Taking a contractor job was something new for me and I wondered how it would feel compared to the full time positions I held in the past. I must tell you, after some initial hesitations, I loved it!
Here is why I think you would too:
- Temporary job is, well, temporary! While in the full time job you may feel the heaviness of issues piling up over time, as a contractor, you know you have a limited time with the company, so it’s easier to overcome what bugs you. Full time employees may feel stuck or trapped by the system, but as a visitor, you come with a different attitude and may function as a breath of fresh air.
- You are seen as an expert and are expected to contribute right away. This one may scare you a bit, but don’t you hate it when in some full time jobs they don’t really take you seriously the first couple of months, because what can you possibly know as a newbie? In a temp job, they feel your hourly cost from the first day and therefore they give you the opportunity to make an impact right away.
- Talking about the impact – I found myself feeling way more confident and willing to take risks. Maybe it’s because I wanted to deliver as much as I could in the limited time I was there. Also, I was proposing solutions more freely without worrying about the politics, since I wasn’t focused on building my career there. It allowed me practice being fearless and I’ve promised myself to take this attitude to my future jobs as well, no matter how temporary or permanent they will be.
- Short term assignments let you try new territories – for me it was a banking system. Maybe next time it’ll be retail or social services, who knows? You have a chance to see if it’s the right environment for you. If it isn’t, you’ll be done in a couple of months, so no harm done. And if you love it and you are good, they may even offer you a job – there is no better way to see if you and the job are the right match. BTW, ramping up and learning something new very rapidly is a great brain-gym!
- Expanding your network of professionals is another great benefit of working with various clients in different industries. Getting to know new people brings new perspectives, inspiration, and opportunities to grow.
- As a temp you may get your hands dirty by doing a variety of jobs. Remember, they want to maximize on every hour they pay you for. If you keep your eyes open and raise your hand, you may get an opportunity to work on a lot of different tasks and practice all sorts of professional skills.
I hope I’ve convinced you by now - if you see an interesting opportunity to work somewhere for 3, 6, or 9 months, go for it! There is so much to be gained from that. And let me know how it goes J
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