Re: when is it ok to leave a contract job?
On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 2:46 PM, Lauren <lauren -at- writeco -dot- net <mailto:lauren -at- writeco -dot- net>> wrote:
As a contractor, I have had many jobs where I was
"under-utilized." I would find work for myself, quite often it was
business analysis or documentation-related work that benefited my
client. Many clients requested me again for new projects.
This is great if it is possible, but it isn't always the case, and the individual in question may not want to do that. That's OK.
You seem defensive. The OP has discussed her recent return to work and this seems to be a new field for her. Getting bored with a new job in a new field presents an opportunity to take some time to learn how to be a more effective contractor. One option is to find ways to be useful within the scope of one's role.
As I said in the business analysis post, one component of technical writing is business analysis. An effective technical writer can use downtime as an opportunity to learn about the parts of the business that the writer will later need to document. If the "individual in question may not want to do that," then perhaps she has chosen the wrong field.
You have every right to have a job that fulfills and challenges you.
That is a privilege based on availability, not a "right." I do
not think that we are out of the recession enough for employees to
be picky about jobs that are not "fulfilling" or "challenging."
File this under "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." People have the individual autonomy to be picky about their jobs at any time, regardless of the economy. That doesn't mean there is a fulfilling and challenging job out there for them, but they certainly have the right to pursue one. 'Cause that whole serfdom thing is so 15th century.
Now you seem to be making argument for the sake of argument. Freedom of contract is a right spelled-out in the 14th amendment. It means that people can form contracts without government intervention. The OP has formed a contract. Freedom of contract does *not* mean that a contractor can lawfully breach a contract because she is bored. While, if she is in an at will state and she did not sign the contract as a corporation, the OP does have the right to leave the contract, she does not have the right to compel an employer to provide "a job that fulfills and challenges" her.
... The
really sad part is that there were multiple technical writers
employed as
formatters and grammar checkers. I concluded that it was not
the job for me
and found another gig.
That is not "sad." It is part of the field. Entry-level
technical writing often includes working with other people's
documents
You're making a whole lot of assumptions about the make-up of the department that I'm talking about, so please don't dismiss what I just said as "part of the field." It was a large, poorly run department with well-trained, underutilized technical writers.
My general comment about technical writing had nothing to do with you specifically. I do not know how you reached any conclusion that it did.
Remember this discussion concerns an OP who has just entered this field after not working for several years. She may not have the latitude to jump the contract and find other work so soon, unless her previous work experience and portfolio are very exceptional.
I think there is a serious disservice to recommend to a person newly returning to work that she leave a boring contract so soon. Leaving after two weeks will look bad at a time when she should be building references and leaving when the job market is not very strong yet, could be detrimental.
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Follow-Ups:
References:
when is it ok to leave a contract job?: From: Becca
Re: when is it ok to leave a contract job?: From: Gene Kim-Eng
Re: when is it ok to leave a contract job?: From: Lisa G Wright
Re: when is it ok to leave a contract job?: From: Lauren
Re: when is it ok to leave a contract job?: From: Lisa G Wright
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