Fresh Advice: Temporary Jobs

Published on 2008-08-07

Occupational Outlook Quarterly calls temporary or "temp" jobs "short-term jobs with long-term potential." This might sound contrary to the advice that says longevity with a company is the only way to prove one's employment worth. However, temp jobs that build or enhance job skills can actually be positive for your resume.

Temp jobs that do not require a 40-week commitment make ideal part time jobs for people who need income while entrenched in the process of searching for full-time work. Temporary seasonal jobs can also be a financial boon for anyone who needs a little extra income around the holidays.

Temp work can provide good jobs for teens that are just entering the workforce and may need scheduling flexibility to accommodate school and extracurricular activities. Temporary college student jobs also bring additional income and can be performed during long school breaks. Don't assume that a temp job disqualifies you from working steadily, however. Some temp workers are able to temp full-time.
Although temporary jobs are by nature limited in tenure, they can provide a good introduction to different fields. Sometimes, companies will even hire workers after they have completed their temporary or summer jobs with the company. A temp worker who shows initiative and skill is far easier to transition into full-time employment than one who must be oriented and trained.

In the past, temp work was often restricted to office jobs in the realm of administrative support, production, transportation, and logistics. Increasingly, companies use temp workers to perform other functions such as technical support, legal services, and nursing, although many short-term, seasonal, and part time evening jobs are still built around administrative and transportation needs.

Typically, temp workers register with temp agencies and/or staffing firms who help people find limited-duration, seasonal, and part time weekend jobs. Whether the worker is looking for Christmas jobs or something that lasts only a few months, the firm will place him or her with a company who is looking for non-permanent workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that these firms helped workers find 2.5 million temp jobs in 2005. In the future, there may be even more temporary full and part time jobs for teens and older workers, as well as seasonal jobs if the industry continues to grow as fast as the BLS anticipates that it will.

As with any job, you will have to interview with a temp agency in order to be placed. Once you're offered a position, your temp officer will begin looking for job positions for you. Remember that temp agencies' clients are the companies who need staffing; thus, the temp agency's main goal is to make them happy. They earn money from placements (getting a cut of the temp's hourly rate), but their reputation really rides on whether or not you, the temp, do a good job. In some cases, staffing agencies earn what's called a conversion bonus if you are offered full-time employment opportunities. Besides alleviating some of the burden of having to find jobs, some temp agencies also offer benefits at cost to their temp workers.

As you begin looking for temp agencies, you might consider those which specialize in certain fields as a way to break into an industry. Thus, if you're interested in computers, choose an agency that can often place you in IT jobs. Also, talk to your placement officer and let him or her know what kind of job opportunities you're interested in. It's also helpful to register with more than one agency if you want to work consistently.

The other way to find temporary, seasonal, or part time jobs in New York, Texas, Oregon, or anyplace else is to search the positions advertised on Fresho.com. From summer jobs in Alaska to weekend jobs in Vermont, our selection is guaranteed fresh. Explore our employment listings today and start your new temp job tomorrow!