There are many reasons why secretarial and support professionals choose to temp. Temporary work is ideal for candidates who have been made redundant, for those that have just moved to a new area and are finding their feet, for those that want to fit their work life around other commitments or for candidates who have a specific job in mind but need to gain experience in order to secure it. Temping can work for everyone! If you’re unsure how temp work could benefit you, look no further. Here we explain the top 5 benefits of temping:
Experience matters
Working as a temp will develop your skills and help you to gain valuable work experience in different office environments. If you know exactly where you want to be but lack suitable experience, enriching your CV with temporary positions may be enough to push an employer to choose you over another candidate. You may be hired for a temporary job based on your skill set rather than your background or experience. Thanks to a temporary position it may be that you are then able to gain the relevant experience and industry knowledge needed in order to secure your dream job.
TOP TIP: Update your CV regularly with details of skills that you have learnt and things that you have accomplished in each position.
It’s flexible
Another great benefit of temping is its flexibility. Temporary contracts differ greatly so you can pick and choose the role to suit you. That being said, temping is a great way to explore different avenues if you are still unsure of what it is that you’re looking for. You can use your time as a temp to experiment and discover exactly which industry, location, office and role suits you before committing to a permanent role and unlike a permanent position you aren’t as tied down if you find its time for you to move on. Temporary work’s flexibility is also perfect those who are searching for another job. You can continue searching and applying for other positions at the same time as earning money, gaining experience and, most importantly, avoiding gaps on your CV.
TOP TIP: If you are planning to interview for other positions, it is worthwhile checking that the company you are temping for will allow you to take the time out of work.
Challenge yourself
Starting a new job and working with different people in a completely alien environment is bound to push you out of your comfort zone. Often temps are taken on by companies in order to cover an existing staff member while they are out of office. In these situations, temps are expected to adjust to their new role quickly and with as little disruption as possible. Consequently, temping tests a candidate’s ability to quickly adjust to a fast paced environment – something that prospective employers will recognize.
It could open doors
Temping could be your way into a great company. If a temporary employee with an excellent skill set and work ethic impresses during their temporary contract, companies often keep them in mind for future vacancies or may even offer them a position that didn’t exist originally. Furthermore, every new position is a great opportunity to network. You can use your time as a temp to establish contacts which may be able to help you in the future – after all its not always what you know, but who you know.
TOP TIP: Make sure you connect with colleagues on LinkedIn so that you can keep in touch – you never know how valuable they may be!
Temp-to-perm
Often secretarial support professionals are hired on a temp-to-perm basis. This means that a company will hire a candidate for a temporary position with the chance of being offered a permanent position. A temp-to-perm contract is like a trial run for both the employer and employee. It allows the employer to see how a candidate performs and how they fit into the work environment before reaching a decision on whether to offer them a permanent position. For the candidate, it is their chance to prove themselves. Lily Shippen see a high volume of candidates that are offered a permanent position after being hired initially as a temp.
