Transitioning Through Temping

Who are the temps in today's staffing pool and what awaits them in their search for new opportunities? Many people while in the process of a job search decide that they want a complete career change and they are frequently turning to more technology-oriented opportunities. This transition is often best accomplished by temping. Enlisting the help of staffing agencies is increasingly becoming the preferred route when switching fields. Making a career change can be anxiety provoking. Starting off in a temp capacity can facilitate entry and advancement opportunities for job searchers who want to earn while they learn. This approach to career transition actually positions candidates well for more competitive wage earnings and better employment opportunities down the road.

Career change also requires obtaining higher levels of education in many cases. This is usually done in tandem while working full-time. Today, this training takes place at the college or university level in undergrad and grad programs and technical schools. Internships, correspondence courses and Internet certificate producing programs are increasing in popularity, however.

Good news for those seeking new employees.

Workers who are in search of change are coming from an increasing number of industries and are ripe for recruitment for short-term projects requiring tightly defined skill sets. The workers are increasingly enjoying the benefits of this type of arrangement - flexible schedules, variety of tasks and an increase in number and type of skills utilized. These experiences produce a richer background to offer to prospective employers.

Temporary employment grew at an average annual rate of 20.3% from 1992-1995. This should be encouraging to all involved in the hiring process - more resources are available from which to draw talent and there are more work opportunities.