Temporary jobs come with advantages that many people don’t know about. If you are looking for an immediate opportunity to advance your career, transition to a different industry, or if you currently feel taken advantage of as an independent contractor in the rise of the gig economy – temporary employment may be a great fit for you. Curious to learn more? Here’s what you need to know.
And if you already decided that you’re interested in a temporary job – check out our open opportunities!
What is Temporary Employment?
As the name indicates, a temporary job means that the employment opportunity is for a determined period of time. Depending on what the hiring company needs, you can substitute someone on maternity leave, cover someone’s vacation, cover a work overload period, take a seasonal job, and more.
Before you choose the next step in your career, it’s beneficial to know the pros and cons regarding all forms of employment. Let’s dive into the advantages of temporary employment and see if this could be a great fit for you.
Temporary Employment vs. Independent Contract
If you are looking for more flexibility than a traditional role, there are a couple different routes you can take when seeking job opportunities. You can work as a temporary employee or an independent contractor, or in other words a freelancer or gig employee. Some of the main differences between the two are:
- Pay: Temporary employees are typically paid hourly by a staffing agency, whereas independent contractors must negotiate their own pay rates and schedule. Independent contractors may need to deliver a finished product or service before being paid, whereas a temporary employee is not bound by deliverables.
- Benefits: Temporary employees are considered employees and have rights, protections, and benefits. Independent contractors don’t receive the same employer benefits, but may receive different perks from employers. Your benefits costs could be ~30% of your annual take-home pay, so if you choose to be an independent contractor you should negotiate a rate that is at least 30% higher than you would accept in a temporary position.
- Time: When you’re a temporary employee, the staffing agency typically gives you assignments and/or notifies you when a job opportunity becomes available. The time and length of an assignment varies. When you’re an independent contractor you negotiate your payment schedule with your client and typically get to set your own day-to-day schedule.
Advantages of Temporary Employment
There are many reasons you may want to take a long-term or short-term temporary assignment. Some of the most common advantages are:
Financial Benefit
Temporary work can help you stay afloat and give you financial stability while you search for a permanent job that best suits you. This applies even if a particular temporary job doesn’t reflect your long-term career goals.
Increase Your Earnings
Companies understand that those with a stable, permanent job may not want to leave for a short-term or even long-term assignment. As a result, temporary jobs often offer higher earning potential than traditional employment options.
Improve Your Resume
Temporary work gives you great opportunities to build your career and add experience to your resume. When working for a staffing agency, you can take on multiple short term opportunities. This can show diversity in your resume.
Hiring Flexibility
Sometimes, employers are more flexible when hiring for temporary positions. That can help you not only get a bit of financial security but also add to your knowledge and experience.
Explore Opportunities
As we said, temporary jobs are great for expanding your knowledge and acquiring new skills. This can also help you to better understand what you want to focus on during your career.
Keeps You Connected
Temporary jobs are a great way for you to connect with other people, expand your network, and keep your options open to new possibilities. When working for a staffing agency your resume is placed in a database. This keeps you up to date with opportunities that fit your experience.
Opportunity for a Permanent Job
It’s possible to start by filling a temporary job position and end up with a permanent job. Sometimes, employers offer a permanent position if they are happy with your performance.
Keeps You Mentally Fit
Unemployment is a cause of stress for many people. Having a temporary job can boost your confidence and sense of security. This also helps you stay social and connected.
Try Different Industries
Temporary jobs can also allow you to try something new that can help you with the job you are actually looking for. It opens up many opportunities that can even show you what career path is right for you.
Interested in learning more about temporary employment?
As you can see, there are many advantages to having a temporary job. If you are interested in job opportunities within temporary employment, TemPositions is your go-to. Our experienced recruiters can help you through the hiring process. For more information check out the link below!