Help with composing letter explaining can't take the risk of temp job

[Userxxxxx]

Hi, trouble is back.

I've got a permanent job offer (direct with employer) which is still pending and awaiting contract, I was hoping really to have got started by now but appreciate these things take time and probably Christmas/New Year hasn't helped. I don't know why I am one of those who believe a job isn't set in stone until you start with a company on first day. Whilst I had managed to withdraw from most other applications I made in December and say no to interviews (I was batting them away last week) I felt some loyalty niggly and stupidly to one particular offered 2nd interview at a company where my Mum spent a decade. (unaware goal posts had changed anyway) (they haven't yet, raised about my relation having once worked there either and seriously thinking I really can't morph into Mum!)

I've interviewed at a really local company just 6 minutes up the road with free car parking which definitely is a bonus; there was an agency involved and it turns out what was a once listed as a permanent/good prospect position at first interview; they now only want to offer me a weekly temp to perm (the further unexpected caveat being they also want to review this ongoingness every 2 weeks from the paperwork I've just seen.) I wasn't expecting this, knowing temp to perm was bad enough only divulged prior to latest interview and whilst I would jump at if unemployed with no offer, there is a permanent job in the bush, so has anyone any experience with delivering a message to the agent as kindly as possibly, explaining the risk is just to much. (the only thing going for it is it pays weekly and seems they've a ideal way out if I can't do the job required, which possibly explains the changed situation, that and an apparent backlog)

Having gone to the 2nd interview it has become clear they are needing someone to clear a backlog, but, I really don't think my CV can take another temporary job situation that doesn't work and a review every 2 weeks seems so much of a gamble.

Do I just say I regret, another company is offering permanent? or should I just concentrate on the situation having changing so rapidly? (I accept the agent rather likely has just had the client's changing plans thrust upon them too)

Thanks for reading and be grateful for any help letter writing.

I'd go with thanks for the offer, I have had an alternative offer elsewhere offering more secure terms so regretfully decline.

I'm not sure what you're worried about here, telling them you've been offered a permanent role is totally fine and sufficient, it doesn't need anything more than that.

Dear Blah

Thank you very much for your offer of a temp to perm position. As I have been offered a permanent position elsewhere I will have to decline.

Best wishes,

Userxxxx

And then don't give it another thought - just like they wouldn't once you'd cleared the backlog and they didn't need you any more. I was once let go from a temp to perm position with no notice once I'd cleared a backlog. Then they wrote to me about 6 months later offering me a permanent job, the cheeky fuckers!

I'd do the temp job for a couple of weeks until the permanent one starts.

Thanks everyone so much. I double checked the original job ad to make sure I wasn't going mad, it definitely said permanent to begin with so emailed the agency with them understandably calling after receiving it, which they asked me just to stick it out as long as I could in line with suggestion of the last poster.

I managed to get a day's temp work out of it so helped them a very tiny bit. At lunch-time I nailed down the permanent role. The tempo employer/client of the recruitment agency said they wouldn't want to hold me back after the recruitment agency got definite clarify it would only have been a temporary standing totally after all.

Lesson totally learnt.

All's well that ends well xx