To temp or not to temp… that is the question!
With temporary recruitment on the rise and the holiday season fast approaching, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of working a temporary role and if working with a temp agency is right for you.
So what is a temporary role? A temp role can last anything from a few hours to a few months and is a great way to gain experience in a variety of environments and industries at a much faster pace than a permanent role. It can often be seen as a foot in the door opportunity for both employer and employee and many permanent positions start out this way.
Lets take a look at the pros
Flexibility
Temp work offers a great amount of flexibility. Working where you want, when you want to……yes please! At a time post covid where employees are really looking at, and valuing work-life balance, having work that fits around their life is the perfect solution. Taking days off for appointments or to get something done, not having to commit to the mundane Monday to Friday for some people can be the ultimate work choice. Without a contract, there is also no requirement to give notice if something else comes along, however we would always advise to give a small amount out of courtesy.
Career Opportunities
Are you in between roles? Looking to return to work? Looking for the first steps into your future career? Temping is a great way to gain experience in a variety of roles, industries and workplaces. For people that have been out of work for a while, its an opportunity to rebuild skills and confidence. For someone between roles, it can be a way to recoup any money lost between jobs. For a grad or someone starting out in their career, temping can be a great trial, gaining experience and insight to the working world, broadening skills as well as growing their professional network so they can better decide the career path they wish to take. It can really help all candidates understand where their strengths lie and making future decisions and career moves from the experience gained.
Permanent Opportunity
A gateway to more….. If you struggle with the pressure of interviews, this is the best way to show off your skills in a less stressful situation. A ‘try before you buy’ for employee and employer, can be a foot in the door and really give you a great insight into a company, the role, culture and opportunities and if it is somewhere you would like to work permanently. Often, if you have performed well, or the opportunity arises, you would be the 1st port of call to fill the position permanently. Advantages of already knowing the systems, building a rapport with teams and clients and experience in the role are all seen as major pros.
Varied Skill Set
Regularly working in different companies, industries and roles can mean learning new systems and roles quickly and requires a competent employee. This can be huge asset to your CV building a wider skill base to improve employability. Temping in this way can also reduce the risk of becoming bored, doing the same job day in day out and some people really thrive on the variety and challenges involved.
Continuous Employment
Nothing says that you are conscientious more than actively working in roles to maintain little or no gaps on your CV. It also showcases you willingness to be adaptable and ability to face challenges.
Networking Opportunities
Working in different temp roles will allow you to build your network and contact base. You will be working with and meeting new people which is always useful when expanding your professional network. You may also be able to reply on them for references or endorsements on platforms such as LinkedIn.
Weekly Pay/ Immediate Income
For some people, the chance of being paid weekly and securing the best possible hourly rates are a great draw to temping. During periods of unemployment, being paid weekly can be a Godsend!
So what are the cons?
Jumpy CV
An employer can often read a CV with lots of short term or temp posts as being jumpy and potentially unreliable and often look for candidates who have shown longevity in previous roles. The reasons can often be overlooked and judged based on lack of commitment, performance and loyalty without even speaking to the candidate or acknowledging skills that would really benefit them. By laying out your CV in a clear, informative and concise way, you will over come this barrier and a fair employer will see that you are employable.
Lone Worker
If you are covering sickness or holiday you can often be expected to pick up a system and job role to hit the ground running with little or no training or support from other employees. It can be hard if you are constantly moving between roles and companies to not build a rapport and have the camaraderie that comes with working in a team. It requires you to be fairly self sufficient, quick to learn and happy to get stuck in often using common sense. The work can often be very boring and low satisfaction type work.
Lack of stability
Temp work is very much supply and demand and the risk factor of having long term job security. The work is never guaranteed and cannot be relied upon which in turn can bring financial instability. It may push you into situations accepting roles you are less happy with or paying a lower hourly rate than you need. It is not recommended as a main source of income, and we would never recommend a permanent employee leave a role for an unsecure temp role. However, working alongside a good recruitment agency can help you secure back to back roles where possible, as they will regularly have opportunities available having good relationships with ongoing clients. An employer does also not need to give you any notice and can ask you to leave at any point.
Flexibility
You may have noticed flexibility as a pro, so how does it also end up as a con……Temp work can often be very short notice and not always in convenient locations. If you often refuse work, are slow to reply, or not receiving good feedback, you will be limiting your chances and not be a priority or at the top of the agency’s go-to pile. We would always advise to show reliability and availability to your agency giving you the best chance of securing the best roles.
Pigeon Holed
Once a temp – always a temp. It can make it harder to nail down a perm role, with agencies and employers seeing you just a temp candidate it can be hard to break that stigma.
Lack of Benefits
Benefits enjoyed by permanent employees are very rarely included in a temp role. Occasionally expenses can be offered but this is not always guaranteed. You are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), Holiday Pay and workplace pension through the temp agency and we actively advise your agency is being upfront and ensuring these are available to you.
Lack of Benefits
Whilst all temp workers are entitled to some benefits from day one of employment and even more after 12 weeks, some benefits enjoyed by permanent employees are not automatically available. You are entitled to statutory payments such as sick pay, holiday pay and workplace pension as a minimum. We would advise that you check you are receiving what you are entitled to.
Summary
Temping isn’t for everyone, but it definitely has a lot of advantages worth considering depending on your situation. It opens doors and offers opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach. There is always a need for good temps and in the current recruitment market with a huge rise in temp roles it could be the way you secure your dream role. I would always advise candidates to give it consideration. If you are unsure, speaking with a reputable recruitment agency is always the best place to start. With lots of opportunities both temp and perm, it is always best to discuss what type of role is best for you before you start applying.
If you are currently looking to get back into work, change career or looking for your next opportunity, our team at LUXE Recruitment are well equipped to offer expert advice on how to make the most of your job search. Get in touch with our team today!
