So here's the deal..I am currently a TERM GS-4..I will make my year in November. The job is ok...no room for advancement or becoming a PERM employee. We have alot of kids( 23 and younger) that work with us and its a playground to say the least, but its flexible at times, BUT we do work some 12 hr shifts and have to go in @ 2am at times 3am...midnite, etc....
Now I have been called for another TERM GS but its a 7. about 12,000 more a year and its 60 miles away..which would take about 45 to 50 min to get there. Money is good but drive is horrible especially since I have a 5yr that will be in school.........
I also got a call today for another position with a Governement Contractor...it has lots of room for advancement strict M-F quarterly bonus and the ability to transfer to new locatons when we PCS again...BUT the pay kind of stinks it comes out to 1.18 less than my GS 4...
WHAT TO DO????

wow-tough call-but something to think about-the Government can re bid a contract at any time it chooses-and if a new contractor wins-the employees of the old one dont always go over to the new contract-my contract has changed twice in 5 years-and we lost some folks both times.-you just have to do a risk analysis and decide. Oh and i commuted 90 miles each way for a while-figure the cost of that against the salary for the other job. If the new GS job has a chance of converting to permenant i would totally take it-gov health insurance and retirement trump all.

I can't stand being a contractor (and have stayed at jobs that I didn't like longer than I cared for rather than change to contractor) for the same reasons that Orchid gave. However, if you think it is a safe contract and like the company then the money difference might not be that bad. I'm not sure if you mean the 1.18 is an hourly, weekly, monthly or annual difference -- hourly would be a $2100 pay cut. You would have to balance that out with quarterly bonuses and better work hours.

On the GS7 position, how far are you driving now? If you're already driving 30 miles then you're only talking a 30 mile difference. Regardless of the difference, you need to calculate the real cost of driving the extra distance. That includes, in addition to the extra gas, maintenance periods coming faster (although most people pretty much ignore those), oil changes coming faster, tires wearing out sooner, etc. All of that can be quantified and then you compare that to the $12K you will be getting (before taxes) and see how much the trip will really cost you.

Assume you drive 20 miles one way now. That means you drive 10,000 miles just for work. Decent tires are $150 each once you mount them so, with a 40,000 life, you pay 3/8 pennies or $150 per year for four tires. When you triple the miles for a 60 mile trip, now your're paying $450 per year. Gas is another $5,000 per year and oil changes will add about $250 more. Just for the readily quantifiable items, you have now added $5,700 in expenses. Subtract that from the approximaely $9,000 you will bring home and you only are gaining $3,300 for the new job -- less than $300 a month. When you change a short trip to a long trip then the extra money goes away pretty quickly.

Well the contract is housing on post..So I think they will be around for a long time. It comes out to 1.18 per hour. Right Now I make 13.18 as a GS4 Step1 The base pay for the other job is 12.00 plus quarterly bonus...The GS7 is exactly 62 miles each way. I would get a COLA raise in January, BUT no Step increase in October since I am skipping from a 4 to a 7, which I understand. The housing job is 10 minutes away...decisions decisions...and the GS7 is 38,117 a yr and then what ever COLA we get in January. I hate making decisions.....

1. What are your career goals?

If you are, right now, trying to establish a career as a civil servant, then I would recommend you try for the GS07 position. You are trying to get your foot into the door, and I think it would be helpful to you. I understand the whole TERM vs PERM scenario (I remember posting to your TERM vs TEMP question). I think, however, being "in the system" will help in the long term.

If, however, you are working just to make money, then I would strongly consider the contractor job. The benefits of that would be: you would have a shorter commute and more time with your child.

2. I am assuming your husband is active duty; how much longer will he be in?

Transferring as a GS can be helpful, especially if he is going career and you guys will still be moving around a lot. As a term, are you reinstatement eligible? Or, if you PCS, will you be eligible for spouse preference?

If he PCS's, even OCONUS, can you transfer the contractor job?

Answers to these questions are what I would consider in decision making.

I was a govt contractor and I LOVED my job. I made good money, I had responsibilities, etc etc. I accepted a GS05 job because I knew my hubby was going to be career military. I hated the job, but it got my foot in the door and I wanted a career, not just a job. It's been 4 years, I'm now a GS07, and trying to get my 9 in another year.

So, back to the original question, what are your career goals?

Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ArmywifeMrsBrown,

Yes I do remember you helping me before!! Thanks Again!

So here is what happen Friday. I spoke with HR @ the VA and she told me that there was no way these job will go PERM, she said inface they may go away in 4 months, or 6..she didnt know. She said they were made to stimulate the economy. She said if the stimlus money lasts for 12, they may continue them for another year, she just didn't know. So that was very nice of her keeping it 100 with me ....
My husband will be a 30yr military man, so I can expect a few more moves...with housing if I was to go to Knox, Drum, Hood, Campbell or Hawaii and a few more, then I could transfer with the same contractor. If we went to Polk, for example..then its a different contractor, but they all use the same system Army wide for housing......I would love to retire from Civil Service, but I am ready to do something different and we don't get any training where I work and there is no room to advance...Now with the new executive order to help military spouses I wonder if I should wait it out where I am at and pray for something to come around...
I have until to Monday to decide and then I have to come up with something!

It is hard telling what to do, but I would go for the GS7 job even if it is term. Yes, it does not guarantee you a perm job, but as ArmyWifeMrsBrown it would be recommendable to stay in the system. I currently have a GS6 job (10 months) and have to drive 70 miles one way-crazy, but to me it is worthwhile as there is nothing else closer to our city (recruiting duty). This job is a lead GS 7 anyway. However, I just got offered a GS 7/9/11 job starting in December as a Program Analyst. I was getting really frustrated that my chance of advancing were really low; but patience does pay-off once in a while. Think about the benefits, vacation, holiday, retirement options you have in comparison to the contractor job although that one would be permanent.

This thread is two months old. I think the OP already made a decision.

Thanks for pointing it out