If you have been laid off or furloughed due to the pandemic, you are probably conducting an exhaustive job search for a new full-time job. But have you considered temporary work to get through this uncertain time? You may not feel like temporary work is a realistic option after a few years or maybe even a few decades of work in your chosen field. As an experienced professional, temporary employment may have never even crossed your mind.
But, with the Covid-19 pandemic stretching into its ninth month and the reality that “back to normal” could be a year away, many experienced, yet out-of-work, business professionals are finding that temporary work may be exactly what they need to stay afloat. In other words, temporary work is providing a necessary safety net to help professionals get through this period of uncertainty.
As we mentioned in our post “The difference between temporary, temp to hire, and direct hire jobs”, temporary workers are used by companies to fill in for employees on medical leave, or to just boost working staff at certain times of the year, such as during annual audits, tax time, or the busy holiday shopping season. But where temporary employment really shines is that it gets people back into the office and working, even if it is only for a few weeks or months, especially during periods of high unemployment, like right now due to the pandemic.
So before you dismiss the idea of applying for something “temp only”, here are five additional reasons why taking a temporary position might be a good choice for you, even if you have years of experience in a given field.
5 Ways a Temporary Job Can Help Your Career
1. Use it to get a foot in the door
Over the years, we’ve seen many of our temporary employees turn into long-term, permanent employees with our clients. Companies do not want to let go of a great employee, even if they only expected to keep them for a few months! Often, a “temporary” position can turn into long-term, permanent employment.
2. Learn new skills or systems
When you join any company, even for a short time, you are bound to learn a new skill or be exposed to a new system or software. This allows you to add valuable experience to your resume and might just be the thing that nudges you ahead of another candidate when the ATS scans your resume for pertinent information.
3. Use it as an opportunity to grow your network
While you shouldn’t use your limited time at a company as a networking event, it will give you a chance to meet other people who may be able to help you on your job search in the future. Invite your new contacts to your LinkedIn network. You never know who may be connected to a hiring manager that is looking for someone like you.
4. A rolling stone gathers no moss
After months of dead ends on the job search, it can be hard to keep moving forward. But, if you take a temporary job here and there, it will keep you active and busy, even if it isn’t exactly in the field you want.
5. Keeps your resume current
While any potential employers will understand some gaps in a resume, if you can fill in some of them with relevant temporary experience, it will reflect well on your initiative and interest in working.
Want to learn more about how temporary employment could be perfect for you right now? Contact us at South Shore Staffing, and we will be happy to talk it over with you.