interviewed for a job but as a contractor? need help understanding

[Dear Summer]

I recently graduated from graduate school and came across a job posting on my school's career board. The position seemed great so I sent in my resume and went through three rounds of interviews. During the interviews, I was told that they are looking to hire "trainees" (basically contractors) and if they are good, they will be given permanent offers.

I received the offer from the company and they said someone from Robert Half will call me. I spoke to the person from Robert Half and they will be paying my salary and will offer contractor benefits. I will also have weekly calls with this person to discuss how I am progressing.

Can anyone clue me in? Are they going to take a large percentage of what I was offered (RH was not involved in the process at all til the end)? Is this a normal process for a contractor to permanent type situation? Why does the company involve Robert Half?

 

[Meractik]

I once worked for a contracting position. It works like this, the company hires a contracting agency (Robert Half) pays them a set amount to fund and take care of paying temporary employee's for the length of the contract. Once the assignment is over you are told by Robert Half when the job is done and if you make contacts or network with the companies full time employee's and they like you they can offer you a full time job with the company.

Until you get a legit job offer from the company or find a job somewhere else, contractors are a good way to network and get your foot in the door with possible job opportunities. While you work for the company you work under the payroll of the contracting company, when they (the company) do not need you anymore they tell the contracting company and you are contacted about the end of the job from your mentor with the contracting company and they find you another 'temp' assignment.

I did it for a couple years, its okay at first but it gets old because it requires lots of traveling.

My suggestion right out of grad school is do it to get into the business, network and find an employer you would like to work for and find an 'in' while working there as a temp. Goodluck!

Edit: The overall reason for the company to hire robert half is because they themselves do not have the manpower or are not willing to hunt down suitable employee's for the temporary position. Sometimes the positions are not temporary but most of the time company's seek the contractors aid in filling positions because they know them to be temporary and do not wish to hire/fire people as needed. The benefits through the contracting agency where not that great (when i worked for one it only offered life insurance) so there was no healthcare/dental or vacation pay or anything like that but if you performed well enough the company employee's will see that and nothing stops them from hiring you ultimately if they want too after the contract expires.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

It's weird that Robert Half wasn't involved until the end, that's not how it usually works. This also makes salary negotiation a bit more complicated, because there are now three hands in the pie.

 

[SamQuint]

It is kind of odd that the agency wasn't the one saying how much you would get paid.

It usually works like this; I am a company wanting to hire someone. I contact the agency and the agency says that the type of job you are asking for requires a salary of lets say $25 per hour. The agency finds a candidate and then tells the candidate we can hire you for $10 bucks an hour. Company pays the agency 25 you get 10 so the agency pockets the rest for profit.

 

[Six]

With contracting agencies, it's usually the passable person who asked for the least amount of money gets the job, not the most qualified.

In your situation though, the company probably didn't want to deal with these passable employees for this particular position and decided to do it themselves. However they still have a contract with Robert Half for their hiring needs and will to send you there to avoid litigation/charges.

Robert Half could take a couple dollars out of each hour you worked. If you're lucky the company may pay Robert Half those couple dollars on top of your hourly wage.

 

[FoBoT]

i am Robert Half, my paypal is in my profile
tnks

 

[Dear Summer]

With contracting agencies, it's usually the passable person who asked for the least amount of money gets the job, not the most qualified.

In your situation though, the company probably didn't want to deal with these passable employees for this particular position and decided to do it themselves. However they still have a contract with Robert Half for their hiring needs and will to send you there to avoid litigation/charges.

Robert Half could take a couple dollars out of each hour you worked. If you're lucky the company may pay Robert Half those couple dollars on top of your hourly wage.

I was already told how much my salary is from the company. I don't see why Robert Half will take any percentage of it since I did all the work, went through all the interviews, and placed into the job myself, right?

 

[GasX]

I was already told how much my salary is from the company. I don't see why Robert Half will take any percentage of it since I did all the work, went through all the interviews, and placed into the job myself, right?

They are getting paid on top of that

 

[Dear Summer]

so is a set up like this normal?

Where they want you for the training period and if you are good you get hired permanently? Is there any reason for concern from my end?

 

[Capt Caveman]

so is a set up like this normal?

Where they want you for the training period and if you are good you get hired permanently? Is there any reason for concern from my end?

Yes, consider yourself a contractor/temp.

 

[spidey07]

I was already told how much my salary is from the company. I don't see why Robert Half will take any percentage of it since I did all the work, went through all the interviews, and placed into the job myself, right?

What you were offered by the company is what you will get paid. Robert Half is likely billing them for 2-3 times what you were offered. The reason Robert Half is involved is it's a temp to perm position and if you don't work out there's no messy HR stuff (benefits, legal, etc) to deal with. If you need the job then take it.

You'd be a contractor paid by Robert Half (temp agency).

 

[Dear Summer]

Also, is it okay to list this experience on my resume as if I worked at the firm and no mention of Robert Half? Don't want any headaches during background checks in the future.

 

[Farang]

1) Yes this is completely normal. It is called a contract-to-hire position. Basically a "try before you buy" scenario. Very common in some industries, for example IT.

2) The agency is billing you out at a higher rate than you are paid. I.e. you're paid $25 they are billing $45. You are not paying for their service, the company is. The service the company is being provided is finding the candidate (usually), and incurring expenses such as liability, taxes, and health insurance. Contractors often misunderstand this to mean that the company is taking $20/hr of their pay, but in reality their market worth is $25 and the company is paying extra for the services provided by the agency.

3) It is ok to exclude the agency from your resume. For straight contract roles you want to note that they were contracts, however (doesn't matter through whom). If this goes permanent you can just leave it as if it were permanent throughout.

Overall it is just like any other job. If you suck you get fired in a "permanent" job, in a contract-to-hire if you suck you don't get an offer at the end of the contract.

I am a contract recruiter. Feel free to PM me any specific questions.

 

[Gibson486]

This will be the norm soon. Just wait and see.

The pro of contracting is that you are paid hourly, so you can come and leave as you wish (don't take advantage of this).

The con of contracting is that you are paid hourly, so they can tell you to go to hell one week after you started.

Right of of school, do it. I did not, then I spent 5 more months unemployed. if there is anything I regretted in life it was not taking that contract position right after I graduated.

As for pay, you usually tell them what you want to be paid, but in your case, you really do not have that power since you are right out of school.

 

[s1175290]

Also, is it okay to list this experience on my resume as if I worked at the firm and no mention of Robert Half? Don't want any headaches during background checks in the future.

Definitely.

This situation isn't as crazy or weird as people think. I had two summer internships while I was in college with a major tech company. I found the job through contacts at the tech company and I interviewed with a number of individuals at the company. When it was time for the actual paperwork, everything was handled through a temp agency (Kelly Services). Basically, this company didn't want to deal with any of the typical personnel issues for interns and temps. The temp agency actually had an in-house rep who had a office in the tech company campus.

My guess is that this company doesn't want the associated personnel hassles that come with hiring a number of people who may or may not be around for long.

 

[Gibson486]

so is a set up like this normal?

Where they want you for the training period and if you are good you get hired permanently? Is there any reason for concern from my end?

Like I said, lots of companies are doing this now because it easier to get rid of you if they do not like you. If they hire you full time, once you go, they have to get HR involved, they have to do a bunch of paper work....contracting is kind of like no strings attached love making.

 

[0roo0roo]

so is a set up like this normal?

Where they want you for the training period and if you are good you get hired permanently? Is there any reason for concern from my end?

well normal as in they can get away with it, as said, it is a way of making sure they can cut you loose anytime they please no strings attached. when times are good this happens less often

 

[AreaCode707]

Staffing agencies provide different types of services. Terms in parens are for convenience of this thread discussion, not hard and fast industry definitions.

1. Conduct the job search for the company and the company hires the candidate (headhunting)
2. Conduct the job search for the company and the staffing agency hires the candidate (contracting)
3. May or may not conduct the job search but the staffing agency hires the candidate (payrolling)

You are working with a company that wants to payroll you through Robert Half. This saves them on benefits, absolves them of any responsibility to you as an employee (benefits, performance reviews, raises, putting you on a performance improvement plan before terminating your employment in case you suck, etc.) You are probably making about 60% of what the company is paying for you to RH.

On your resume, I recommend listing the job as "Unicorn Keepers, Inc. (contracted through Robert Half)". Most companies do employment verification as part of background check and if they call Unicorn Keepers Inc and they have no record of your employment you could potentially screw yourself over on the job you're applying for because you "falsified" your resume. You can probably explain and recover, but it jeopardizes you and adds hassle.

Yes, this is a pretty normal contract-to-perm situation. If you're good and they have a hiring need, they will probably bring you on full time.

 

[Dear Summer]

Thanks for all the responses.

This isn't my ideal situation but I am going to try working my best and hope for the best. I really want to be brought on full time....

 

[ReggieDunlap]

My experience with a Robert Half opportunity was many years ago so I do not know if this is still part of their workings or not, but, you should make sure the contract you sign, IF it is with Robert Half does NOT have any limitations regarding your placement within that company.

When I interviewed, I found in the contract offer a clause regarding job offers before the termination of the contract and or taking a job with a different company in the same field before the RH contract was finished. IE: I sign a 6 month temp contract with RH for a position they place me in, but am still looking for more permanent work. I get another offer, I cant give notice on the current contract position due to clause in the RH contract.

It was the only reason I didnt sign with them. I felt limited in what I could do if I found something better.

 

[bart1975]

Of course there will be limitations the companies name is Rob Half. Red Flag!

 

[Gibson486]

Thanks for all the responses.

This isn't my ideal situation but I am going to try working my best and hope for the best. I really want to be brought on full time....

Do it. It probably is a temp to perm position. They probably wanted to hire full time, but Robert Half convinced them to hire you on contract or they simply want to try you out. If you do not like it, guess what, you can just get up and leave (although to not burn bridges, give them notice). You are paid hourly, so whatever you do not work, you do not get paid.

 

[her209]

Of course there will be limitations the companies name is Rob Half. Red Flag!

Nicccccce.

 

[Macamus Prime]

Can anyone clue me in?

Contracting/consulting/trainee is a company's way of "testing the waters" with you before they go ass deep in costs and expenses to make you a fulltime/permanent employee. I had zero experience in corporate America and they brought me in through a staffing agency. With in one month, I was offered a fulltime/permanent position.

Are they going to take a large percentage of what I was offered (RH was not involved in the process at all till the end)?

If they offered you $55K, you will get $55K (pre tax). RH may be charging the company something like 20-30% more.

Is this a normal process for a contractor to permanent type situation?

Yes.

Why does the company involve Robert Half?

It lessens the company's exposure to risk. If you aren't a hard worker, they can just cut you with little effort. And, they won't have to dump money into health insurance, retirement, etc.

 

[mrkun]

That's odd that you connected with the company directly, did interviews and they didn't tell you 'til the end it was with RHI. Usually the staffing agency searches for candidates, interviews you first, then sends you to interview with the company.