After Phone Hell, Job Hell...

[kneeshooter]

Earlier this week I had the chance to look at, and adapt the job description for the job-that-is-being-written-for-me-but-at-the-same-time-not. This was good - even past the point where someone I considered would not be a competitior for it told me it was better money than he was on... opening all sorts of potential hell.

Then today my current employer offered me a 12 Month extension. I said "qualified yes" - if only so I have a job to resign if this grand plan doesn't come off. Now the quandry, which I'm not going to bother to Ticky Box, is whether I should take the extension - or attempt to freelance a bit and hope for something longer term and more local to come along.

Hmmmm.

Comments

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Speaking as the non-entrepreneurial type, I'd say go for the guaranteed income.

[robcee.livejournal.com]

Depending on what you do, I really wouldn't go free-lancing. It always sounds more fun than it actually is in my experience...

If you have 2 or 3 people that you know you can get work from as a contractor then go for it. But if you have to punt around for business now, then be utterly prepared to have 2-4 months with no money before it starts coming in.

[kneeshooter]

Yeah - I'd concluded even if that was going to happen I'd need to have something in place. But how much visibility would be possible is unclear.

[berrega.livejournal.com]

It depends on how much you hate commuting to Oxford every day? I'd just say yes to the extension in pricipal but not sign anything, then concentrate on finding well paid work in Brun, knowing I had something to fall back on.

[boglin.livejournal.com]

You can resign at any point during this 12 months, yes? How much notice must you give? Can you go back to the writers of the job description and ask them how much they want you?

[kneeshooter]

3 Months (though I would try to negotiate and would be optimistic). It's not a problem with the job desc - just timetable issues (month or so before it is advertised) and then the length of time the recruitment process takes.

[ex-harryh579.livejournal.com]

In my experience it is easier to get a job if you have one.

Stay employed.

[sixtine.livejournal.com]

Will the 12 month extension come with golden-handcuff contractual terms? ie can you quit with no consequences. Does it have an unreasonable notice period attached?

If not, accept, sign the doc and quit when you feel like you have something set up, freelance or otherwise. Give a reasonable length of notice and leave on friendly terms.

Didn't you apply for something in Scotland or is that my fevered imagination?

[kneeshooter]

3 Months notice on paper, no other conditions. In practice I'd hope not to have to work the full 3 months.

[ikkleblacktruck.livejournal.com]

Take the extension. Job now is money now. Freelancing is "money maybe". Better to hope for something longer term and more local while being paid than while waiting to be paid.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

Unless it makes you so miserable you want to die, keep the job you've got.