3 year contract
Discussion
I am single and live in my hometown in the South East - I have lots of friends/family in the area and I am happy with the location. I don't own a property at the moment.
Work is OK but a bit dull and would like some change
I've seen another job advertised in Cardiff which looks good but it is only a 3 year fixed contract. It is public sector and extension is based on income generation. The type of income generation they are talking about is very erratic so there is a high chance it will end after 3 years.
I know in a normal commercial business you risk being made redundant any time if the money is not coming in but I think the 3 year period is just putting a big block in my mind.
The main downside is that it gives me no certainty or anything to buy a property to live in and I am in a position where I want to be buying a property soon.
On the other hand I could just look at it as a 3 year 'adventure' but I feel the background noise/stress of it being 3 years is going to play on my mind. Having said that it might be good for my mental health as I need my work to excite me.
I would also be giving up a very secure job as well.
I know opinions will vary but anyone have any thoughts?
Work is OK but a bit dull and would like some change
I've seen another job advertised in Cardiff which looks good but it is only a 3 year fixed contract. It is public sector and extension is based on income generation. The type of income generation they are talking about is very erratic so there is a high chance it will end after 3 years.
I know in a normal commercial business you risk being made redundant any time if the money is not coming in but I think the 3 year period is just putting a big block in my mind.
The main downside is that it gives me no certainty or anything to buy a property to live in and I am in a position where I want to be buying a property soon.
On the other hand I could just look at it as a 3 year 'adventure' but I feel the background noise/stress of it being 3 years is going to play on my mind. Having said that it might be good for my mental health as I need my work to excite me.
I would also be giving up a very secure job as well.
I know opinions will vary but anyone have any thoughts?
There's only one way you're going to find out for sure.
Personally I think the ability to work for periods of time elsewhere and sometimes slightly outside your comfort zone, can be enormously rewarding - and I don't (just) mean financially. It can enrich your life and expand horizons that is useful capital later on.
A three year contract provides a useful bookend - by which I mean you know when the end is before you start. And there's nothing stopping you bailing before if it doesn't pan out.
There's risks in going and risks in not going so go with your gut.
Personally I think the ability to work for periods of time elsewhere and sometimes slightly outside your comfort zone, can be enormously rewarding - and I don't (just) mean financially. It can enrich your life and expand horizons that is useful capital later on.
A three year contract provides a useful bookend - by which I mean you know when the end is before you start. And there's nothing stopping you bailing before if it doesn't pan out.
There's risks in going and risks in not going so go with your gut.
I'd go for it - if you're likeable and adequate at your job in the public sector they'll find you something else to do if your project ends. I can't actually recall anyone being disposed of because a project finished.
Any project that involves the public sector making real money invariably doesn't - car parking and renewable energy are exceptions that spring to mind. Nobody seems to mind if you can cook up some wider social benefits.
My first job out of uni was a 6 month project gig at a local authority. I was packing my stuff up on my last day when the boss walked past and asked me what I was doing, I explained the project had finished and it was my last day. He asked me if I had another job to go to, I said no, so he said report to my office at 9am on Monday and we'll sort something out. They kept me on with no real job to do for another 3 months after which I left for a permanent job at another authority.
I left the permanent job after 18 months to take a 3 year fixed term contract at a local authority in 2006 which finished right in line with the financial crisis, but they created a permanent post for me and I stayed there, in various roles, until 2015.
In any case, 3 year is a good alarm bell to move on to something else.
Any project that involves the public sector making real money invariably doesn't - car parking and renewable energy are exceptions that spring to mind. Nobody seems to mind if you can cook up some wider social benefits.
My first job out of uni was a 6 month project gig at a local authority. I was packing my stuff up on my last day when the boss walked past and asked me what I was doing, I explained the project had finished and it was my last day. He asked me if I had another job to go to, I said no, so he said report to my office at 9am on Monday and we'll sort something out. They kept me on with no real job to do for another 3 months after which I left for a permanent job at another authority.
I left the permanent job after 18 months to take a 3 year fixed term contract at a local authority in 2006 which finished right in line with the financial crisis, but they created a permanent post for me and I stayed there, in various roles, until 2015.
In any case, 3 year is a good alarm bell to move on to something else.
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