Temp Work May Not Be for Everyone, but it is Certainly Worthwhile

Too many times, temporary work gets a bad reputation — it’s seen as something inferior to a full-time 9-to-5, or something that’s not as valuable for businesses as an in-house employee. But, these perceptions really don’t tell the whole story, and in many cases, they’re simply flat wrong.

Both companies and career professionals in today’s world often crave versatility. They need ways to exchange services for money that are different than the age-old tradition of entering a company, spending 25 or 30 years, and getting a gold watch. Temporary work helps to meet new work models that are practical in today’s world.

Here are some other reasons temporary work can be a great choice for career professionals.

A Chance to Try Something New

For people who are in a job transition, temporary work can be a great way to try something out and see if it fits.

When you’re making your way into a new career move, you don’t necessarily want to get tied down. Some people may have some ambiguity about where they want to go when they’ve left a certain career path behind.

Temporary work offers real experience on an ‘as needed’ model — a temporary worker can easily decide to move on, or to stick with it and go from that entry-level point upwards.

Out of Bed in the Morning

In another way, temporary work is key for people who have recently quit working after spending a lot of time at one particular job.

A transition from full employment to unemployment can be chaotic, painful and very confusing. People often get depressed or discouraged because they have nothing to do during the day.

Temporary work is the great remedy for this situation. It gets a newly unemployed person back into the work world quickly — where he or she can continue to look for new opportunities.

It’s a little bit like a prolonged hospital stay — every day that someone gets up without going to work changes their outlook and behavioral model just a little bit. By getting back on the horse quickly, they sustain a lot of their confidence and work ethic habits for the long haul.

Making a Real Contribution

In the past, there was that idea that temp workers didn’t really offer much to the company. They generally had to be micromanaged by somebody in-house, and were only given very menial or ‘brainless’ types of tasks. You see a lot of this in light industrial situations where temp workers come in to do vague types of jobs where they never really get their hands dirty or get into the mechanics of how a company works.

That’s not so true anymore — with Forbes estimating 36% of businesses were hiring temps in 2012, and even more industry growth since, managers are getting smarter about how to direct these workers and get more out of them every day. This is a win-win, because as temp workers are more effectively used in the business, they acquire more skills and become more vital to business operations.

A Foot in the Door

A temporary job can be an excellent way to get involved in an industry and prove that you have what it takes.

First, you’re learning skills quickly — at least, if the company is using temp workers effectively. There are also ample opportunities for networking. Take those in-house people who often advise temp workers — many of them know who’s hiring in the industry and how to move up.

About Full Steam Staffing

Full Steam Staffing is a full-service employment agency in Lacey, Washington focused on providing clerical and light industrial staffing solutions to manufacturers, distribution centers and other organizations that need qualified, reliable workers. If you are looking for a new job in Lacey, Washington, browse our available opportunities or contact our team today!