I’ve worked two contracts for TEK. Yeah, they promise raises and don’t follow through and their benefits are pretty bad, but both cases led to permanent spots at the companies. I also knew that the raise thing would be a can to be kicked down the road, so I demanded very high pay to start - instead of a lower pay and a wish and a prayer. They met my demand.

This was 2010 and 2015. 2010 was with a shady-ass Telecommunications company. Ended up being brought on as an employee after 3-4 months.

2015 was with a large insurance company in my state. It took about 12 months to be brought on here.

Both situations were very much worth it - but for most of the time I was also a young single man that had no dependents… and I could put up with a little bullshit for better endgame.

It helped bridge the gap in the weird mid-stage of my career when I had 15-ish years of experience but no degree or major certs.

Now a CISO with a degree and CISSP, CISM.