Why Temporary Work is a Great Idea for Recent Graduates

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By Lisa Hutchinson

Topics: Job Search

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Why_Temporary_Work_Is_a_Great_Idea_for_Recent_GraduatesGraduation is one of the most exciting and terrifying moments of your life. On the one hand, you’re free of the academic life and (hopefully) feeling more than prepared to land that career you’ve been questing for. On the other hand, you have to face a competitive job market and the possibility that you won’t be happy with the career path you’ve chosen.

Going straight for that dream career seems like the only option for recent graduates, but have you considered that temporary work might be a more secure option for landing a career after your degree? Temporary work can be particularly beneficial for recent graduates willing to travel the less traditional route.

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Read on to gain a different perspective on temporary employment as a recent grad.

Obtain Paid Practical Experience

Temporary work has an advantage over internships in your desired industry: you can earn practical experience and a pay cheque at once. While your contract is short term, the long term benefits of gaining industry standard skill and building your savings after graduation are immeasurable.

When you focus solely on obtaining permanent employment, your job search will likely take longer. Since the gig economy is the norm now for the foreseeable future, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to gain steady work through multiple temp contracts.

Test-Drive a Position or Industry

The short term nature of temporary work is also ideal for recent graduates who are unsure of their futures. Despite studying HR management, you might find that you’re more drawn to a different administrative role. Use temporary jobs as a way to test drive various positions or even various industries.

Unlike permanent work, temporary jobs allow you to gauge whether you’re a good fit for both the daily responsibilities and environment of those positions. In the best case scenario, taking on a temporary job will help you find the perfect match. Some employers are even actively looking for “try before you hire” candidates and may hire you on full time after your contract has ended. And the worst case scenario? The job wasn’t a good fit, but you’re now better informed and well paid for your efforts.

Get Your Foot in the Door

Permanent positions are tricky to land straight out of college because of the catch-22 of experience. You need a job in the field you’re interested in to gain experience, but as a recent graduate, you most likely have limited to no related experience.

Many companies in your desired industries will need temporary workers during the holidays (both summer and winter), and often need an extra hand for specific skills gaps. Becoming a temporary worker at one of your dream companies is a definite possibility.

While temping might not always lead to a permanent position at these companies, it will garner you a great network you wouldn’t have otherwise had. Down the road, if there are openings for full time positions, you can bet that if you were a great temp they’ll pay more attention to your application over the competition.

The less worn path can lead to some great opportunities if you’re willing to see where it leads. If temporary work sounds like a promising solution, apply to a staffing agency today, like Liberty Staffing, and explore your career options.

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Lisa Hutchinson

I started with Liberty Staffing in 2004 as the Regional Business Manager of the London office. I have over 20 years of experience in the customer service and retail sectors, as well as leadership experience including Store Management, People Development and Recruiting. In 2016, our London location moved to a larger office in order to accommodate growth of our business, which included adding a Clerical Division.

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