To Temp or Not to Temp—That Is Sometimes the Question

One of the first things I did after being laid off was contact major temporary contract placement firms in my field (marketing and communications) in the Washington, D.C. area market. One of them was a firm that helped me get my foot in the door of a previous employer through a temp-to-perm contract and that I later used to find temp help for a conference. Three other agencies have also signed me on as a “talent in waiting.”

That was four months ago. The temporary job market has been slow, even downright dry since then. I’ve stayed in touch with the agencies, however, periodically checking in to say “Hi” so that I am still on their radar screen. I even heard from one a few weeks ago about a job that disappeared as fast as it arose, but it raised my hopes. Employers are starting to fill the gaps in projects and programs—gaps made by layoffs or other changes such as maternity leave. It’s a good sign.

Margaret Zollars, who specializes in marketing placements for Aquent, said yesterday that she’s beginning to see an uptick in contract opportunities at the senior level as well as for mid-level professionals. She’s seen three new positions in D.C. just this week, and as summer wraps up, she pointed out, there will likely be more. For contract work, she said, “it’s a matter of having flexibility” regarding hours (PT vs. FT) and location, but you gain “a. exposure to an industry or interesting project” and the chance to “b. keep up your skills.”

Temporary or contract work can help fill the financial gaps after a layoff, since the pay rate is generally good. Some agencies offer benefits such as health insurance after you have been working with them for a while. If you land a part-time assignment, it will leave you some time for your job hunt, networking and interviews. Keep in mind that an assignment could last weeks or months when signing a contract.

You may also want to read this follow-up post: Thoughtful Persistence Can Lead to Temp or Contract Work