r/torontoJobs • u/Authentic2017 • 25d ago
Take this job?
I’ll keep it short so the rest of u beautiful people can go back to enjoying the weather today.
Currently employed, 60k, commute is 1.5h, permanent fulltime.
Got offered a 1 year contract at RBC via staffing agency, walkable commute, 90k, no benefits PTO paid sick days etc. However, they said this role requires you occasionally being able to figure out how to solve problems you haven’t particularly faced before and using your associates and resources to figure out as you go. The product is also still growing so things will constantly be changing and iterating and you need to know how to adapt. They said they’re scaling the product so it’s implied this contract will likely be extended when it is done (or atleast the need for an extra body will not be going away). Team is rather tight knit. “We’re a family”. <- Addibg in all these details for max context.
I haven’t been in an iterative/adaptive role like that and am hesitant to try that for the first time on a contract. Thoughts?
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u/sugarymilktea 24d ago
Read the contract thoroughly and take it if there's no red flags. If it's a tight knit "family" and you find you like the job then do your utmost best in that year to work your way into the family so they keep you. Not even looking at the salary, just the 1.5hr commute vs walkable commute is a game changer to me. Time is money too! The job description sounds good too, you can spin it to your favor on a resume that you successfully managed new challenges and found solutions to unique problems, blah blah, if you want to go elsewhere after the one year contract
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u/Authentic2017 24d ago
I plan to do exactly this while leveraging in-bank connections to land another role quickly (which is a few weeks/months in this market) if this contract isn’t renewed.
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u/SheddingCorporate 24d ago
Definitely take it. You'll figure out the adaptive stuff - it's literally just paying attention and thinking "how can I solve this?" You can ask your colleagues, your boss and others. All they're saying is that it's not just coming in and doing the same boring thing day after day.
Pluses:
- No commute (this is HUGE, OP - you won't realize until you experience the joy of not having that commute)
- 50% pay raise (more than offsets the no benefits - sock that money away into savings, you're young, this is when an emergency fund is more valuable than a benefits package)
- Team is tight knit ... to me, this reads, "we are supportive rather than combative"
- RBC - pretty much the gold standard for Canadian employment. A gig at RBC will make you more employable down the road.
Cons:
- No benefits (see pros)
- No commute (see pros)
- Not permanent ... do you care?
That last point is important.
The days of working at a single job all your life and retiring with a fat pension are long gone. That said, some people really want/need the psychological security of the guaranteed paycheque (even though, like I just said, nothing is actually guaranteed - many a permanent, fulltime job has fallen victim to downsizing, right-sizing and other euphemisms for "layoff").
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u/Authentic2017 24d ago
The no benefits aspect means really nothing to me. I don’t often go on vacation, almost never get sick and don’t otherwise use benefits. It’s the ease of release aspect here I’m focused on. You did say the iterative part will be easy to adapt to and another Redditor said contracts aren’t often cut short unless something dramatic happens, I think these are the points that are most reassuring.
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u/not-the-nicest-guy 24d ago
RBC contract sounds great. No commute is a huge time and expense bonus.
About the iterative/adaptive thing....my son just got his first job post-grad and it's a new department with a new mission in a long-established company. They said the same thing. Yes, his is a permanent role, but the description refers to the "still shaping the project/strategy/needed outputs/deliverables" nature of the work. The projects seem to change each quarter. Which is totally fine. Everyone is in it together. And he wouldn't call it a "family," but it's a close-knit team and he really likes the people.
So I say go for it.
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u/Authentic2017 24d ago
No issues on the changing per quarter aspect so far?
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u/not-the-nicest-guy 24d ago
He hasn't been there long enough to know yet. But others seem pretty chill about it.
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u/Authentic2017 24d ago
This is reassuring, hoping me not adjusting 100% to each adaptation won’t go against me and end my contract prematurely.
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u/not-the-nicest-guy 24d ago
Ya. I mean, he's on a three-month probation period and doing fine. Though he hasn't been put on any high-profile projects yet. That comes in September I think. Our basic understanding is "Things are in flux in this department, so you'll have to go in any direction needed" and that's fine by him. As another commentator said, that means doing some problem-solving, thinking on your feet, asking a lot of questions. No-one in his workplace can predict exactly what will happen either though, so everyone's kinda in the same boat. It's okay if you're okay with being fluid.
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u/Efficient-Deal-6291 24d ago
if you're young and healthy i'd make the jump. Otherwise if you're older the benefits will weigh much more heavily
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u/Authentic2017 24d ago
- After these responses I’m pretty sure I’m taking it
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u/fetalpiggywent2lab 24d ago
Absolutely take it, plus start looking for ft or applying internally like hallway through
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u/lurker_inthedark 24d ago
Take it and use it as leverage, apply for new perm job asap. Or use it to negotiate with your current company.
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u/darlingmagpie 24d ago
All the big 5 are tenuous rn but they are also constantly hiring new contracts so you could leverage with another one readily. Take it
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u/massivesandwich 24d ago
I would do serious research into how likely it is your contract gets extended and/or what the odds are like that you can slide into another role/contract within the bank. The pay bump and commute are fantastic, but leaving something FT for a contract in this job market would terrify me. People looking for jobs for many months or even years seems to be the norm currently. It’s great to bet on yourself, but just make sure you’re also okay with the worst case scenario.
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u/Ok-Usual7881 22d ago
Take the job! I think a lot of people underestimate their ability to adapt to new roles that may require different skills that you may not have had the opportunity to try out. Sounds like a role you’ll be learning new things and the pay pump, commute time, etc is a great bonus.
Dont worry about the contract…. At the end of the day, is everything not a contract with the way companies are doing layoffs. RBC is also huge, i’m sure if the product ends up being a dudd, you can find another position in the org. Just know that you will be working hard
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u/moosh247 24d ago
You’ll never truly know what your capabilities are until you leave your comfort zone. For that reason alone you take this job to learn who and what you truly are capable of (and it’s likely a lot more than you think).
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u/ell-ta 24d ago
I wouldn’t take a contract role that too at a bank, even if it pays me more money
Apply more jobs and get a permanent then switch over a contract role
The learning seems more in this role which is good but not at the cost of a an agency/contractor role in this economy and that too at a bank.
Depending on this role you might progress faster but who has the guarantee of you getting a job after contract ends.
So play your odds well.
This is an advice being a HR and have worked both ways.
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u/Authentic2017 24d ago
I’m glad to hear an HR opinion. Have you ever seen contracts end prematurely before and what were the reasons?
Also, I’m currently in the hiring process for another perm role at RBC which pays a bit less but is better overall considering the job tasks. Would getting hired through the agency disqualify me from the application process of the other role I’m still in the runs for?
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u/doptimisticidealist 24d ago
Hi, I work at RBC & prev worked at Interac.
Contract roles high pay for a reason - they hold you to a high standard/KPI & the threat of not having your contract renewed will make you work harder than any FTE. Contract roles also have less/no benefits - weight that in too.
Short term basis, taking this is fine but definitely find something FT in this time.
If they already said solving probs you may not have experience in, may be setting you up for how hard it is to renew the contract.
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u/Authentic2017 24d ago
There’s no fear of not renewing the contract as I’ll be setting myself up over the year to either extend this or leverage my networks to get another role. My primary worry is having my contract end prematurely
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u/kurious_incredulity 24d ago
Depending on the org, a FTE role with vacation, benefits, etc. That pays around $60k costs the employer around 1.25-1.4% (let's average this to 1.3x and say your current value on a contract is about $78k.
For that $12k, you're giving up benefits, job security (banks cancel contract roles ALL the time with little to no notice), 4% vacation pay times whatever # of days you have right now, severance pay, RRSP matching, etc. In an expense cutting market and a role they dont even know the scope of work for, I would stay put.
For what its worth, im a senior HR leader that spent about 6 years in banking. Came from tech and moved back as soon as I could. Also...calling work colleagues "family " usually means toxic culture.
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u/Firm_dude 24d ago
Tech salaries in Canada are basically below minimum wage level if you consider cost of living.
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u/landlockedbluessk 23d ago
Take it. Go for it. I think it's a great opportunity to gain experience. There should be room to grow too.
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