Facts & whoppers about temporary jobs

Temporary jobs refer to situations where employees are expected to leave their employment at short notice. People who take up temporary jobs could well be contractual, seasonal and casual; even freelancers fall in this category. In some cases, temporary professional employees holding white-collar jobs refer to themselves as consultants. While all temporary workers can elect to work part-time or full-time, but when it comes to pay and allowances, they generally do not get paid certain perks and incentives like their permanent counterparts.

Temporary jobs are a career option exercised by innumerable professionals regularly. They can offer you a plush assortment of trysts that allow you to improve your existing knowledge and knowhow as also develop fresh ones. Since a temporary job is for a limited time, you get exposed to different categories of people – something that is very vital critical for widening your contact base.

A temporary job can also ease your pecuniary worries. Notwithstanding that it is ad hoc, nevertheless, you can afford to be more selective with regard to permanent jobs because you have some source of income. People who are inclined to pursue leisure activities seriously or who for whatever reasons seek to devote time for domestic affairs invariably find a temporary job perfectly suited. However, there are many professionals who are unable to exercise an option of going for temporary jobs. This is generally prompted by several figments about what they involve and do not involve.

Some fallacies about temporary jobs are:

· Temporary jobs entail low-quality & inferior work: Temporary jobs have surfaced in the employment market because of alterations brought about in the basic requirements of people. Current trends indicate that professional and technical occupations are witnessing high-level progress because of an increasing perception vis-à-vis flexibility across people of all background and companies of different types. Today, people have accepted consulting routines because through them they feel confident of securing varied stimulating projects and getting paid well for them. Concurrently, they are able to maintain control over the timings, place and quantum of their efforts.

· Temporary jobs preclude prospects of full-time jobs: Nothing can be farther from truth than this. Many companies regard temporary recruitments as a means to assess candidates for permanent jobs. And the fact that they realise that an understaffed workplace will affect productivity, they are inclined to appoint temporary employees who have done well to permanent posts. All along, the skills and outlook of such people are monitored.

· Temporary jobs are transitory, patchy and get paid less: If you get into consulting jobs, you will definitely work for less number of hours vis-à-vis permanent employees. But there is nothing that stops you from working for more time. Most temporary appointments get paid as much as their permanent counterparts; and if you happen to be more qualified or skilful, you are likely to be compensated better. After all, when companies hire employees, they always have productivity in mind and will thus never compromise on the quality of employees. 

· Temporary jobs cannot be mentioned in your CV: Over the last two or three decades, the number of temporary jobs and temporary workers have grown manifold throughout the world. The very nature of their work has changed; temporary employees are no more referred to as casual employees, but regarded as equal players. At work, be it temporary or permanent, you are required to work and demonstrate your capabilities. Such demonstration of capabilities is a valuable work experience that stands to project your image better. Temporary jobs are an ideal way to add skills and experience to your resume. Therefore, where is the harm in including your temporary assignments in your resume?

· Temporary jobs hold back job hunting efforts: It all depends on how much you decide to work. If you are in a part-time job, you can well make some changes to your work schedule so that adequate and appropriate time-slots can be earmarked for your job search efforts. You should remember your temporary job can actually serve to facilitate your job search. You simply cannot predict when an opening for a permanent job comes up in your present company or somebody in it recommends your name for an opening in your company or even outside it.

  Temporary jobs are available in just about every career field and location. They can offer you experience in industries and careers you might not have otherwise thought of trying. And if you are not thrilled with the assignment or the employer, you can always move on to your next position and start afresh. Besides being a good way to have a regular income, they are evidently a resume building experience and a path to permanent employment.