5 Reasons Temp Jobs Are Helpful During a Lapse in Employment

Job loss is stressful enough on its own, whether you’ve been laid off, quit, or hunt can get downright depressing. If you’re starting to feel like the empty space on your resume might start turning employers off, it might be time to look for a temp job to fill the void. Here are five reasons having a temp job can be helpful when you have a lapse in employment:

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Every one of us has, at some point in our career, been directly impacted or have a friend or family member that has been impacted by job loss.

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1. You still have some sort of income

While unemployment checks may get you from month to month, there’s something more rewarding about receiving a paycheck because you worked for it. Taking a temporary position may not afford you a full-time income, but it can give you some sort of income that helps keep you motivated in your search for a full-time job.

2. It can be a stepping stone to a full-time position

A lot of temp jobs offer “temp-to-hire” opportunities, where you are able to work as a temporary employee for a three month trial period (maybe more, maybe less depending on the position). Once that period is up the company will then evaluate if they think you’ll be a good fit for a permanent position or not. This also allows you to test-drive the company and determine if the job is something you’d want to be doing full-time or not.

3. It keeps your resume from being depressingly empty.

Having a few weeks of unemployment on your resume usually isn’t detrimental to your job search, but once you have a long lapse in employment dates on your resume it can start to cause potential employers to think twice about hiring you. To avoid the awkward explanation of why you haven’t been working for an extended period of time, consider getting a temp job instead. It shows employers that even though you’ve been unable to find something thus far, you’re committed to staying relevant in the workplace.

4. You are able to network

Working in a temporary position can help you network with professionals on a regular basis. Even if you don’t get hired full-time at the place you’re currently at, by being an exemplary employee your boss may be able to help you find a position elsewhere or offer a glowing letter of recommendation, or you may be able to meet someone who is looking to hire someone just like you.

5. It keeps you from sitting around doing nothing all day

Not having any obligations throughout the day might be a nice change of pace at first, but after a while not having any sort of responsibilities can start to wear on a person. To avoid getting sucked into the endless cycle of holing up in your house, get a temp position. You’ll stay more motivated to find a new job when you’re actively out in the workforce than if you’re stuck on the couch all day.

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Temporary positions may not always offer an ideal job, but they offer a good alternative to being stuck at home without any sort of income every day. If you find yourself stuck between jobs with nothing permanent in the foreseeable future a temporary job could offer the perfect solution.