Too many people are trying to get back to permanent full-time jobs. The interview process is ridiculously long because employers are trying to avoid mistakes. Employer and employee are rushing into a permanent commitment over a few meetings. Even in an environment of “at will” employment, terminating an employment relationship represents undesirable risk and distraction for the employer. (Saw this in the Orange County Register: 23% unemployed at least a year)
Time to look for contract jobs. The interview process is much shorter because the risks are lower for you and for your client (formerly “employer”). Neither is making a long-term commitment and either party can easily terminate the assignment if it doesn’t go well.
I love this about contracting. If it looks like a good situation, I can just go for it without over-analyzing in the way I would if I were making a long-term commitment as an employee.
Once I’m in the contract job, I don’t have to take squeezing from anybody and they generally don’t try, in the way people do with employees. I know where I stand in terms of my professional skills and so does my client.
