So i have a question regarding my employment contract. After i finished my studies, i applied for a job at the company where i work now. They first wanted to offer me an internship for me to gain work experience before they give me a permanent contract. But i declined and explained to them that i have kids and a full time internship will put my family in financial constraint since we will need much money for childcare. Then they offered me a 6 months work contract with 3 months probation period with the possibility to make it permanent. Now i just completed 3 months and I have 3 months left.
My question is, is now too early for me to ask them if my contract will be renewed? Because i am also yet to plan my holidays since i am not sure what the future holds. Thank you all for your response.
This is the perfect time to ask them, as you've successfully completed your probation period, and that's often a time that employer and employee sit down and have a little chat.
However, if you want the job, then I'd suggest that you don't say anything about planning holidays, nor any uncertainties you have about your future, nor much about the financial constraints in your family. Those need not be the [main] concern of your employer.
I recommend that you don't just ask them whether the contract will be renewed. Instead, think about what you have achieved while there, what has become better for your colleagues and project(s) thanks to your contribution, what interests you in the work, what you'd like to learn and to improve about yourself and especially for the team, etc.. and then set out, to your manager, several reasons why it would be advantageous for the employer to extend the contract or to make it into a permanent position.
For time-limited contracts, employer is not obliged to inform you whether extension will be granted, even on the last day before the termination notice - termination notice period is for extraordinary terminations only.
A good line managed will inform you in advance.
A bad one may even purposefully misinform you, promising the extantion, and changing his mind 3 days before the contract end, and this will be completely legal. Happened to me more than once.
Therefore, a firm rule for contractors is - always look for new job, no matter how good the chances for extension look. Ideally, have two or three interviews in the pipeline, and one new contract ready for signing.
I agree this is the perfect time to approach your direct supervisor about this, being proactive about the situation reflects well on you. However, I agree with doropfiz, I'd leave out all mention of holidays or your personal situation. Restrict your discussion to the job and how well you think you have integrated, what successes you have achieved, and your motivation to continue with the project/team.
I agree with the others about leaving out the personal constraints - these are your burdens to bear, not your employer's.
To add on to what doropfiz has suggested, I would consider the work you're doing - what does the future of it look like? What innovations / benefits / unique selling points do YOU bring to the table to make that happen? See if you can quantify what that would mean to the organisation, either in terms of time saved, money saved/made, or risk reduced. This shows that you're committed to the role, and that you're thinking strategically about your career and the company.
Thank you all so much for your wonderful replies. They are very helpful to me.
This week i am on holidays. I hope when i get back to work next week, I will be called for a meeting about the probation period. Else i was thinking of sending the manager an email instead because, my friend whom we work together finished her probation period early last month, and her probation interview was scheduled for mid last month but she has not had the meeting till now because the manager has been too busy. So i'm wondering if i'm going to have the meeting anytime soon.