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Temporary Work – Myth vs Reality

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​Despite the growing popularity of temporary work, there are still many misconceptions and myths about temporary jobs. Temporary employees can fill an important need for organisations, providing vital skills at crucial times. Whilst many people are attracted to the clear benefits of temporary employment, such as flexibility and gaining experience, there remains a great deal who can be put off by some common ‘myths’ surrounding the work.

Here, we debunk some of the most common myths about being a temp!

Temporary work has little options

Many people see temporary work as being roles such as purely light industrial and administrative jobs. There are many opportunities within temporary work that you may not have realised. Nowadays, the roles vary in levels in professions ranging in everything from IT to Social Care to Management. However, administrative roles are still the highest in demand within many organisations, and they are often used for great experience and as a great stepping stone into careers such as Social Work. High level professionals have also embraced temporary work, as it offers diverse and challenging tasks which they enjoy due to the short-term nature and the flexibility if offers.

Temporary work is short term and unstable

Contracts of temporary work can vary significantly, from weeks to months. Despite your employer being able to terminate the contract at any given point, you yourself can do the same. This provides you with an element of control if you are unhappy in your temp job. The consultants here at Opus will then review your previous experience and work alongside you to find a new suitable position. However, it is rare that an employee will be placed in an unsuitable job or that an employer will terminate the contract without an appropriate reason. Contrastingly, there are often opportunities for an extension or even a permanent role. In fact, for many businesses hiring temporary employees it is one of the best ways to find out if someone is suitable for a permanent role and the business.

Temp jobs pay considerably less than permanent employees

Everyone deserves to be paid a fair wage for the work they undertake. At Opus, we operate in line with the agreed salary scales of our clients.

After 12 weeks in your position, you qualify for the same rights as someone who has been employed directly. For example, these rights include: equal pay (same pay as a permanent employee doing the same job) and an increase in annual leave.

Having temporary work on my CV will make me look unappealing to employers

Temporary work is becoming more and more common, with hiring managers realising that temporary/project work provides valuable experience that can enhance a candidate’s abilities.

Temporary work provides the opportunity to try something new or even develop a set of skills you rarely used in a previous job. It allows you to try new areas of work, and often gives you the ability to be able to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses.

Working with Opus will give you a service you can trust and is guaranteed to successfully assist you in your job search. For more advice on temporary work or information on vacancies in either Suffolk, Cambridgeshire or Northamptonshire, please get in touch. Send us your CV or queries torecruitment@opuspeoplesolutions.co.ukor call us on 03301 242800. Click here to see our vacancies.

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