While traditional, full time jobs make up the vast majority of employment, temporary jobs are on the rise. According to CareerBuilder, “temporary help services were among the first industries to add jobs when the recession officially ended, growing 15 percent from 2009 to 2010 and 57 percent from 2009 to 2014.” Although some people are reluctant to enter into a temporary position because of the perceived uncertainty, there are several benefits to this type of work experience.
Enhance Your Existing Skills and Learn New Ones
If you enter into an industry where you’ve already got experience, you’re likely to sharpen your existing skills and can become more well rounded in your profession. If you enter into an industry where you lack experience, you can learn new skills that you may have never picked up otherwise. Even if you’re only employed for a few months, it can be advantageous in your future endeavors. This can really beef up your portfolio and you’ll be better qualified, which should make you more desirable to other companies.
Build Your Network
Having a robust network is always beneficial in the business world — and you can’t help but increase the size of your network when temporarily working for a new company. Whether it’s making new contacts, being referred to another employer or adding a nice reference to your resume, this can open up doors later on down the road.
Potential for New Opportunities
When you demonstrate that you’re dependable, have a strong work ethic and are a great asset, this can often lead to other opportunities and full time employment. Basically, you can think of it as a way to get your foot in the door and prove that you’re a valuable employee to have. This can capture the attention of your employer, and there’s a reasonable chance that you’ll be brought on full time. Or if they don’t have the need for another full time employee, they might recommend you to another company in the industry.
There are Benefits
Even if you’re in a temporary position, you can still receive certain benefits that full time employees get. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor states, “temporary employees are eligible to earn leave and are covered by Social Security and unemployment compensation.” Although you’re not eligible for fringe benefits like vacation pay, these basic benefits are nice to have and will ensure that you’re protected to a certain degree. This is especially nice if you compare it to not being employed at all and receiving zero benefits.
While some people are skeptical of temporary employment, there are plenty of reasons to choose this route. With all of the benefits of temporary work experience, this can be a good career move and have a positive long-term impact. Click here for more information on temporary work and help with your job search.