I still come across candidates who turn up their noses at temporary assignments. I understand that in some cases a temporary assignment might not make sense. A very short-term assignment might be the wrong thing if you’re a single parent and have to make childcare accommodations. COBRA benefits could also be affected depending upon the situation.
Still, I’ve talked to a lot of people who don’t have those concerns and are still reluctant to take a temporary position. I often hear that a temp position will “mess up my unemployment”. I highly doubt that will happen. Your claim is put on hold while you earn money and get more experience, and you reactivate the claim after the assignment is completed.
The fact is, temp assignments are here to stay, especially with an economy that’s stuck in first gear. I totally realize that the unemployment situation is horrible, and that many people have been out of work for an unusually long period of time. As a recruiter, though, I want to know what candidates have been up to since they lost their job. It’s not unusual for me to ask a candidate about how actively they’ve been searching for work. It’s also not unusual for me to hear dead silence on the other line after I ask that question.
Recruiters and hiring managers often err on the side of being conservative. If you’re tied for a position with another candidate, and the other candidate has worked several temp assignments while you put up a new deck, who do you think might have the edge at crunch time?
Volunteer for things if you have to. Are you an out-of-work web designer? Do a new page for your church, or local scout troop. Are you in accounting? Get certified to do taxes. Are you an unemployed trainer? Get on a substitute teaching list.
The important thing is to find a way to get back into the game. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Come up with a plan and implement it. Don’t sit and wait for the phone to ring!
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