When people hear the word “temporary” in employment they think short-term, low-wage positions that are hard to fill or even that workers are not as motivated. Temporary may sound negative; it could suggest loss of time, money and resources if new employees don’t work out. However, consider the benefits: staffing agencies focus on finding quality candidates with proven skill sets and varied schedules to add to your organization. You also control the length of term, a position may be for a short period while other assignments could be months or even years. Finding the right fit for your company is always be the most important outcome.
Temporary workers are just as committed to their work as permanent employees are. Regardless of temporary or permanent status, the level, complexity and foundations of work are the same. According to an American Staffing Association survey, nearly 50% of contract workers said that their assignments were a means to a permanent position, 28% were looking for work experience and 24% were looking to improve skills.
Working with a staffing firm allows for candidates to be matched with their ideal fit. It is also a way for employers to get a better idea of those in the job market and how they could be a potential fit in their organization. If you recruit or search for employees on your own, working with a staffing company can alleviate those burdens and allow you to better focus on meeting goals.
The largest difference between temporary and permanent positions is flexibility for the employee. Temporary positions offer flexible scheduling, while empowering workers to learn new trades and advance their careers. The idea of “try before you buy” is often times even more helpful to companies that decide to hire a worker permanently, because they are already onboarded, trained and familiar with your culture and expectations.
Temporary is also much more common than you may think. In fact, roughly 3.2 million Americans hold a temporary job or a position through a staffing firm. Additionally, more than 80% of large corporations plan to increase their use of a flexible, or contingent, workforce. Utilizing temporary workers allows flexibility and responsiveness, and takes the stress out of searching for candidates.
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