Should You Consider Contract Employment?

Posted by admin on March 13, 2010 under Business Coaching Services | Be the First to Comment

It’s no surprise that since the job market has been tenuous that contract employment is on the rise, among people who need a job now and those who want to “try on” a new career. But is it the right opportunity for you?  When working with a business coaching service, you may be advised to try a temporary position before committing to a whole-scale career change.

 

Advantages of a Contract Job

• Choices. Temporary employment typically allows you to pick your job, desired salary, and work hours. Also, temp jobs can let you take time off between gigs, although vacation time is typically unpaid.
• Variety. The only limitations are your imagination and your talents.
• Networking. Contract jobs can help you forge many new professional contacts. If you enjoy the institution you temp for, you may even secure permanent employment. Roughly 42% of contract workers receive permanent job offers through temping.

The Downside

• Low job security. Contract jobs are a two-way street. Not only do contract agreements allow workers to leave at any time, they also allow employers to freely release temporary employees. Fact: The average temp job lasts only fifteen weeks.
• Minimal benefits. Many temp agencies do not offer paid vacations, holidays, or healthcare plans. However, more than half of temp agencies offer retirement benefits.
• Limited training. Many employers provide temporary employees with minimal training. If you are serious about turning your temp job into a career, you need to be self-motivated, take on extra tasks, and ask plenty of questions.

The Future of Temporary Employment

Overall employment prospects should still hold strong for temp workers this year, despite the recent economic slump. The need for contract workers in the healthcare industry should be especially large, due to the aging baby boomer population and the high job turnover rate in health facilities across the country. Other fields projected to have great demand for temp workers include transportation, office and administrative support, production, engineering, and management.