Nowadays, temporary employment is booming all over the world from the United States to Japan, despite the differences in economic conditions and development. Many multinational corporations, such as McDonald’s or PepsiCo, saved preposterous sums of money by using temporary workers instead of permanent ones. Therefore, job-hopping is becoming more and more a norm that many millennials are choosing to follow.
The main difference between regular employment and short-term employment is that temporary workers are hired for a certain period of time, as is indicated in their contract. They to do all the tasks that permanent workers are supposed to, and they are incredibly useful during changes in demand for labor due to seasonal diversity, maternity leaves or vacations. The hiring process and all the benefits associated with the job are the same for temporary workers, even when hired via a job agency.
Perspectives for the Starters
The first and foremost reason for taking a temporary job is income. When a person needs money, sometimes short-term employment is necessary. Also, companies often need extra people to satisfy their customers’ fluctuating needs and for that, they are willing to pay a reasonably good salary.
Temporary work is especially great if one is still searching for a dream job or still needs time to figure out what it is that he/she wants to do. Also, for people who are unsure about the future, it is a great way to “test drive” the job or the industry, or even to slowly move to a completely new field.
Short-term work can be a beneficial place to gain experience for starting one's own business, or to work as a free-lancer. This would offer a chance to gain practical skills while working on one’s own projects; or to help improve personal development, instead of being in limbo.
Furthermore, it could be a great way to fill in the gap(s) in a CV or resume. A gap looks suspicious and unusual to potential employers, and it might be a cause of rejection in the future. Also, consistent work demonstrates a more ambitious and hard working employee.
Prospects for Middle or Senior Employees
One of the advantages of taking on a temporary worker’s role is the high chance of being hired permanently. Based on the AOL (global media and technology company) research, 40% of employers plan to hire temporary workers. The same research shows that due to the rapid growth of the temporary job market, there are many opportunities for so called temp workers.
Another fundamental reason to become a temporary worker is income. Sometimes, it is better to do any job than no job at all and be a part of the social support system. Moreover, if one is hired via a job agency, the person is entitled to benefits because he/she is an employee of the agency.
Furthermore, working at various companies allows a senior worker to meet lots of new people, which will create a very broad network that can be used for further career opportunities (or when starting one’s own business). For people who love to socialize, it is a great way to satisfy the need to do so or to make new friends.
There are many advantages to look forward to when taking on a temporary job regardless of career level or age. However, it depends on each person's individual situation and their attitude towards it, if short-term employment will give the satisfaction one is looking for in their career, or if it will provide a springboard to the next, better job.
Asta Kerkhoven