Looking at Temporary positions in your job search

Continuing to look at internships / work experiences.

For those re-entering the job market or for those changing careers, getting experience is important.  There are times a company will have a project that will need temporary help.  These might be harder to find – but can be available.

This is where your network might come into play.  Let your networking friends know that you are looking for a new career, new job and that you are interested in a short term (‘short’ is a relative work – maybe six months, maybe a year) work assignment in the new field. 

The job (“contract”) will probably be on a more mundane level.  Most companies don’t ask interns or contractors to work on mission critical applications.  It might be data entry, data conversion (from an old system to a new system, testing, or writing documentation. 

But … it is a job, it is a job in the new field you want to work in, and … it gets your foot in the door.

In a similar vein this story:  Our neighbor went back to school and got a math teaching degree – and graduated last December.  She taught as a substitute teacher during the spring semester – including a three week position for a teacher out on maternity leave.  Yes, it wasn’t a full time position, yes, it didn’t pay like a full time position, yes, there were days she didn’t work (and didn’t get paid).  She interviewed around the area during the summer and still no position.  Recently (about eight weeks into the school year) a full time position opened as a teacher moved out-of-state.  She worked as a ‘temp’ (or an ‘intern’ or a ‘contractor’) got good recommendations and built rapport so that getting the open position was much easier for her. 

On the temporary assignment, put your best into it; make your affirmations strong about liking your position, work extra hard (not that you should ever work extra soft!).  Be nice to those around you; fit in; make friends; do your work with a minimum of oversight – and build rapport.  While it might not lead to another position within that company, it could leave to other opportunities.  Your network will be growing.  Your manager will know another manager at another company who  might know of an opening.  Come early, work later, put in your time with a smile and a great attitude.

Another story:  A former student was working at a major food processing company who was implementing SAP software.  She got in on the ground floor, took training classes, learned the ropes and built her resume.  Soon she was getting calls from headhunters looking for SAP experience.  At first she said “no” – I don’t have enough experience.  But after a few months (of more SAP experience and more recruiting calls),, she submitted to an interview, was hired at a huge increase and has gone on to being a senior SAP analyst at a major manufacturing company.

Assignment:

-          Who might you know that could have a temporary assignment?

-          How might you use that experience to get a full time position?

-          Where might you go with the right experience?