How to handle a contractor pushing for a job?

[Anonymous]

I’m dealing with a somewhat awkward situation and curious how others have handled something similar.
We have a contractor supporting my team through a consulting firm. Over the past couple of months she’s been reaching out more and more frequently (now almost weekly) about wanting to leave her consulting company and join our department full time.
The challenge is that she’s not fully qualified for the type of role she’s pushing for. She does fine in the scope she was brought in for, but the jump she’s asking about isn’t really aligned with her current skill set or what we need.
I also don’t want to damage the working relationship since she’s still actively supporting the team through the contract. So far I’ve been non-committal, but the continued asks are starting to make things a bit uncomfortable.
For those of you managing contractors or consulting resources, how have you handled situations where someone keeps pushing for a full-time role that realistically isn’t a fit? Do you address it directly, redirect them back to their firm, or just keep it neutral?

[Anonymous]

If you like her personally: oh but we'd hate to lose our favorite contractor ha haha. But seriously, there are no openings in our department right now. We'll let you know if there's an opening that's a good fit.

If you don't: let's focus on the current project and discuss later

[Anonymous]

I just say we aren't hiring at this time.

[Anonymous]

This is a conflict and probably against her employer policies. Very unprofessional.

Tell her that her continued asks are very uncomfortable and let us just focus on the work at hand.

[Anonymous]

Address it directly

[Anonymous]

Would you hire her for a role that was a good fit for her skills? If so, I like what the PP said about keeping her in mind if a role with the right fit comes along. If your department isn’t hiring, tell her that too.

If she really pushes and it becomes a situation where you have to be blunt, then just be honest. Tell her how great she is in her current role but she doesn’t have the XYZ that the role she’s asking about requires.

[Anonymous]

She is the one making it weird - in my experience in similar situations I make my manager deal with it !

[Anonymous]

Tell her the role requires X skillset, and she needs to develop that first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just say we aren't hiring at this time.

This.

[Anonymous]

Op, you should know how to deal with pushy contractors if you are the boss. Be straight with her about her contribution to current position and she needs more experience for the higher level.

[Anonymous]

You probably can't even hire a contractor from Jobshopper Company due to your company's contract with Jobshopper Company. Find out. That the ultimate stifle answer.

Contractor will be a pita employee. She is a pita person,