Danielle contacted me two days ago and asked to consult with me. Danielle, an experienced marketing executive, is between jobs for about two months, after the organization she worked for went through a successful acquisition, which led to massive personnel reduction.
“I was offered a great job. It’s a marketing and brand manager position, in a large well-known company. The company came out with a new brand and has to recruit someone to that position within a month.”
“Sounds great,” I said. “What’s the catch?”
“The thing is,” said Danielle, “the position is defined as a temporary one to only 6 months.”
“??”
“The question is whether to take this job, or keep looking for alternative chance, under the assumption there would be a better opportunity?”
Good question, no doubt. Danielle is a great manager with a respected resume and significant experience in her field.
On the one hand, the position sounds exciting. It can be a great opportunity to enter a high-level position, higher than she had till now, in a leading organization.
On the other hand, Danielle is determined to succeed in finding a new job and a temporary job seems to be the least promising option.
I want to take you into my conversation with Danielle and share with you 5 tips that helped her make her decision. It can also help you formulate a decision whether you should or shouldn’t take a temporary position offer.
1. Permanent job forecast
Is there a forecast that the temporary position will turn into a permanent one?
Is the work content about to increase?
Is there a forecast to additional projects entry that will increase the amount of work and will turn the position into a permanent one?
In Danielle’s case, this is a big company and there’s a potential that the temporary position will turn into a permanent one. More importantly, there is a real possibility that Danielle’s own work will bring new projects, and Danielle will create with her own hands a long-term permanent position.
2. Other organizational opportunities
Are there any other departments in the company that can fit you?
Are there any sub companies to that specific organization, you can look for positions in as well?
When you are “part of the system”, it’s much easier and faster to stay in and be a part of the company.
3. Recommendations
Does this position, even if it’s a temporary one, can offer you professional job recommendations?
Do the managers in this company, even if at the end wouldn’t be able to offer you a position, will be able to recommend about you to other companies? Meaning, are they well connected to other companies and decision-makers.
4. Networking
The work itself produces excellent networking with customers, suppliers, employees and managers in the area of your practice. If the temporary position indeed meets the criteria of professionality, meaning you’re going to work in the field of your expertise, than it may be a good idea to enlarge your professional networking.
For Danielle, working in a large company and in a specific role of a high exposure to multiple work interfaces, will enable her to be in a junction of information about new openings. The combination of professional networking together with good recommendations can certainly help her to find her next job.
5. Brand and branding
Does the company itself is a well-known company?
Does mentioning the company name in your resume can benefit you in terms of personal branding?
Working in a well-known company means you passed an advanced assessment process and overtook other candidates.
For Danielle it was a critical issue, since up until now, she had worked for small companies. For her, mentioning that big well known firm brand can open the gate to other large companies and wider job opportunities.
You see, there are times where the temporary becomes permanent, and even if not, it may serve as a good starting point for you. I even remember one high level manager saying that the nature of temporary positions is to become permanent ones. And therefore Temporary is the New Permanent.
As for Danielle, we took into account all these points, adding also other job opportunities and salary matters. Danielle decided to respond positively and take the offer.
Wish Danielle great success, since next week she starts her new job.
So, what would you do instead of her?
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