I have a dilemma. I’m a QA analyst and we are
heading to the end of the year when my contract is scheduled to be over. I’ve been here for 9 months and my manager
wants to extend me because there is additional work to be done BUT, she can’t
get the approval. The budget for 2010
has not been approved so she can’t get an answer about the extension until that
occurs. Even when the budget is approved
and she has the approval to extend me, it could be after 12/30.
I would rather stay on my current contract
since I enjoy my current job. Yet, I
have no comfort level about whether or not I will be staying, so I am trying to
decide what to do.
If I start looking, I have to update my
resume, something which I shy away from.
I have to start networking and going to events and meetings when I would
rather be at home or out with friends. I
have to get online and start sending emails or reading the job boards. Worse yet, I have to respond to them. Then, of course, should I get an interview, I
have to take time off from my current contract and go to the interview, probably
in a suit. I don’t like wearing suits
anymore!
Yes, John this is a traditional yearend
situation for IT contractors. It’s the
same one that many of your peers have.
First,
you should spend some time talking to your manager directly. Let her know your
concern. Ask her to check where they
are in the budget process. Ask her to
find out if the project will continue into 2010 and if you are still slotted as
the QA person or one of the QA people. She should be able to give you this
information even if she is not the one directly responsible for the
budget. Managers understand your dilemma
and if they want to keep you, they will help you as much as possible. You may
not get the answers you want but at the least you can say to yourself that you
tried.
Next, you should start the search for the
next contract. Remember that it is
always better to be looking for a job when you have a job even though the
effort is one that you would rather stay away from. You don’t want to wait until you are off
contract to start looking for the next one.
What do you lose by looking now even if you get extended later? Yes, you lose some time and effort but it should make you feel better to know that you are taking hold of the situation and controlling your career.
Even if you get your wish and your contract
is extended, don’t feel as though it was a waste of time. During the search process, you will make new
contacts and renew business relationships that you can return to once the
contract truly ends.