14 Reasons Why You Should Consider Temporary Positions for Part-Time Work
Publié le 7 August 2024
Looking for new flexible job opportunities? There are 14 reasons why you should consider temporary positions for part-time work.
Taking a job as a temporary employee, or simply a “temp,” could be the solution if you are having trouble finding employment or just want a more flexible work schedule.
Free from the limitations and demands of maintaining a full-time, permanent position, temping is an excellent way to gain experience and see a variety of working environments. Working a short-term job can lead to many opportunities, or just be a means to keep your place in the workforce.
Many accomplished professionals once decided to take on temporary work for some reason. And those temp jobs often become the springboard to career success. Who’s to say it won’t be the same for you?
We’ll examine 14 reasons why you should consider temporary positions for part-time work to help you make the right career decision.
What is a temporary position?
When working on a flexible, part-time basis, you are said to have temporary employment. This makes it possible for a business to employ a candidate to finish a particular project or cover absentees during a busy period. The idea that a temporary worker isn’t employed permanently underpins both of the different forms of temporary work.
Types of temporary employment
Although they’re classified into two distinct groups, temporary workers share the same fundamental characteristic: they’re not full-time employees.
Fixed-term contract
A fixed-term contract is a type of employment where the terms of employment specify the length of the employee’s stay. This could be any length of time, but it usually lasts between one and six months to a year. This kind of agreement is frequently employed when a business needs to hire a temporary outside worker to help with a particular project that needs to be finished.
Contract automation tools can streamline this process, ensuring that all legalities are managed efficiently and without error.
Some businesses—especially seasonal ones—will need additional assistance during busy times. A fixed contract enables them to hire workers as needed and avoid having a staff surplus when operations resume as usual.
Temporary contract
This kind of temporary work is typically done on an informal basis without the need for a formal contract. It could take the form of a single, brief workday or a set number of hours per week dedicated to finishing a specific task.
Contract staffing employment is making a comeback following a decline during the pandemic, with over 500,000 new entrants to the industry in 2022.
Although less popular than a fixed-term contract, this kind of work has advantages for both businesses and employees. Freelancers often accept hourly, temporary jobs; nonetheless, they may still draft contracts to safeguard both the business’s and their own interests.
14 Reasons Why You Should Consider Temporary Positions
There are many advantages to being a temporary worker, such as being able to work tasks that suit your schedule thanks to flexible roles. No wonder almost 28 million temp workers are operating in the US.
Image sourced from statista.com
Here are 14 reasons why you should consider temporary positions for part-time work and join this group of professionals.
1. Get paid while you hunt for a permanent job
Obviously, one of the best things about taking temporary work is that it helps you make a living while you hunt for a more permanent position. If you were out of work for a while, you probably haven’t put away much money and may be having trouble paying your bills.
A temporary job can help you maintain a steady cash flow if you recently lost your livelihood and don’t know how long it could take to find another. Similarly, if you still have a job but want a secondary position to make some extra money, a temporary job might be the way to go.
2. Working your way into a permanent offer
Having a temporary job also allows you to gain experience in highly sought-after organizations. With the rise of AI in recruitment, companies now have myriad tools to match the perfect candidate with available job openings. Temping can give you a competitive edge in the job market, especially if you’re keen on a particular company.
These roles help you establish valuable relationships and boost career development with your target employer. Outstanding workers might be eligible for a contract extension or, in the event that one opens up, a permanent position.
Also, do not write off positions that are temp-to-hire. It costs money to hire the wrong candidate since it results in lost time, money, and expensive job postings. To try to prevent this, companies will often evaluate applicants for full-time jobs via temp-to-perm agreements, reviewing their skills and work ethic over an extended period of time.
The term “temp to hire” refers to a situation when an employer has available positions and is interested in hiring you; all you have to do is demonstrate your competence and dedication to succeed in the role.
3. Honing your interview skills
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Getting temporary work still requires a series of job interviews and assessments, which can be a great way to hone your interviewing skills. Also, you’ll gain experience with various applicant tracking system benefits—such as resume-parsing and skill matching—commonly used in temporary and permanent job applications.
The more you practice and develop your interview techniques, the more confident and prepared you will be for permanent positions. A temp job will help you gather valuable references and work experiences that will boost your credibility by making it easier to demonstrate your abilities.
You’ll be able to show employers how you’ve applied your skills in your previous roles and what you bring to the table for the new position. Interviewers value candidates with real-world experience detailing proof of their abilities.
4. Testing the waters before committing
Not only does temping give you a variety of experiences within an organization, it also gives you the chance to gain experience in a range of workplaces, locations, industries, and conditions. Since most professionals change jobs or careers frequently, temp work allows you to explore various interests before committing to long-term, permanent employment.
5. Widen your professional network
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Temporary positions are an effective way to expand your professional network and meet new people. These relationships might be particularly important in an age of increasing recruitment automation. You’ll inevitably meet more professionals and possible permanent employers when you take on a temporary job.
Moreover, companies use temporary positions as part of their marketing strategy to tap into a broader network of talent and ideas, which can lead to innovative approaches and solutions that enhance the company’s market presence.
6. Flexible work schedule
Short-term jobs can provide you with the leeway you need if you need time before jumping on a career path. Or maybe you need extra time to start a new business venture or to take care of your family.
You can take a break after the temporary assignment is over to concentrate on your other objectives, and when you are ready, you can start a new temporary position. This kind of setup can be ideal for newly graduated students who are still unsure of their professional goals or for business owners who are working to transform their side projects into a full-time position.
But remember that you must give your best wherever you work. Don’t slack off just because you might not be there for the long haul. Be sure to conduct yourself properly and be dependable when working on an assignment.
Developing a negative reputation can make it difficult to get other decent temporary positions. Ensure that staffing agencies and employers see you as a reliable worker by putting in a good performance each time.
7. Switching careers
Temporary work can be a relatively safe option to change careers if you are thinking about it. For example, if you are switching from a career in business to the creative sector, you can work temporary jobs to expand your experience and portfolio in the new industry.
This transitional strategy can give you the knowledge, expertise, and connections required to make a seamless and productive career transition while preserving your financial security in the interim.
8. Developing new skills
We’ve already mentioned how temping boosts your interview skills, but there’s more to it than just that. Temping can help you develop valuable skills to build your resume or explore alternative careers. For example, you might come across and learn how to use modern office technologies like PBX cloud systems, which several industries use.
In fact, over 60% of temp employees gain new skills via temporary work placements.
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The benefits of enhancing your knowledge base through such experiences are immense, providing not only immediate job performance improvements but also long-term career versatility.
9. Flexible pay
The pay schedule can be beneficial to many temporary employees and can optimize budgeting. In comparison to most permanent positions, temporary secretarial and support roles typically pay weekly or biweekly. This is an attractive option for professionals who don’t want to wait around for monthly payments.
10. Making a career comeback after a gap period
Having a career break is normal, and there are situations when resume gaps are inevitable. You might need to take an extended leave of absence for any number of reasons, including changes in employment, personal emergencies, or layoffs.
Finding part-time work offers opportunities to recover skills, re-engage with the workplace, and form new professional relationships for people wishing to resume their careers after a prolonged break, all without committing to something permanent.
When you apply for permanent jobs, you will be far more qualified and self-assured after refining your abilities and getting more experience to add to your resume.
11. Putting your reliability and work ethic into practice
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In any line of business, reliability and an outstanding work ethic are highly regarded attributes. Temporary positions allow you to showcase these qualities. You are establishing a reputation as a trustworthy and diligent professional by always meeting deadlines, going above and beyond, and demonstrating commitment to your contract positions.
Additionally, it might make you stand out when you look for permanent jobs because companies are more inclined to consider applicants with a track record of dependability and dedication.
12. Taking on advanced assignments early on
Working on high-impact assignments is a common perk of temporary jobs, which can help you gain significant experience that entry-level permanent positions would not provide. These experiences help define your professional path and improve your resume.
For example, you might be asked to assist with an example of internal audit, providing you with valuable experience in financial oversight and risk management that would ordinarily take years to achieve in a traditional entry-level position. The range of experience you obtain in a position like this could revolutionize your professional career.
13. Strengthening your resume
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If you are a recent graduate or new to the field, a temporary position may present a rare chance for you to obtain practical experience that will strengthen your resume. You will experience scenarios and obstacles when you undertake various assignments, which will prepare you for managing permanent positions in the future.
On your resume, you can emphasize your temporary work experiences to demonstrate to potential employers that you are a competent and proactive individual who is open to taking on different responsibilities to further your career development. Even when your employment journey has been relatively unorthodox, a comprehensive resume will still establish your qualifications.
14. Making the most of the summer months
The summer is a great time for students to hunt for temporary work. With many workers looking to take long breaks or holidays during the summer, many companies will need temporary staff.
Signing up for these summer job roles will provide a source of income and valuable experience. You’ll build relationships with managers and coworkers that will come in handy when you graduate and begin actively seeking a full-time job.
Final Thoughts
Temporary work offers pathways for those who want flexibility, to build skills, and to develop a career. As we’ve seen, there are 14 reasons why you should consider temporary positions for part-time work.
They can be a rewarding option while looking for a ‘real job’, and they can expose you to multiple industries. Temp roles also provide good opportunities for newer entrants into the workplace, those changing careers, and those returning to the workforce after an extended absence.
Temporary positions can be a good way for students to build up a portfolio of experience over summer breaks, and for professionals, it can be a strategic way to assess different career paths on a trial-and-error basis instead of signing on for life.
For those focused on building up their resume or those who want an easier, more flexible fit into their working lives, whether to transition to a new career or to have more time for family, temp work can also be the right fit.
Other benefits of temp work include expanding your network of professional contacts and picking up new skills along the way. These small details could make a difference in your career. As the world of work changes, the opportunities that temporary work brings can put you ahead of the game.
So, for your next job move, think temp.
