Contract-to-Hire Jobs

[Avalon]

Ask your recruiter if it's meant to be contract to FTE (full time employee) or just strictly contract and that's it at the end of it. They'll generally be up front with you. My last job that I worked at for 8 years started off a 6 month contract to FTE, and the recruiter was up front that the company was looking to take me on FTE after the end of the 6 month contract provided I didn't blow chunks. And they did.

I've been looking around the past few weeks for a new job, and recently spoke with a recruiter about a virtual position out in LA. It was an 18 month contract, and I asked if I would go FTE after it. She reluctantly told me that it was not planned, but that the folks they've placed at that particular company via contract have had a good chance getting taken on FTE just due to need and familiarity. I decided against it because the time frame was too long and there were no benefits during the contract period, even though the pay was ridiculously good. Had other direct offers to entertain that were more in line with what I wanted.

TL;DR just ask the recruiter what the intent is at the end of the contract, they'll either tell you straight up or give you a rough idea.

 

[purbeast0]

Companies don't seem to agree for the most part, or just don't care. Even Google's tech workforce is like half contractors now I hear. The cost savings are just too hard to resist.

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything I said.

 

[jpiniero]

I'm not sure what that has to do with anything I said.

Let me rephrase... If a company is looking for a purple squirrel, they wouldn't hire a contractor, especially contract to hire. What they want in a contractor is someone competent enough for the job and don't really need much more than that.

 

[jpiniero]

Ask your recruiter if it's meant to be contract to FTE (full time employee) or just strictly contract and that's it at the end of it.

No, don't do that. They will lie to you. Recruiters lie about pretty much everything. The hiring manager will give you a better idea of how long the contract would be.

 

[purbeast0]

Let me rephrase... If a company is looking for a purple squirrel, they wouldn't hire a contractor, especially contract to hire. What they want in a contractor is someone competent enough for the job and don't really need much more than that.

Gotcha.

Well Google has 10's of thousands of employees so they can't all be rockstars either. There's going to be many average people working for Google.

I only know one Google employee and it's because he is an ex co-worker of mine. He is extremely bright and was my tech lead a few years ago. He's a full time employee though.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I haven't read all the responses so this may have been covered, but I'll throw in my 2 cents:

1. Are you married to a working spouse who has good benefits and can cover you? If so, working contracts is a good option because you can make a ton of money and benefits from your spouse's employer will probably be cheaper and better.
2. Contract to Hire positions are risky because they can refuse to hire you for any reason. I do think a majority of them do end up hiring a person as FTE, but keep in mind the risk is always there.
3. If you seriously consider it, make sure you know what your "conversion salary" is. For example, let's say you're getting paid $80/hr as a contractor. If you hire on, they're not going to pay you $80/hr in all likelihood - find out what your salary would be when you're converted to an FTE.
4. If you're currently in a full-time position, I'd probably keep looking. I get hit up by multiple recruiters every week and most are contract or CTH positions. I won't consider CTH because in my opinion, the employer has all the power and with my documented track record and experience, I don't need a "trial" period.

When I retire in a few years, I do hope to work a few contracts here and there. I have been a contractor before and did enjoy it - the pay was higher than you'd get in a comparable FTE position and you were isolated from so much of the typical corporate BS that you could actually do your job without interference. If you have a spouse with good benefits and who can cover you, working contracts is generally a good way to make much more money.

 

[jpiniero]

Forgot to add, if you're going to do a contract job in general (regardless of position or whether it's contract "to hire"), an decently sized emergency fund is essential. If your contract suddenly gets terminated, you're not getting a severance and if the agency wants to be annoying you might not get unemployment either or could get delayed. And then you're talking about being at least a month unemployed, and likely more than that when you factor that it usually takes two weeks from an agreement to actually starting.

 

[Avalon]

No, don't do that. They will lie to you. Recruiters lie about pretty much everything. The hiring manager will give you a better idea of how long the contract would be.

I suppose that's your experience, but mine have been up front with me and I've verified they were telling the truth. Still, you're right in that it wouldn't be bad to ask the hiring manager, as they're not going to lie to you.