We’re writing this blog especially for Northwest job seekers who might have been “out of the market” for a while and finding it challenging to get back into the job market. I am sharing my POV on a temporary role might be a great way for an unemployed job seeker to build up their resume.

PACE Staffing Network has been in the staffing and recruiting business for over 50 years – definitely long enough to understand the business of finding jobs from both sides of the aisle – both the employer’s and the job seeker’s perspective.   One of the questions that always bubbles up from job seekers –  countless times and in all economic climates…”Will a temporary job help me get the right job down the road?”

Good question, right? Well, let me share that for someone getting back into the job market after a short or lengthy hiatus, a temporary role or a temp-to-hire role might be the ideal solution for the challenge of getting your resume noticed, of competing against the high-powered talent that is always out there in the marketplace. Here’s why….

During the wobbly periods in most economic cycles, lots of employers use temporary / contract staffing as a way to get work done without making long term staffing committments. They do this for good reasons…they can ramp up or ramp down quickly, they can keep their feet in the water to ensure they are meeting their current business needs, all while avoiding the high costs associated with hiring direct and making long term commitments.  No employer wants to hire and then lay off.

While its true that when challenging times hit…temporary / contract staff are the first to go, the flip side of that coin is that when the economy starts to improve, temporary / contract workers are usually the first to be hired.  While a lot of employers are hesitant to hire, they are less hesitant to take a chance on an employee like you where they can work you into their operation so that when its time to hire, you’re ready to go! 

Why are temporary or “temp to hire” jobs great opportunities for Northwest job seekers?

#1 You can get your foot in the door of a highly desired employer….

….employers who,  under normal conditions, can be very difficult for candidates off the street to even get noticed, let alone hired.  In fact so many Northwest companies have embraced temporary staffing as the route to hiring so that the only way you can get hired is to become a “temp” first.

#2 Experience the benefits of the “try before you buy” hiring model

Clearly employers have bought into the “try before you hire” recruiting model as not only a way to hedge their bets on the economic future, but also to  check out candidates “on the job” before offering them permanent employment.  Simply stated, they want to avoid hiring errors – for their sake and yours, the job seeker.

But the “try before you buy” benefit swings both ways.  Once a candidate gets their foot in the door, they also get to decide if they want to keep that door open or closed.  IOW< employees have the same opportunities to test the water before making a long-term commitment as do employers.  While Washington is an “at will” state…allowing employers to end your employment at any time and without reason…employees too, can determine a if a particular job or employer is that “just right fit”.  If it isn’t either party can end the audition without foul.

#3  The job seeker gets to decide how long they are willing to stay in a role as a “temp”.

The traditional “temp to hire” gig typically lasts anywhere from 30 to 180 days. As a temporary employee you don’t have to be stuck in a temporary role indefinitely.  Once you’re into an assignment if you decide the “long term job” isn’t in the cards, you can end your assignment without any wake from either your staffing company or their client at any time by giving a proper notice (usually one week).

#4  It’s a great way to try something new when getting back into the job market

Jobseekers who are new to an area, in between jobs, or returning to the job market, often return to the job market looking for something new – a different type of job, a new industry, a different kind of employer (large, small, on the grow, etc.) Temporary employment is a great way to go to work quickly because the employer spends much less time vetting you to have all the qualities they could possibly need and are more interested in finding someone who can just get a specific job done. This is a way you can compete with candidates who have stronger resumes than you but might be less willing to work as a “temp”. Demonstrate your “can learn” skills and your well on your way to being hired when the time is right!

And one more thing – even if a Temp-to-Hire job ends without you being hired, chances are you will have gained some new skills, new experiences, some new wisdom about the current state of work that will be beneficial to your job search, add value to your resume.  You just might have gained a competitive edge!

#5  In challenging times, it can be a psychological boost just to get back into the job market & work

There’s nothing like having a regular paycheck in your pocket when you’re building back.  Look at it this way – you get to earn money while having a “long interview” with a prospective employer.

Here’s some quick advice I’d like to share with candidates who are in temporary or temp to hire roles….

There are some on the job behaviors that employers always look for in any temporary employee…and the employees who show these behaviors are often the candidates who get hired. Once you’ve been selected for a temporary role and have been told it might become a permanent role “for the right candidate”, take full advantage of the opportunity you have been given to show your value. 

• Showcase both the skills and personal qualities you would bring to the table if hired.
• Treat the job as if you were being hired into a core role – not into a temporary assignment.
• Make sure you learn about what the company does, its mission, its values.
• Understand all the “rules of engagement”. Show up on time, follow their dress-code.
• Make sure you always know what’s expected of you. Make sure you meet those expectations.
• Meet or beat deadlines.
• Never wait for someone to tell you want to do. If you run out of work, make sure you ask for more.
• Show you have a desire and capacity to learn new things. Don’t wait to be taught. Use your initiative to learn more.
• Build relationships with your teammembers

Taking your temp assignment seriously, “walking your talk”, will go a long way to show your prospective employer that you are motivated and eager to make a difference.  Doing this, not only increases your chances of being hired, but chances are will lead to referrals to other opportunities that might exist inside the company befor they become public.