I am a recruiter at a staffing agency for about 4 months now (first job out of college) making about 25/hr. I just got an offer from Tiktok as a sourcer, offering me $35/hr. However, it is a contract position for 4 months with the possibility of it getting extended. Should I take the offer? I’m worried about the stability of a contract role, but the pay increase, plus having a big named tech company on my resume is kinda hard to say no to. What do you guys think?

Gosh you’re young don’t worry so much about stability it doesn’t exist these days. People get laid off all the time. You need to build experience and resume. That’s how you grow as a young professional. If you’re not happy where you are than you have nothing to lose.

I left an agency for a contract in big tech in April, it was the best decision I could’ve ever made and if we weren’t in a recession, I would say yes take the contract! However, comments above are correct. All contractors at my job were let go 2 weeks ago and now I’m left unemployed. I know it’s hard to not jump at that opportunity, but wait a little bit till things get better then open yourself up for opportunities!

Honestly with the market how it is right now I wouldn’t touch a contract role with a ten foot pole. If you’re full time at the staffing agency, sit tight and earn your stripes.

I would take the contract. Even if the contract doesn't get extended, you now have a name on your resume people will recognize which can open doors later on. On top of that agencies are always hiring good recruiters so it won't be difficult to go back to agency but it might be difficult to get a good name on your resume.

If you're doing well at your office and you've made it clear to your manager that you want to learn and develop - I say take the contract and go back to the agency if they'll have you. Set the expectations up front and communicate openly.

You'll likely gain some great experience on a contract role with a larger organization like TikTok.

Yes the market isn't ideal for recruiting now but I imagine if you bust your ass at TikTok, you'll either stay or be able to apply even more skills for MORE pay somewhere else.

I'm assuming you're considering this move because if you are left unemployed after the contract, you're not in immediate jeopardy of being without a place to live?

It's an interesting position to be in. I'm jealous 🤭

These companies are regularly laying off contract recruiters and sources even just a few weeks into the contract.
Plus it's not that much more once you factor in benefits, and I presume you get commission so that as well.

Sorry I should’ve made the background a little clear:

Agency: Working in office, don’t really like the work environment

Tiktok: Remote, higher pay, contract, tech company, it is a “sourcer camp” specifically made for recent grad with less than 1 year of experience!

Contractors are getting slashed at many large tech companies, and things appear to remain on a downward trend.

Perhaps it is worth the risk if you are very unhappy with the current company and have at least 6-12 months of living expenses in savings but I would consider the role to be volatile with no expectations for extension. The money is also not much better since you are giving up PTO and will likely have terrible benefits coverage. If the contract was $45-55/hour then the risk becomes more justified since you could offset a couple of months of unemployment and still break even as long as you finish the four months.

I'd also think big picture and how you will story tell to potential employers in a few months if/when the contract ends. I would also consider whether this story will compete with the other recruiters who are currently searching - many of whom have significant experience.

I’m a legal recruiter with 7 years of experience. I’ve seen this post and noticed it’s posted a few times so it’s tough on you.

Here’s where the arguments land thus far in the comments:
- don’t change anything - you have something solid, why risk it with a contract role that can start or stop for any reason. (Bird in the hand argument)
Vs
- you only live once - foot in the door - great opportunity

So it’s the bird in the hand vs risk argument.

If it were any other industry, I’d say stuck where you are. But we’re in staffing. If you’re that good - and it seems like you are (don’t doubt yourself - I did it for years - SHOCKED whenever I’d make a placement lol) - you WILL GET HIRED BY ANOTHER AGENCY. I mean, if TikTok goes to hell, contact me and learn legal. I love training recruiters.

It comes down to what you value. It’s a challenging situation because you’re asking people what you essentially “should” value.

Do you value stability and knowing where you’re going to be in a day, week, month? Stay where you are.

Do you value the idea that risk can bring reward and potentially move you forward? Go to TikTok and let the chips fall.
The post should really end here - but my 2 cents - if it were me - are below.

If it were me - with seven years in this dizzy industry under my belt in legal, no, I wouldn’t leave for a contract. I have a family, a dog, I need to know where I’m going to be next month. The idea of not being able to pay vet bills or support my family horrifies me.

However, if my circumstances were different (id perhaps - I supported JUST me) if I were younger (I’m 36) - essentially if my appetite for risk was greater (IE if I knew I could fall and pick myself up) - I’d go to TikTok on contract, meet as many people as possible, stay in touch with them, network like crazy, and yeah - see where that takes you.

Bottom line: assess your own values first. This doesn’t come down to comp or duration. This is a lifestyle choice. This decision will be a lot easier when you sit down and ask yourself if you could handle suddenly losing the TikTok contract. After you picked yourself up, would you be ok?

My guess is - probably. You’d be annoyed, but ok. To guard against this should you take TikTok, focus on what you can control - keep that resume updated - spend an hour a few nights a week scaling LinkedIn. Just keep your ear to the ground.

You can’t make the wrong decision here. Be grateful (Im sure you are) that you are in this position - picking between two great options - they are, indeed, great options.

Good luck!
Rob

I’ll say take the contract but don’t leave your FTE until you spent 30 days at TikTok . TikTok give you a better pay , the ability to have tech experience and so much more .

I would 100% sit tight. As much as I hate RTO, watching large companies wipe out their entire recruiting contractor teams just isn't worth the risk in my opinion.

High risk, high reward- I'm sure you know, even if the contract states the role is for 4 months, at will employment can always kick in and you and the employer both have freedom to terminate the contract. If you take this role, although it might be stressful, I'd still continue to search for any possibilities.

My friend started at Meta in a 6 month contract role at Facebook (not recruiting, but HR) and they ended up bringing her on full time. This was about 5 years ago now, and obviously the market has changed, but they do bring people on full time if they view them as an asset to the team.

I worked in agency for 5 years, and now that I’m out I can definitely say to take the contract role. (Good) Sourcers are in short supply - and it is very easy to get back into agency. Might not be the same one but once you have agency experience it is easy to go to another one

No contract role it might be for 4 months and in 1 month they let you go. I had a contract role and was for 9 months ended in 4 weeks

It’s hard cause I took a short contract not too long ago and now I’m full time with the big company I’m with based in retail! It’s hard to know the outcome it would be nice having that in your resume but also if you take it and are worried I would I also think of a back up plan too for after the contract is done just in case

If you accepted the position, I would do the “over employment” strategy. But don’t leave your first job

I think this is a question that a lot of people are struggling to answer for themselves right now - i.e. stability versus taking a chance. I can tell you that even with having a huge tech company on my resume, although I’m sure it got some people to perk up, did not make a huge difference when applying after my contract ended. I honestly don’t know if I’d do it again if I had the opportunity to change my decision one year ago. If you’re comfortable with uncertainty then I say go for it, but if you’ll feel stressed about getting laid off then I wouldn’t do it. Contractors are always first to go when things get tough and it seems like nobody knows what the next year holds. I would sit tight and apply to other opportunities once the economy stabilizes. A lot of the recruiters that I worked with came straight from agency so big companies are now realizing that the agency to big tech pipeline is a good one. Either way, good luck and let us know what you decide!

Contracting was how I made the jump from staffing to corporate. It can be pretty hard to lateral over especially if corporate recruiting is what you prefer. May be worth considering the contract and just keep getting your resume out in the meantime since it’s short term

Please don’t go work for the communists.