Reasons to become a temp

Choosing temporary or VA work over a permanent position is becoming increasingly popular as global uncertainty and a shifting industry landscape is giving way to less job security, but PAs could have a lot to gain from embracing the changing world. Recruitment specialists at Robert Walters are encouraging more admin and support professionals to take the leap to temp work, and have listed their top reasons to reassess your career.

Experience and experiment
Broaden your horizons by exploring new directions for your career, build up your contact book and make an impression on bosses. Particularly highlighting the importance early on in your career to grow quickly and establish yourself. Having to pick up new skills quickly and improvise under pressure, temp work can help you learn your craft. And if you don’t like where you’re working, you can simply try a different direction.

Manage your personal life
Taking on temp work can help make budgeting easier, as weekly or fortnightly pay means getting income more frequently than a permanent position. As well as easier management of your home life, not being tied to a specific role or location means you’re able to cherry pick where and when you want to work. Picking up more temporary work is much easier than searching for a new permanent role, so you can choose what’s working for you.

Get your foot in the door
It’s not uncommon for workers who spend a lot of time at a particular job to get a permanent offer if they prove themselves. Thinking of every temp job as having the potential to become permanent will help you treat every role with more care.

“Many candidates I worked with in the past were initially hired on temporary contracts then moved to a permanent position within the company” said Victoria Yates, senior recruitment consultant from Robert Walters. “It’s an excellent opportunity to prove your value to the company and show them why you would be a key addition to the permanent staff.”

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