Are you in job hunting mode? If so, best of luck to you! Sending out resumes and customized cover letters, hoping to make it past the bots, waiting for a call from a hiring manager…many of us have been there, and we know how stressful it can be.
However, sometimes a temporary job can be easier to land for several reasons. First, if a company is looking for a temporary worker, it’s usually for a position they want to fill right now—and this can translate to faster employment. Second, there are often fewer hoops to jump through when applying for a temp position—thus, you’re likely to encounter a streamlined application process.
So, before you dismiss the possibility of taking a temporary position, read on…temp jobs can be awesome! Here are eight good reasons why temping just might be your ticket to a fulfilling career:
1. Oftentimes, a temporary position can turn into a permanent one. Ask around and you’ll find countless people who’ve found their dream job by starting out as a temp (myself included, right after I graduated from college). If you manage to do a good job, get along with others, and make noticeable contributions, your employer is apt to want to keep you around. After all, you’re already there, they like you, and you’re oriented to the company. Win-win, all around.
2. A temp job offers you a chance to check out an employer before you commit to a permanent position. Recruiters are trained to say the most wonderful things about the company they represent, but there’s nothing like seeing what reality is like from the inside.
3. You can gain job exposure that might fall outside of your formal training or your native skill set. For instance, let’s say you’ve never had any sales experience, and you take a temporary sales job during the holiday season. Who knows? You might discover a new passion or a new natural ability. And even if you discover that you don’t love sales, you’ve learned something important about yourself, right?
4. A temporary job can help build up your resume. Again, using the above example, you can now place “sales position” on your list of work experience. Just make sure you indicate that it was a temporary position from the get-go, so that you don’t look like someone who flaked out after only two months on the job. (Total red flag for employers!)
5. You might simply need a job right now! We all need to earn a living, so while you’re continuing to seek out your ideal dream job, you can pay the rent and buy a few groceries in the interim.
6. Sometimes, temp jobs are great for supplementing the full-time position that you already have. Let’s say that you have an upcoming big bill to pay—maybe it’s a large installment that’s due on your college loan. Taking on a temporary job can bring in some extra income, and as soon as you’ve overcome this looming monetary hurdle, you can leave the temp job without being labeled as a “job-hopper.” (Once again, this is something that never looks good on a resume.)
7. Temping is another opportunity to network. You never know where and when you’re going to meet someone who might be able to help you in your career. If you’re looking for permanent, full-time employment, let the people you work with at your temp job know what you’re seeking. They might be able to refer you to a company that’s looking to hire—or, better still, they may be able to put in a good word for you at the company you’re currently temping for.
8. And here’s my favorite: temping is a chance to try something you might never have had the chance to experience! What about sheep farming? I know someone—he was a city person through and through—who rather randomly applied for a temp job at a sheep farm, and he discovered his passion for farm work! He now owns a small sheep farm and produces wool for a clothing manufacturer in Iowa. (True story, I promise.) So, dream a little. What have you always wanted to try? You just might find your calling by taking a temporary job at the local bakery, or a winery, or a blacksmith shop, or a ballet studio…the possibilities are endless.
That’s it for today. Thanks for being a reader/follower, and I’ll see you again soon. As always, please send me your suggestions for future articles. I love hearing from you! (Today’s topic was suggested by a reader in Arkansas. Thanks, Merri!)
