A temp job, or temporary job, is one which only lasts for a short duration, rather than permanently. There are many advantages to temporary employment, both for the employee and the employer. However, there are many other factors to be considered that may make temp jobs less attractive than permanent employment.
Employee Advantages
Many employees like temp jobs because they can can work them around other life circumstances. For example, a mother of young children can work a temp job while they are in school and then take the summer months off.
Others like temp jobs because it helps them build their work history while going to school. For example, a nursing student may find work as a respite-care worker, which will give him patient-care experience while he is still taking classes. That experience may put him ahead of other candidates when it is time to apply for nursing jobs.
Temp jobs are also a means of getting one's foot in the door of a company. An employer may notice the temp employee's work ethic and professionalism and hire her permanently when the temp job is finished.
Of course, in times of economic hardship, temporary employment is likely to be better than no employment at all.
Employee Disadvantages
Temp employees are usually the first ones to be let go during economic crises. Temp jobs usually have lower pay than their permanent counterparts and usually don't offer benefits like sick days, vacation time or health insurance.
Temporary employees, especially those managed by an outside agency, are often ignored by the management of the client company. Thus, a temp's efforts to get hired permanently may not be noticed.
Employer Advantages
Employers have many reasons to consider temp workers. Temp workers save the company money because they only work as needed. There is significant savings in not having to pay union dues, insurance premiums and other benefits, for example. Temp employees provide the permanent staff a certain amount of job security as temps are let go first in an economic downturn.
Hiring an employee on a temporary basis gives a company a chance to have a trial run before offering permanent employment. For example, a temp may be hired to fill in during a permanent employee's family leave, which would be a finite period of time. The employer thus gets an extended time to determine whether the temp would fit in with the company.
Employer Disadvantages
Each time a temp is hired, he must be trained in the company's way of doing things. This is especially important, and time consuming, in terms of safety and legal issues.
Many companies have experienced employee morale problems when using temp workers. It can be discouraging for a temp to perform the same duties as a permanent worker but not have the same pay, benefits and job security as a permanent employee.
Finding Jobs and Employees
There are many reputable agencies that match temp jobs and workers. Look for those companies that are members of the American Staffing Association. Look for agencies that offer the services you offer or need: Many specialize in particular trades. Employers and temp workers should ask how the agency matches the worker to jobs and whether it offers workers compensation to its temps.
Many temp jobs are also listed in newspapers and online alongside permanent jobs. However, because of the short-term nature of these jobs, many companies with temp jobs fill them with former employees or others who they meet through networking.
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