Originally Posted by punky

Maybe i'm just a born cynic, but I suspect the company is trying to get contract work without paying contract rates. Contracts can be double or more because contract workers can months between jobs. If it is a simple probationary period to a permanant work position then why not advertise as such? I think its a bit suspect the agent turns around and says "Oh it really is a permanant position, they just want a probationary period which is standard nowadays. You can settle it at the interview". Just the whole approach to it makes me feel that if I insist on signing a permanant contract, they'll dig up any old excuse to offload me at the end of my "probationary" period. Then not only will I be jobless in what could be a much worse market, but then I have also got a sacking on my CV to contend with. If I was jobless I could just go for it, but I don't want to walk out of a permanant job into a 6 month one in this market and then be left up ***** creek.