Should I leave my full-time job for a contract-to-hire position? /u/cordeliamaris CSCQ protests reddit

Hi guys, and thanks in advance for reading. I currently work as an IT Auditor. I love my job and I’ve been with them for almost 3 years. It is my first full-time job out of university. However several factors have me heavily considering leaving.

1. Low pay: I make ~ $60k in one of the highest (if not the highest) cost of living area in the U.S. I live with my parents so it’s okay for now; but I would not be able to afford moving out on this salary.

2. Organizational Instability: My company has major org changes every year. We have cycled through 3 CIOs in the 3 years that I’ve been there, as well as had 3 layoffs. ‘Fortunately’ I didn’t make enough money to be a layoff target as an intern, but as a relatively unimportant full-time employee I will probably be at high risk next time. About 50% of my deliverables are managed directly by the CIO, and each one has different ideas. A lot of the time my projects get shelved, or redone from scratch, which makes it look like I’m not delivering.

3. Poor leadership: Our new boss laid off low-to-mid level employees to “save money”. After this he immediately started hiring a bunch of his friends for leadership positions with $300k+ salaries when we really needed more “boots on the ground” type workers.

4. Industry decline: I don’t want to get too specific but the company is in the luxury industry, and this particular niche of it is in sharp decline with little hope of improving.

My new position is contract-to-hire, with a 6 month contract. I’d be making low six figures, which would be life changing. I would also get benefits through the recruiting agency during the contract. It’s basically the exact same job I’m doing at my current company. It’s deeply tempting but the uncertainty of contract work gives me some pause. What should I do?

Hi guys, and thanks in advance for reading. I currently work as an IT Auditor. I love my job and I’ve been with them for almost 3 years. It is my first full-time job out of university. However several factors have me heavily considering leaving.

1. Low pay: I make ~ $60k in one of the highest (if not the highest) cost of living area in the U.S. I live with my parents so it’s okay for now; but I would not be able to afford moving out on this salary.

2. Organizational Instability: My company has major org changes every year. We have cycled through 3 CIOs in the 3 years that I’ve been there, as well as had 3 layoffs. ‘Fortunately’ I didn’t make enough money to be a layoff target as an intern, but as a relatively unimportant full-time employee I will probably be at high risk next time. About 50% of my deliverables are managed directly by the CIO, and each one has different ideas. A lot of the time my projects get shelved, or redone from scratch, which makes it look like I’m not delivering.

3. Poor leadership: Our new boss laid off low-to-mid level employees to “save money”. After this he immediately started hiring a bunch of his friends for leadership positions with $300k+ salaries when we really needed more “boots on the ground” type workers.

4. Industry decline: I don’t want to get too specific but the company is in the luxury industry, and this particular niche of it is in sharp decline with little hope of improving.

My new position is contract-to-hire, with a 6 month contract. I’d be making low six figures, which would be life changing. I would also get benefits through the recruiting agency during the contract. It’s basically the exact same job I’m doing at my current company. It’s deeply tempting but the uncertainty of contract work gives me some pause. What should I do?