Gotta Look Out for Me and Mine
Help out Profunksticated, folks! This week marked six months since I started with the social services consulting firm. This means they can hire me outright without buying out the contact from the agency that placed me.
My agency now tells me that my manager told them they’d like to keep me on through an open-ended contract. I don’t know for how long. I realize there’s a lot going on with this firm, not the least of which is that they sold the building we’re in and moved us in with all the other wage slaves at the corporate headquarters 10 miles away.
This news was disappointing. I’m not sure what to do. Do I stay and hope they will hire me on? Or do I stay true to my convictions and start looking for other contracting opportunities now that health insurance doesn’t seem to be an issue (The Spouse can buy hers, but for a few bills a month, assuming she resigns from her school district). I have insurance through the agency, my youngest can get it through our state’s SCHIPs program and the older two are covered by college policies.
I just don’t want to get caught flat-footed again. “Sorry, Pro, we don’t need you any more. Thanks for your service.” I’ve heard that a few times before.
I feel like I’m up in the air. I’ve talked to my manager about my status on a number of occasions, and says he’d like me to come on board full time. But he has no power to make things happen for me. Meanwhile, I’m hearing through the grapevine that a higher-up VP has gone to bat for a desktop publisher who came through the same agency as I.
I really need my own business. I gotta look out for me and mine. Any ideas, y’all, on what Pro should do? Thanks.
Peace.
Start looking and interviewing. This way, if things don’t work out where you are, you already have some logs in the fire. You never know. A better deal might come along while you’re looking for a backup plan.
Thanks, Hostess. I’ll do that. I’m already perusing USA Jobs.
Comment by Hostess — May 21, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
You’d better be interviewing and watching your own back. No one else is obligated to do that for you. As soon as you find something permanent and more lucrative, STEP.
Yeah, I’m following Hostess’ advice above. Thanks!
Comment by A — May 22, 2008 @ 10:07 am
I thought I made a comment, but i don’t see it. Anyway, look out for numero uno and find a new spot that’s permanent, pays more, and has great benefits. You are your own best advocate.
Your above comment did make it. Quite a few visitors so far have said they don’t see the comments when they first post. Gotta see about that. Thanks again.
Comment by A — May 22, 2008 @ 10:16 am