very best into any job that I have but with this compressed timeframe I feel like I MUST be at my best quickly.

Relate.

Don't assume or accept that you're a caretaker. You should still drive change and improvement and think long term.

You can achieve a huge amount in a year.

Interesting. Agree that a year can be transformative. I’m more wondering about others’ mindset when in FTCs…

Well that is what I meant...I use it to get the organisation as close to where it should be as I can. If that means changing people, process, systems and KPI then all good.

In terms of others...they quickly learn as you set out your stall, that you aren't a placeholder.

Im I'm a FTC. I'm trying to get as much experience to beef up my Cv as I can then trade on that to get something better.

I love FTCs for the variety and breadth of experience, plus I get bored working too long in the same role.

It does mean regularly having to go through the jobsearch rigmarole which can be difficult if the market isn't favourable when the contract ends.

@JorisBohnson2 interesting! What’s the usual length of your FTCs? Do you feel like you get less emotionally entangled this way? That’s been my experience so far anyway. I feel really motivated but somehow detached from the politics.

[quote losingitoverdecaf]@JorisBohnson2 interesting! What’s the usual length of your FTCs? Do you feel like you get less emotionally entangled this way? That’s been my experience so far anyway. I feel really motivated but somehow detached from the politics.[/quote]
Anything from 3 to 12 months. I tend to get bored easily and I'm in a stage of career advancement now the kids are older.

Current role may go perm but at least this way I can try it out and think it through.

We have just come to the end of a fixed term contract. It has been renewed for 3 years form Jan 2022 but we literally only knew that for certain a couple of weeks ago. I'm surprised there are any staff left who have stuck it out so long not knowing for definite whether they would have a job after Xmas..
The funder is a leading cancer charity. They have ( in my opinion) treated us badly.

Approach it as a chance to gain new experiences, and I would go out if your comfort zone if you can, and exceed any expectations, as this will only add to your CV.

I once left a job I hated, and in desperation, accepted a fixed term 9 month maternity cover. I was promoted to Director in month 8 (there wasn't one when I started), as it was evident there were huge gaps in the work that was being delivered prior to me joining. I stayed 5 years in total, 4 of those included managing the person I originally joined to cover for

In my limited experience, FTC can also offer a route into a company, as if you're good, and they have capacity, they'll likely create a role for you.