Great Opportunities In Temporary Jobs

Posted on Dec 30th 2009, 11:44 pm, under Career Advice

Are you in between jobs? Are you having trouble networking and building your list of professional contacts? Then a temporary job may be the answer. 

There are definite pros and cons to working as a contractual employee. The good news is that most companies will already be predisposed to like you, because temp workers are usually brought in to handle specific problems. Use this opportunity to impress your employer. The downside, however, is that you won't make much money as a temp (though contrary to popular belief, you may be able to negotiate your salary). Instead, you should think of temporary work as a way of getting paid to network.

Temp work is also a great way to do industry research. For example, if you've spent your entire working life in investment banking, and you're curious about advertising, taking a temp job is a great way to find out. You get the chance to familiarize yourself with as many industries and companies as you sign up for, and your employers in turn can decide if they'd like to keep you as a permanent employee. 

Clerical temporary work

General office temping is a good option if you can't find work in your particular field. It's not just limited to clerical work; you may find employment conducting consumer surveys, working trade shows, handing out samples, and selling products. You can frequently land these jobs by approaching temp agencies. Unlike with conventional employment agencies, you won't be weeded out, but actually welcomed. It doesn't matter if you're lacking in experience or if you're overqualified, what's important is that you're willing to take the temp job.

One upside to clerical temping is that you'll be more likely to land a permanent job soon after. Many companies have trial periods where workers can go from temporary to permanent status, if they perform well.

Professional temp work

Some people, such as accountants, writers, artists, and computer programmers, actually make a full-time career out of contractual work. But even if you're not involved in any of these fields, temporary employment can still be a viable option for you. 

There are even professional temps, such as lawyers and doctors. They are especially valuable when companies encounter new needs or when a permanent worker leaves their position. Getting permanent employee status through the temp's door is not just possible, but often highly likely. 

Many temporary staffing agencies can be reached through headhunters in your industry. If you're looking for this line of work, feel free to sign up with more than one temporary placement agency; not only is it okay, it's actually encouraged. There are also several resources for temporary job seekers online, such as Corestaff Services, Kelly Services, Manpower, and Net-Temps.