Some of you here may have seen my rants about how much I hated my old work environment. When I resigned they acted as if they might make a counter offer until I told them there was no chance.
I’ve taken this “contract-to-perm” gig thinking it was my only option out of my old employer. I was unclear as to what that means exactly. It doesn’t guarantee I’ll have a job at the end of the contract term. It just means the place where I’m contracting has the option to hire me from the contracting firm. Of couse, since this is a right to work state my security is really no worse than a regular employee. And I have verbal intent on the part of the firm I’m contracting for to hire me at year end.
I keep “waiting on the other shoe to drop” at the new gig because what they see as a “major modification” seems to be something that was typically viewed as trivial and requested last minute in crisis mode at my last job. And not knocking their code base at all but the actual code work (meaning beyond all the fuctional design documents, test plans and etc. that DIDN’T get done at the old place) seems dramatically easier and all this for quite a bit more money.
However, I just got an e-mail today informing me I’m still in the running for a permanent position at another large corporation (although I’m happy here I miss the small company feel already). This other position is probably a step up the technology ladder from what I’m doing now.
My quandry is what do I do if it comes through? Do I just accept it and bail on my contract (I have the right to do so with 2 week’s notice)? I worry that’s rather unprofessional since I’ve been here 5 days. The e-mail I received said I’d get a yes or no answer within 2 weeks. Do I go to the placement firm and say “I have this offer but would be willing to go perm where I am now” and let them arm-twist for me?
This is all speculation if nothing comes through but I want to try maximze my carrer opportunity, compensation and integrity all at the same time. I’m having a hard time making it all line up.