WR: Grant/Contract Work

[redvelvetcupcake]

Has anyone worked in a position where they were paid based on a grant? Did you continue to look for another position and then make a move, or did you stay until the end?

Right now, I'm a social worker, being paid through a grant. I'm coming up on my year and really don't know what to expect. The position is good and so is the pay and the benefits, but I have no idea about the funds. My supervisor usually just walks in and says, well we've been approved for another year. This part of the year will be over September 30, but I haven't heard if we have been approved for a new year. This position does not allow for promotion and I doubt a pay raise.

Especially now with a baby coming, I believe I should be in a permanent position.

Anyone have any advice?

[brit1017]

I haven't worked on a grant, but we hire a lot of grant funded workers. I don't know what it is like in your workplace/field, but we rarely have to let those grant funded workers go. Some have been on a grant (that renews yearly) for 5 years. And our grant funded workers can be promoted into permanent positions. Most of the people that I know who went elsewhere for grant funded positions were converted to full time employees at some point. I would try to talk to your supervisor. If they regularly use grant funds, they should have some idea of the likelihood that the grants will be renewed. That said, we do not hold it against grant funded employees if they leave for a permanent position elsewhere.

[mbcdefg]

I've done contract work for the past four years (three different jobs). I liked two of those jobs a lot and the third was just OK, but it really sucked being constantly up on the air.

I just finished my most recent job after about a month of hearing, "Oh, I'm not sure how much longer you can work here" and getting reduced hours week-by-week. Now that I need a new job, I'm not considering non-FT jobs unless we get desperate.

[redvelvetcupcake]

Very understandable on both accounts. It's not to many social work positions open in a medical school. It's good to know that sometimes people have stayed for a long time. I guess as it gets closer to the fall, I'll talk with my supervisor. I really like the freedom that I have, so I'll continue to hold on until I hear any negative things in the office.

mbcdefg, I feel the same way. This is my 3rd contract position. Like you, this called for desperate measures, lol. I hope that something pans out for you soon! Good luck :drink:

Thanks to you both.

[sunny]

I think you have to communicate. Tell them that you are concerned about the future funding and ask them to keep you appraised when and if they have updates. Things take a loooooong time to show up and be finalized unfortunately, but asking would at least guarantee that they keep it on their radar and keep you informed or look for alternate funding for you.