"contract to hire" position

I'm interviewing for a Business Analyst position at a BB. I think the way the game works, it's a 3 month contract with an expectation that it keeps renewing until either they offer you a full-fledged salaried position or you flunk out.

1. Do any of you have experience with this kind of thing?

2. The job is advertised as something where you can get hired full-time. In real life, what are the actual chances of that? Is the attitude more like "Unless you're really bad, you'll probably end up getting an offer in the first 12 months" or is it more like "we're doing this to avoid redtape and litigation, and we're gonna ditch you in 12 months unless you knock our socks off?"

3. The analysts and associates who work next to you: do they know that you're on some sort of probationary period? In the world of banking, does that carry a stigma?

12 Comments
 

It's hard to say, one of my friends was in a long term (1+yr) contract role and he was let go after a year and a half. This type of job has its advantages and disadvantages:

pros: ability to make connections while your in the job/possibly lateral to different department cons: could be let go at anytime ex: budget cuts, performance reasons, etc.

 

Agreed.

Although, the people I know who have been hired have stayed with the company while still being on "contract to hire" status for 5+ years. Only one has been hired full time. This is at BoA.

 

So am I to infer that the right play is to get the big bank on the resume and then immediately try to leverage the experience into a full time position at (a different) bulge bank?

5 years "on contract" sounds ridiculous. That sounds like Pam from The Office who was in some 8-year long "engagement" phase with her jerk boyfriend lol.

______ Corporate financial/business analyst looking for career/MBA/CFA advice.
 

I am currently in the same situation and was wondering the same thing.

However, I know of a couple of friends who started off as contractors in a entry level BO position and were transitioned to permanent within a few months. I can't really comment on how typical that is though.

 

Yes, it is common. However, only the best will be hired. So get to work

I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold. I'll be fine once I get it
 

I guess my point is that it really depends on the company and what their needs are. You should ask the following:

1) do they need to fill in on temporary basis to meet company needs for a special project 2) do they need to fill in a department gap until they find a FT employee
3) are they increasing staff to meet seasonal needs

 

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