Could temping help you to achieve your New Year career resolutions?
Have you decided that 2019 is the year to make a career change? Or simply to change the way in which you work? Professional recruitment specialists Pure explain how becoming a temp could open up doors into a new industry, help you to discover what you would really like to do or provide you with the variety, flexibility and work-life balance you are looking to achieve.
In an age of increasingly agile and flexible working, fixed term roles are becoming progressively popular among workers and more employers are looking to hire temporary talent into their organisations – at every level.
Working as a contract employee, freelancer or consultant can bring numerous benefits, whether you are looking for a career change, lifestyle change, or both.
Find the work you want to do
Working as a temp is a great way to explore a new industry, find out more about the different types of roles available and still earn an income. If you know you would like to make a career change but are not yet sure what you would like to do, then temping can give you a wealth of experience in different roles, industries and organisations to help you to narrow down what really interests and engages you. By experiencing different workplaces, you will also get to understand more about the type of company culture and workplace environment you most enjoy working in, helping you to make more informed decisions about future positions. At a senior level, working on a fixed term contract can give you the opportunity to offer your skills and experience to a particular project and gives you the freedom of choosing the work you want to do. Whatever level you are working at, you may even discover you are a great fit for a particular role, field, specialism or organisation you had not even heard of before!
Use or develop your practical skills and experience
Temp assignments also provide the opportunity to boost your CV with a wide range of new skills and experience, which could make all the difference when it comes to securing a permanent position in the future. By working across a variety of organisations, even if they are in the same industry, you will inevitably learn about a range of different systems, processes and software used, this knowledge will make you far more employable either as a permanent or fixed-term employee. For those looking to offer expert consultancy on a short-term basis, temporary fixed term assignments will help you to build up a portfolio of project examples to demonstrate where you have used your extensive experience and skills to provide specialist support.
Increased flexibility
Working on fixed term contracts can give you more control as to when you work and when you need time off, making it easier to balance work and home life. If you are looking to change career, then working as a temp could give you the flexibility to study for new qualifications while also working part-time or on fixed term assignments between projects. It can also be a great way to transition into retirement by taking on fixed term projects rather than working as a full-time employee and potentially choosing to apply your extensive experience to charitable organisations or to take on Non-Executive Director roles.
Pathway to a permanent job or regular assignments
Many temporary positions can lead to full time positions or regular fixed term assignments. It can be a great way to get a foot in the door and gives both the employee and the employer the chance to ‘test drive’ the relationship. Treat every temp role as having the potential to lead to a permanent job or an ongoing relationship and give your full effort to show your value and cultural fit. Let your employer know if you are enjoying working in the organisation and ask to be considered for any potential jobs or projects in the future.
Networking
By working across different organisations you will get to meet a lot of new people, building your network and increasing your chances of hearing about other temporary or permanent positions which may interest you. If you are seeking a full-time role, the company you are placed with may not have one available but they are likely to know about other openings within the industry and the organisations they collaborate with. If you prove to be reliable, enthusiastic and keen, the people you meet will become your advocates and recommend you to other employers.
Variety
You may even find that the variety and the different challenges and activities of working as a temp suits you. More and more people are choosing to work on a contract, freelance or consultancy basis and with many employers looking for excellent temps and contract workers at all levels, it could become something you consider long-term.
At Pure, we work with companies who are looking to take on temporary workers for all sorts of reasons, whether it is covering staff leave, planning extra resources during particularly busy periods, finding additional skill sets to assist with special projects or as an interim appointment until a permanent employee is recruited. We can match you and your experience to employers looking for temporary recruitment solutions at all levels, and we will support you every step of the way by managing the contracts and placements and ensuring you have access to all the entitlements a temp is eligible for. Contact Pure for more information about working as a temp and the potential opportunities available.