The pros and cons of temporary employment
July 7, 2009 by admin
Filed under Other Jobs
I worked for temporary agencies and consulting firms for over 20 years. My nomadic career began on factory packing lines, and ended with computer programming. This wasn’t a planned career path, but in the end it was the right one for me. It might be right for you, too, at least temporarily.
Although there are agencies and consulting firms for almost every type and level of work, most temp agencies are geared toward clerical work, patient care and light industry.
This means that temp work can provide opportunities for change and growth that would be much harder to find simply by applying for permanent work.
There are some real advantages to doing temporary work. If you’re new to the workforce, or simply looking for a change, temp work can be a stepping stone to a good career. If you need extra cash a temporary job can fill in the gaps. But there are downsides as well.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first.
Temporary assignments can end earlier than you’ve been told, so you can’t count on a steady paycheck. You can refuse assignments, but you generally can’t negotiate the pay rate. Even on a long term assignment, you may not receive any kind of employee benefits. Some clients believe people only take temporary work because they can’t get regular jobs. It can be a challenge proving your competence and gaining the respect you deserve. You’ll need good transportation…