TEMPORARY AND CONTRACT WORK

Short-term employment assignments, where employers need an employee for a specified amount of time, are called temporary or contract work. These positions can be a good opportunity to meet people and make contacts. Sometimes, though not frequently, temporary or contact work can turn into full-time opportunities. This guide offers an overview of the two types of work.

 

Temporary work typically involves working for a company for a short amount of time or on a seasonal basis. This is a good way to make money and it can help you avoid having a gap on your resume while you are job-searching. Some people take temporary jobs to learn more about an organization they are interested in, to gain experience, or learn new skills. Temporary jobs also tend to offer a flexible schedule, though they do not offer job security.

Temporary jobs can be found on job boards or through temporary agencies/recruiter companies. If you are searching through job boards, be sure to include the word “temporary” in your search.

You can also do a simple Google search with the words “temporary jobs in Houston, TX,” which can redirect you to websites that have temporary opportunities available. Many companies will also have temporary jobs posted on their career pages, which can be useful to consider if you are interested in working with a particular organization.

A temporary agency or recruiter is an organization that provides employees for their clients, which are companies looking for hires. The agency or recruiter will complete all the paperwork required for hiring and will typically provide your payment on behalf of their client. Some temporary agencies or recruiters will ask to review your resume or conduct an interview. Remember, they are hiring you on behalf of their clients, the companies, which means they need to make sure that you are a prepared and worthy candidate. A good place to start to learn more about temporary agencies and recruiting companies is Rate-A-Temp, www.rateatemp.com.

 

Contract work is work that is done for an employer, also on a temporary basis, though some assignments can run for years until a project is completed. Contractors are hired for their expertise and experience for a specific project. As a contractor, you tend to not have the same types of benefits as full-time employees, though your hours may be similar to those of full-time employees. This will depend on the employer and their needs as well as what you negotiate; for example, some contractors complete projects remotely.

Like temporary jobs, contract jobs can be found on typical job sites or through doing a Google search with the words “contract jobs in Houston, TX,” which can direct you to open positions. Again, if you are searching on typical job boards, make sure to include “contract jobs” in your search. Unlike temporary positions, contractors are usually hired directly by the company.

 

Here are some job boards where you can search for temporary or contract jobs: