IT Consultants and Headhunters... some advice please?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I have a bit of a dilemma, and I was hoping my fellow Dopers could provide some me with some advice.

I am an IT worker. Specifically, I’m a database developer. I’ve always worked in full-time positions.

Four weeks ago, I was laid off. Since that time, I’ve put my resume out there and been contacted by a few headhunters. I’ve made clear to everyone that my preference is in finding a full time position. I’d consider a consulting job (since it beats having no job), but full-time is my preference.

Last week, a recruiter contacted me about a consulting job he had that is to run through the end of the year. The position sounded interesting and, since I had nothing else active in the pipeline at the moment, I told him to submit my name for the position. On Friday I had one interview and returned for a second interview yesterday (Monday). At the second interview, the person at the company told me that I was the front-runner for the job.

However, on Friday and Monday, the possibility of three other positions came to light. All of these are in the preliminary stages of development. I had one phone interview and the others are in the process of arranging first interviews.

I’m fairly certain that I’m going to hear from the recruiter about the consulting job today or tomorrow and he’s going to tell me that I have the position. Now, I’m faced with a classic “bird in the hand vs. two in the bush” dilemma.

If I tell the recruiter that I’m taking the consulting gig, I don’t think I can, in good conscience, continue to look for a permanent job in the immediate future. I don’t think it would be fair to the recruiter (I don’t think he’d get paid if I started working and quit a week later), nor is it fair to the company to have to suddenly start their search again for someone to work on a project that needs to be done by year’s end.

But yet, in the end, I’d still prefer a full-time job. I prefer the security, the benefits (the consulting job has NO benefits, paid time off, etc.) etc. of a full-time position. If the full-time positions were close to resolution (i.e. if I knew whether or not I’d have them in the next day or so), I’d simply tell the recruiter to wait (since he knows my preference), but as it is, any offer from these companies (if I get one) is at least a week to two weeks away. I don’t think I can delay him that long, nor is it right to.

That being said, I’d love to hear any advice from my fellow IT workers or from headhunters/recruiters on the matter.

Thanks in advance,

Zev Steinhardt

2

I think you have to look out for yourself. The company interested in hiring a contractor knows that the risks involved in bringing in someone temporarily is that they leave. They are willing to do that rather than increase their payroll permanently. They’ve done their risk analysis and if they wanted to lower that risk, they’d make a permanent hire (or a bonus at completion).

Preliminary full time positions could take four months before they are actually hired - or they may never actually see the light of day. If our government debt debacle (which has hurt regardless of a deal by deadline) hits the economy, those positions are even less likely to see the light of day.

3

Another vote for take the consulting gig and keep looking. Even if you had nothing else in the pipeline right now a consulting engagement that only lasts until December and a desire for a full time position means you should be looking now. As Dangerosa says the timeline for the hiring process is long enough that it’s unlikely you’re going to quit the first week and you’re not taking the job knowing you will quit, it’s just a possibility. Hopefully a good one. Good luck!

4

Unless you sign a contract requiring that you stay through the end of the year, they know they have the possibility of losing you at any time. Such is the nature of temp work. Temp goes both ways. I don’t think you have any obligation to stop job-hunting. If a full time offer comes up, snatch it and tell your headhunter that a full-time opportunity came up and you couldn’t pass it by. They may be mad at you, but there is no ethical or legal violation on your part whatsoever (again, as long as you don’t sign a contract mandating you stay through the end of the year). If you do have to sign such a contract, then think twice about the offer.

This economy favors companies far more than it favors employees. There is an enormous pool of talented desperate labor out there now, willing to work for far less than they’re worth–and headhunters know it. If you get an offer, take the full time position and let one of the unemployed have your consulting job. :slight_smile: