In A Dilemma

[porkypig 0]

Hi, i am in need of some advice.

I have been with this electronics manufacturing Company A for ~8year and is also my first job. I have started out as an Engineering Assistant and to my current Engineer position.

I have started to feel that i need fresh new challenge and change of career. And i have received an offer to switch to a Pharmaceutical Company.

However this position is a 2 years contract and opportunity to convert to permanent position.

I am in a dilemma whether should i take up? I am also worried abt job security. haiz...

[eiffel76 1]

Hi, i am in need of some advice.

I have been with this electronics manufacturing Company A for ~8year and is also my first job. I have started out as an Engineering Assistant and to my current Engineer position.

I have started to feel that i need fresh new challenge and change of career. And i have received an offer to switch to a Pharmaceutical Company.

However this position is a 2 years contract and opportunity to convert to permanent position.

I am in a dilemma whether should i take up? I am also worried abt job security. haiz...

is this new co big, reputed? if so, it shd look good on ur CV even tho they dun convert u aft 2 yrs. but if it is a small time firm, and you are worried abt security, pass it.

[porkypig 0]

is this new co big, reputed? if so, it shd look good on ur CV even tho they dun convert u aft 2 yrs. but if it is a small time firm, and you are worried abt security, pass it.

Yup, a big American MNC..

ohh dear, another "push" factor..

Thanks..

[eiffel76 1]

Yup, a big American MNC..

ohh dear, another "push" factor..

Thanks..

in terms of security, i guess age is also a factor. if u r in early 30s i guess u will stil b marketable so not much issues. u shd also check this 2 yrs contract, does it allow u to resign in the middle of it?

my first job was also 1 yr contract w a US firm but they were really tight w headcount etc so i did not get the extension and had to leave but i was young then and could find a job easily.

[porkypig 0]

Going to 34 this year..

Will check the contract.

I am a bit concern when the contract is ending as well.

Some companies do not have perm headcount and they employ contract staff while waiting for headcount.

[edenstrauss 3]

If conversion from contract to perm is unsuccessful eventually, you'll need to explain your stance very well to prospective employers - as to why u gave up a perm job for a contract. May not come across as good (or even look bad on your resume) unless you are able to convince your interviewers. e.g. switching of career, which leads to a question on why switch.

The general mentality is that why should a good-performing employee forgo stability in a permanent role for one that is contractual??

And depending on how the contract-to-perm has been worded in your new work contract. If the commitment is simply verbal, think twice becox there are chances the employer is using this as a carrot stick to lure talents with the required skill sets for the job. No promises made at this juncture becox business plans change all the time.

If there is black-&-white commitment that your role would be converted to one that's permanent, say, based on good work performance; and eventually, if it doesn't materialise in view of other reasons e.g. company is not doing well, CEO doesn't approve the proposed permanent headcount from the manpower requisition form, etc, then you'll be the one to suffer.

(Some CEO's MNCs might even take away headcounts with high turnover!)

And there is definitely a significant degree of uncertainty associated with contractual work assignments. Nobody knows what lies ahead...

So, it's highly recommended that u weigh your options carefully after perusing through the contract.

Edited March 21, 2011 by edenstrauss

[porkypig 0]

If conversion from contract to perm is unsuccessful eventually, you'll need to explain your stance very well to prospective employers - as to why u gave up a perm job for a contract. May not come across as good (or even look bad on your resume) unless you are able to convince your interviewers. e.g. switching of career, which leads to a question on why switch.

The general mentality is that why should a good-performing employee forgo stability in a permanent role for one that is contractual??

From my point of view, it is difficult and up to any employer to chose to believe or not..

And depending on how the contract-to-perm has been worded in your new work contract. If the commitment is simply verbal, think twice becox there are chances the employer is using this as a carrot stick to lure talents with the required skill sets for the job. No promises made at this juncture becox business plans change all the time.

If there is black-&-white commitment that your role would be converted to one that's permanent, say, based on good work performance; and eventually, if it doesn't materialise in view of other reasons e.g. company is not doing well, CEO doesn't approve the proposed permanent headcount from the manpower requisition form, etc, then you'll be the one to suffer.

(Some CEO's MNCs might even take away headcounts with high turnover!)

And there is definitely a significant degree of uncertainty associated with contractual work assignments. Nobody knows what lies ahead...

Totally agree on that..

So, it's highly recommended that u weigh your options carefully after perusing through the contract.

I am still thinking and weighting up options.

Thank you

[acevin 0]

I am still thinking and weighting up options.

Thank you

Follow your heart..

[MJQueen 0]

any update?

[joey8 2]

<!--quoteo(post=621060:date=Mar 22 2011, 12:08 AM:name=porkypig)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (porkypig @ Mar 22 2011, 12:08 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=621060"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I am still thinking and weighting up options.

Thank you <img src="http://www.renotalk.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Follow your heart..

Yes, I agree, follow your heart ... but also consider your financial situation before you do anything. Unless you are loaded, then no concern.

[bepgof 20]

Yes, I agree, follow your heart ... but also consider your financial situation before you do anything. Unless you are loaded, then no concern.

When young, can follow anything as u deem fit, lol.

When "opportunities" come, I always weights my present situations/conditions in accordance to the 4- quadrants (actually I practice this in all events in life)rule:

Put "not-urgent", "urgent" in Y-axis (upward)

Put "not-important", "important" in X-axis (right-ward)

"Weighing" the event that one is facing, if it falls into:

1.- not urgent, not important - forget that "opportunity", concentrate on present/coming issues.

2.- Urgent, not important - use minimum resources to settle the urgent to become not-urgent.

3.- not urgent, important - can put aside this for the time being, concentrate on urgent and important.

4.- Urgent, important - ACTION!

1. Examples: personal hobbies.

2. Door bell sounds, open door. Water boils, switch off gas, etc

3. Friendship, relationship building, buy present, planning, bugdet, etc

4. "pressing" issues reach "home step" - rushing report for tmr meeting, pre exam tmr, "life & death" situation.

Use "heart" when deals with donation, use "left brain" in war, use "right brain" when fall in love.

[gangeshertz 0]

Hello PorkyPig, all,

human nature is like that, when or the moment when we asked a question like that, the 'natural' first instinct is a No, a negative answer. Why? because you are not convinced, you are skeptical, you have fear. So just trust your natural instinct - that is all our secret power given to all of us human.

Any route/path/direction/decision we have decided to choose to go, there bound to have obstacles.

The differences between a contract and a perm role differ very much on individual's goal (aka WHAT YOU WANT?). If his or her goal is **to do something they love to do, they will NOT bother much about benefits, status, title, distance, working hours, etc, etc, in short overcome all these fears because the level of your 'wants' superceded the fear factors.

**to work in a premises, a company branding they love to be at or proud to be in

**to work for a boss that they feel great to serve or someone they respect

** to pick up a skill and later move on to do something (set up your own firm)

The only similarity between a contract and a permanent position is : They are just a job.

For job seekers - your reason of leaving a contract role - you should never just tell your future employer, interviewer or headhunter or recruitment consultant that "it is a contract, contract ending, looking for a perm"

For headhunters, hiring managers, in house recruiters, HR folks - you should further question them " why your contract is not renewed, why you choose not to renew or continue, did you resigned, if yes why."