By Dawn Fay, Operational President, Robert HalfI’m always in recruiting mode, wherever I am. After 28 years in the business, it’s hard to turn my mind off work completely even after leaving the office for the day. Recently, my husband and I were waiting to be seated at a restaurant when I overheard a conversation: Two people were talking about their son, who was early in his career and having trouble landing a new job after being laid off.Without intruding, I asked what field he was in, gave them my card and asked their son to reach out to me. We got in touch and I referred him to a Robert Half recruiter. Being open to temporary/contract work, I told him, could be an ideal option to get back to work quickly, especially after searching for a permanent role for several months. A couple of weeks later, he started a temporary/contract job at a well-known financial services company.
Job seekers often respond, “But my goal is to get a permanent position,” and I certainly understand that. In a constantly changing job market, however, contracting may be your best option for the time being.Firms that aren’t hiring permanent staff have mission-critical projects that require specialized skills for a fixed period. These projects are essential to the business, so managers often have budget to hire contract/temporary staff. Firms can turn to specialized talent solutions firms to find these professionals, meaning you won’t see these roles listed on their site or promoted externally.Our recruiters at Robert Half work with hiring managers across the country. Every day, we uncover new contract/temporary opportunities in our specialty areas:Accounting & FinanceTechnologyMarketing & CreativeLegalAdministrative & Customer SupportContract/temporary work is a terrific option for professionals in these fields, whether they are newer to their careers or have years of experience under their belts. Expanding your job search to include contract/temporary positions can bring several benefits:Your network and skills grow — You never know who you’ll meet working in a new organization. You’ll also be able to apply your skills in a different setting, and it’s likely you’ll gain new ones during your project.Your resume stays current — Most employers consider contract work experience equivalent to permanent employment. Working on a contract basis means you won’t have an unemployment gap on your resume.You earn income — Making money can alleviate some of the pressure of being unemployed. You (and your recruiter) can still look for a permanent role while you work on a contract assignment. Contract assignments can get extended or lead to other opportunities — Projects can last longer than expected for several reasons, meaning a 4-week engagement may grow to 6, 10 or even more. Managers often want people who have done an excellent job on one contract to consider another opportunity within their organization.Contract roles can lead to permanent positions — This is a great way for both the employer and professional to ensure they’re a good fit for each other. You work in the role and the manager gauges your skills first-hand before making a long-term commitment.
Research recruiters in your area who specialize in your field. Look at their sites and check out job listings online, as well as any career articles or advice they offer.Update your LinkedIn profile. Make sure it reflects your recent accomplishments and includes details of your current and past roles. On your LinkedIn profile and resume, note that you’re open to both contract and permanent positions.Stay active in alumni groups for your college or university, as well as local chapters for professional industry associations. People in these groups may have leads and connections to offer.If you land a contract role, keep your recruiting manager in the loop. Do you like the work? Would you be open to an extension or permanent role if it’s offered? If the assignment concludes as planned, would you like to consider other contract positions? After working on a contract basis, people sometimes pivot their career goals: They choose to take on an ongoing string of contract engagements in place of one full-time position.There’s no single “right” path to finding career success, or one “best” way to segue from unemployment to your next role. By being flexible, open-minded and positive in the process, you can open more doors to help lead you to the next step in your career.Follow Dawn Fay on LinkedIn.
