Tag: Career Change

This article on temporary work opportunities is part of the Coaching Collective series, featuring tips and expertise from Flatiron School Career Coaches. Every Flatiron School graduate is eligible to receive up to 180 days of 1:1 career coaching with one of our professional coaches. This series is a glimpse of the expertise you can access during career coaching at Flatiron School. 

When job searching, most of us focus on obtaining a full-time role, typically defined as a  40-hour work week that frequently offers benefits like healthcare and retirement plans.  

While full-time employment with benefits is ultimately what most of us strive for, other short-term and temporary opportunities can go overlooked by job seekers – whether because they’re unaware they exist or they don’t think it can enhance their long-term career opportunities.  

The good news is, whether you’re just starting in your career, recently affected by downsizing, re-entering the workforce, are a career changer, or just looking for a new opportunity, temporary work can be an excellent opportunity to gain relevant experience. It can even be a stepping stone in your journey to obtain full-time employment in the future. 

You’d be amazed by how many people, including graduates of Flatiron School, have turned temporary opportunities into regular, full-time employment.

What Is Temporary Work?

First, let’s talk about semantics and categories. 

Work that has a defined duration, whether it’s a few weeks or even a few years, is often referred to as contract, temporary, or freelance work. The work can vary as far as the duration of the work assignment, rate of pay, how wages are paid out (W-2, 1099, etc.), hours worked, and what, if any, benefits are offered. 

For this article, we’ll refer to short-term work as “temporary work”  opportunities, where the work has a defined duration, set rate of pay, and doesn’t offer benefits. 

Advantages Of Temporary Work

Insight Into A Company Or Industry

A temporary work opportunity lets you “test drive” the scope of work, or portions of the work, for a given job. It also gives you a glimpse of a specific company’s culture, work environment, and related logistics. 

You’ll see elements of the environment such as how team members work together and the tone set by management. You’ll also get a better feel for some logistics, such as the commute, daily schedules, and any travel associated with the role.

Just as you can learn about a specific company, temporary work can also expose you to various types of industries. For example, if you’re a Cybersecurity professional who has an interest in the healthcare industry, you can focus on searching for tech-related temporary work in a healthcare setting. On the flip side, if you’re interested in a temporary opportunity that happens to be in an industry you’re not yet familiar with, you may discover new industries that pique your interest.

All of these factors are an advantage to temporary work because it gives you and the employer a chance to see if it’s a good fit for both of you. 

If you ultimately decide the company or industry is not one you’d want to work for long-term, at least you found that out before diving in as a full-time, regular employee. 

On the other hand, if you find you are energized by the work and the company’s mission, products, and services, then you may decide you would consider working there long-term or full-time down the road. 

Gain Experience

Engaging in temporary work in your field can help you gain valuable experience and learn new skills –  all of which can make you a more competitive candidate if and when you’re ready to seek full-time employment. This applies whether you have no work experience at all or have a robust work history. Temporary work can also help keep your skills up-to-date while you’re seeking more full-time employment. 

Fill Employment Gaps

You can add temporary work experience to your resume and LinkedIn profile, which can help fill any resume gaps. Whether you purposely left your last position or were affected by layoffs, temporary employment can hold you over, if needed, until you’ve secured a full-time position.

Networking Opportunities

You will meet new people in a temporary job. Whether it’s co-workers, management, or clients, all of these new contacts expand your network. Even if the role doesn’t turn into a long-term or permanent role, you can still maintain the relationships going forward.

This will help build your network by increasing your valuable connections – some of whom can potentially refer you for future roles, both inside and outside the company or industry.

Flexible Schedule

While temporary work can vary as far as hours and days worked, it often allows for some flexibility. 

If your temporary assignment is approximately 20-25 hours per week, you’ll have more free time in your weekly schedule to focus on other things when compared to the typical 40-hour work week.

Psychological Benefits

Working in a temporary role can have a positive impact on your overall mood and help build your confidence. If you’ve been out of work for a while and haven’t yet found your dream job, chances are your motivation and outlook may need a boost. Having a temporary role can help get you to get back on track both professionally and personally. 

The work you perform can help remind you that you’re a valued contributor that has a lot to offer a company, which in turn can increase your self-confidence again, get you interacting with people, and get your momentum moving in a positive and productive direction. It can also help you financially if money is tight, which can often be the case when one is looking for a job. 

Potential For Permanent Employment

Temporary work allows you to get your “foot in the door” with a particular company. 

Many temporary jobs have the potential to turn into full-time or permanent roles, particularly if you show the key players that you are an effective, reliable worker who is motivated to work with the organization. The hiring managers will be more likely to consider you when an internal position opens up as they would already be familiar with your performance. You’d also have the advantage of already having worked with the company, even if in a short-term role. 

Many people, including graduates of Flatiron School, have turned temporary opportunities into regular, full-time employment. 

Disadvantages of Temporary Jobs

On the other side of the spectrum, some may see a few of the above advantages as disadvantages.  

For example, the rate of pay for temporary employment may not always be as high as it would be for a full-time role, and the lack of benefits can be a disadvantage to some. 

Perhaps the scope of work in a temporary role does not include all aspects of what the full-time role would include. You also may not feel like you’re fully part of the team when you’re a temporary worker. And, while it may increase your chances of landing a full-time position in the future, it is of course not guaranteed. 

These are all valid points and things to weigh when considering taking a temporary work position.

The Bottom Line

When considering temporary employment, it’s important to examine both the pros and cons of the opportunity and think about what your unique needs are at the time. You can then decide what works best for you and if the opportunity is a good fit. 

It’s also important to decide if and how the opportunity can help you long-term. When you consider the long-term advantages over short-term gains, then you may find that the benefits of temporary work far outweigh any potential disadvantages. 

By keeping an open mind and at least being open to temporary work, you’ve just increased your menu of job search options and potential work opportunities!

About Andrea Towe

Andrea Towe is a Career Coach with Flatiron School. She has 20+ years of experience in career coaching and corporate human resources, including employee relations, talent acquisition, career and leadership development, training development, and facilitation.

This article on “Ready For A Change” is part of a series developed by Curriculum Design to guide students through the Flatiron School program experience.

People change careers at all stages of their career journey for a range of reasons, from wanting a more flexible schedule and the ability to work from anywhere to craving new challenges and more fulfillment.

Preparing for change requires deliberate effort and can be daunting, but the payoff has the potential to be life-changing.

You’ve probably had many ideas about what you’d like to do next. But no matter the direction you’re considering transitioning into, it’s important to plan carefully. That’s why we’ve put together six key elements that will help you in the journey of choosing your change.

Ready for a change? Great, let’s take a look at how you’ll do it.

Take The Initiative

When you’re ready for a change, you’ve probably had many ideas about what you’d like to do next, but now’s the time to narrow it down and make a decision to move forward. It all starts with your need or desire and may include help from others or be propelled entirely from within.

The most important first step to take, however, is moving from the research stage to the action stage. Pick one thing and go for it!

Seek And Decide

Want to advance your skills in an area you’re not proficient in? Try something brand new that’s always been an interest? Decide what you want to learn, and look around for how you could go about acquiring the skill. There are likely learning courses, one-off classes, or activities based on what you wish to learn or study.

⭐ Tip: Don’t limit yourself. Approaching this part of the process with curiosity, rather than looking for an absolutely perfect next step, will set you up for success.

Write A Plan Of Action

Set goals for yourself. And not, “Goal number one: set some goals”.

Create a learning outcome for the course of study you are choosing and use your learning to reach that goal. Let your exploration take you in various directions. It could be something as simple as “watch an intro YouTube video” or “complete a self-learning course in 30 days”.

Your short-term learning goals should be specific, with a definite deadline, and written down. Above all, make your deadlines realistic. Give yourself more time than you think you need.

⭐ Tip: While you’re working on short-term goals, keep your long-term goals in sight at all times – frame them and put them on your wall. This will remind you why you’re doing what you’re doing and what you’re ultimately aiming for.

Use Your Network

If you’re feeling stuck or not sure what skills you need to acquire in order to pursue a desired profession, finding a mentor in your intended field can provide an invaluable resource and support.

Why learn from your own mistakes when you can learn from someone else’s? This is where your time spent networking can help you.

LinkedIn connections, your alumni network, your favorite uncle, or your alumni network could come to great use.

⭐ Tip:** Do it with others, not alone.

Make A Decision

Decide on your next step. Then decide how you learn best. It could be an audiobook, YouTube University, a series of meetings with a professional, or an online course that you complete over the next five months. This is where knowing your long-term goals will be your guide. Know what you want. Go after it.

This can take many forms, especially in the age of the internet, so take some time to look around. But ultimately, push forward. Don’t get stuck in the research stage – take action! And try not to worry about taking the “wrong” path, you can always choose again.

⭐ “…it’s like you’re standing in a forest and you have a number of tracks in front of you. But you’re paralyzed because you don’t want to make a mistake. And the challenge is: if you don’t take any of the paths, you’re never going to get out of the forest. If you take one of them, it may not be the right track initially, but you can course-correct.”

Be Patient

As you step into different worlds, sparking ideas and learning as you go, remember to revisit your goals with critical reflection— what’s working, and what can change? Remember why you wanted to change in the first place. Plan some time to alter your route if needed. Your goal is forward movement (alternate routes welcomed). Remember – it’s an expedition, not a day trip.

TL;DR

• Pursuing a new industry can be daunting, but planning carefully will keep you moving toward your goals when you’re ready for a change.
• Key elements to keep in mind as you choose your change: set goals for yourself, find a mentor in your new field, make your next step, and know what you want, go after it.