by Dolores Moore

Created on: March 31, 2009

Sad to say, we are in a time of economic stress, with job losses and lay-offs a threat or a reality for many. People need to work to live, and many skilled workers are finding it difficult to get another job. One solution is to register with an agency for temporary employment, just to be in work and pay the bills. The idea of temporary employment may have negative connotations for some people, perhaps a loss of status or the underusing of skills and experience. Others may view it as a way to maintain a continuous employment record or an opportunity to expand their skills and experience. Whatever way temporary employment is viewed, it certainly has pros and cons, and it might even turn out to be a positive step for the future. A look at the negatives first, then the positives could well make the prospect of temporary employment quite an exciting idea.

CONS:

# Absence of job security - it only lasts for a finite period of time.

# New skills and environments to adapt to, so the temporary worker feels at a disadvantage.

# No safe, recognized position in the organizational structure.

# New colleagues who do not fully engage with the worker because of their temporary status.

# A drop in pay and position, with a possible loss of self-esteem.

# Having to change quickly and adapt to every new temporary job.

# Removal of the comfort zone surrounding all of the above.

PROS:

# That finite time period works well if the person does not like the temporary job. They know they can move on, while still earning and working.

# New skills, new environments provide great learning experiences to add to a CV, while making the worker more versatile.

# When not part of the organizational structure, the temporary worker has more freedom to do the job without fear of involvement with office or workplace politics and pecking orders.

# New people to work with make it more interesting and exciting to go to work. The opportunities for making new friends are many.

# The pay may be less, but if it is enough to live on, then OK. There is less need to keep up a facade or try to maintain status. This is a chance to recognize priorities, values and personal worth. No matter what, the temporary worker can be proud of getting and doing a job.

# Changing and adapting is exciting and shows how flexible a person can be. Skills and abilities will be enhanced by ever-growing knowledge, as each temporary position offers the worker more and varied learning.

# Comfort zones can mean getting stuck in a rut. Having to explore new territory and draw on internal strengths gives a person a wider view of the world of work, a deeper insight into themselves. It also offers better employment prospects for the future.

Temporary employment can give a person a feeling of satisfaction and achievement. It provides proof that they have valuable transferable skills and abilities, while increasing knowledge in a variety of jobs. It allows a person to enjoy, rather than fear, changes and challenges, to increase interpersonal skills, and to re-evaluate their working life. In the end, it enhances self-belief and esteem. After all, the temporary worker can be proud to be still bringing home the bread.

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