What are the pros and cons of temporary jobs? Ask HR

Johnny C. Taylor Jr.
·4 min read
While temporary jobs can offer flexibility and opportunities to gain new experience, weighing the pros and cons before taking one is essential.
While temporary jobs can offer flexibility and opportunities to gain new experience, weighing the pros and cons before taking one is essential.

Question: I’ve worked full-time directly for employers throughout my career. I’m looking for another position but need help finding full-time roles that fit my background. I've come across several contract and temp opportunities. Are they worthwhile? What are some of the pros and cons of taking short-term work opportunities? – Briana

Answer: Contract or temporary work can be a smart strategic move, especially in today’s job market. While they offer flexibility and opportunities to gain new experience, weighing the pros and cons before deciding is essential.

Among the potential benefits:

◾ A foot in the door: Contract or temporary roles can provide an entree to a new company or industry and an opportunity to demonstrate your skills to a potential new full-time employer.

◾ Flexibility: These positions often offer more freedom regarding hours and project duration, which can be beneficial if you have other commitments.

◾ Skills development: You can gain new skills and knowledge, enhancing your marketability for future full-time roles.

◾ Networking opportunities: Working on temporary projects can connect you with new professionals and expand your network.

Considerations include:

◾ Lack of stability: Contract and temporary work often lack the long-term security of full-time employment.

◾ Limited benefits: These positions may not offer the same benefits as full-time roles, such as health insurance, retirement plans, or paid time off.

◾ Advancement challenges: Career advancement within a contract or temporary role can be limited compared to full-time positions.

Evaluate your financial situation and determine if the potential salary from a contract or temporary role aligns with your needs. Assess your current benefits coverage and determine if you can afford to forego company-provided benefits. Consider how a contract or temporary role fits into your long-term career plans and if it can help you achieve your goals. Evaluate your personal and professional commitments to determine if the flexibility offered by contract or temporary work aligns with your needs.

Ultimately, deciding whether to pursue contract or temporary work depends on your circumstances and career goals. Carefully consider the pros and cons before deciding. And best of luck in your search!

Work email How can I resolve a hostile exchange before it escalates? Ask HR

In talking with a former boss, I learned that the company had changed its vacation policy to unlimited paid time off, with the only caveat being that you can’t permanently change your schedule (for example, you can’t take every Friday off and create a four-day work week.) Upon learning about the change in vacation policy at my previous company, I couldn’t help but wonder about its rationale. I initially thought it might be a strategy to avoid vacation accruals and the subsequent payout of unused days. Is this a correct assumption? – Conan

You’re not alone in questioning the underlying motivations behind unlimited paid time off (PTO) policies. While avoiding vacation accruals and payouts is certainly one factor, there are several other reasons why companies implement such policies.

Here’s a breakdown of the potential benefits:

◾ Attracting and retaining top talent: Unlimited PTO, or open leave, can be a powerful recruitment and retention tool, especially for younger workers who value flexibility and work/life integration.

◾ Boosting employee morale and productivity: Allowing employees to take time off when needed can reduce stress, increase job satisfaction, and improve productivity.

◾ Reducing administrative burden: Unlimited leave policies can simplify time-off administration for employees, managers and HR departments.

◾ Promoting a culture of trust: By offering unlimited PTO, companies can demonstrate their confidence in employees and their commitment to work/life integration.

Though unlimited PTO has tremendous benefits, it also presents the potential for abuse, along with some unintended consequences. Without clear guidelines and expectations, some employees may take excessive time off, negatively impacting team productivity and morale. In some cases, unlimited leave policies can pressure employees to work longer hours or avoid taking time off to avoid appearing less committed.

While unlimited leave can benefit employees and employers, it’s vital to consider potential drawbacks and implement the policy effectively. Clear guidelines, expectations, and a culture of trust are essential for success.

Bad behavior at work What can you do when leaders are tolerant of demeaning workplace behavior? Ask HR

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What are the pros and cons of working a temp job? Ask HR

Latest Stories

  • Tens of thousands declare early to avoid Toronto's vacant home tax

    Toronto's redesigned vacant home tax rollout has begun, with over 59,000 people filing their paperwork in the first week.Some councillors say they were left responding to complaints about the rollout, after the city's online declaration portal experienced technical problems shortly after launch.The city's chief technology officer, Sonia Brar, said for two to three hours last Monday the city's online system would not accept form submissions, which is how city residents would make their declaratio

  • Empty Nesters Beware: Avoid This Costly Retirement Pitfall

    Saving for retirement is a lifelong undertaking. It involves keeping your retirement goals in mind as you have children, get different jobs and move from place to place. However, a recent study from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College … Continue reading → The post Empty Nester? This Avoidable Mistake Could Jeopardize Your Retirement appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.

  • Brad Pitt Wins Key Arguments in Miraval Fight with Angelina Jolie, Case Proceeds Toward Trial

    A source close to Brad Pitt tells PEOPLE the court ruling "is a clear victory for Brad" in his lawsuit against Angelina Jolie over a French winery they co-owned

  • China chip index nears 3-year high as TSMC order fuels self-reliance bets

    China's semiconductor index leapt close to a three-year high on Monday on bets a U.S. order halting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co's shipments of advanced chips to Chinese customers could accelerate Beijing's self-reliance efforts. TSMC will from Monday suspend shipments of certain sophisticated chips to some Chinese clients after receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Commerce imposing export restrictions on those products, Reuters reported on Sunday. Analysts said that while the move might lead to some short-term pain for Chinese firms involved in designing chips for artificial intelligence accelerators and graphics processing units, it could benefit the domestic chipmaking sector as companies would have few alternatives.

  • Mariachis gather in Mexico City to to break the world record in playing and singing in harmony

    More than a thousand mariachis gathered in Mexico City's main square on Sunday, to break the record of most mariachis performing in unison. (AP Video: Amaranta Marentes)

  • Taiwan businessman Tsao to sue Chinese officials over sanctions

    Taiwanese businessman Robert Tsao said on Monday he would sue in a Taiwan court senior Chinese officials over sanctions they had placed on him, saying he was seeking to counter China's intimidation of lawful activity. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, last month said it would punish and sanction Tsao, the retired founder of chipmaker UMC, for alleged criminal and pro-Taiwan independence activities. China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the "Black Bear Academy" that Tsao has helped fund was seeking to incite separatism that would endanger cross-strait ties.

  • The fight for AI talent heats up in China, as tech employers boost pay

    A scramble for artificial intelligence (AI) talent is intensifying in China, as local tech giants dangle eye-watering salaries to hire top-notch professionals to compete in a heated AI race. Beijing-based smartphone giant Xiaomi will be hosting a special hiring session for AI experts in areas spanning AI models, computer vision, deep learning, autonomous driving and natural language processing, as well as other roles, according to a post published to its official WeChat account on Friday. The co

  • Kevin O’Leary: You Need To Contribute This Much To Your 401(k) To Retire a Millionaire

    It is possible to retire a millionaire on an average income, but it requires discipline. While appearing on an episode of "Good Morning America," a while back, "Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary answered...

  • Boeing reaches settlement to avert civil trial over 2019 MAX crash

    Boeing reached a last-minute settlement with the family of a 737 MAX crash victim, averting a federal civil trial set for Tuesday in Chicago. The Ethiopian Airlines crash in 2019 killed 157 people. The court will meet Tuesday to inform Judge Jorge Alonso, who must approve the settlement. Beleaguered aviation giant Boeing reached a last-minute settlement Monday with the family of a woman killed in the crash of a 737 MAX jetliner in 2019, averting a federal civil trial.Three sources close to the c

  • China's Huawei Technologies seeks dismissal of US criminal charges

    Huawei Technologies asked a U.S. judge to dismiss much of a federal indictment accusing the Chinese telecommunications company of trying to steal technology secrets from U.S. rivals and misleading banks about its business in Iran. In a Friday night filing in federal court in Brooklyn, Huawei said there was no proof of a conspiracy, calling the charge part of the Department of Justice's "ill-founded" China Initiative to prosecute people and companies with ties to China. Huawei said several charges concerned activities outside the United States, while the bank fraud counts rested on a "right to control" theory of fraud that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected last year in an unrelated case.

  • ‘I just wanted to work again’: Finding a new job in your 50s comes with extra hurdles

    TORONTO — Shannon Davidson was let go from her executive role at a marketing firm last year after a merger led to cuts. She knew she wasn't done with her career yet, but finding her next workplace in her mid-50s was a daunting prospect.

  • I've worked in childcare since I was 16 and now I'm a nanny. I worry I won't be hirable as an older man.

    Max Kalogirou has worked with kids since he was 16. Now he's a nanny, but he doesn't know what will happen to his career as he grows older.

  • Chipotle shareholders sue over fallout from skimping on portion sizes

    Chipotle Mexican Grill was sued on Monday by shareholders for concealing how many of its restaurants were skimping on portions, forcing the chain to spend more on ingredients and hurting its stock price. In a proposed class action filed in Santa Ana, California federal court, shareholders said Chipotle failed to disclose growing unhappiness among customers with inconsistent portion sizes for its burritos and rice bowls. They said the truth came out as customers voiced dismay on TikTok and other social media, prompting Chipotle to reemphasize what CEO Scott Boatwright and his predecessor Brian Niccol called "generous portions" at its more than 3,600 restaurants.

  • 5 Expenses I Wish I Had Cut Sooner While Retirement Planning

    Retiring often means saying goodbye to the daily 9-to-5 grind and saying hello to living out your golden years. The average retirement age is 65 for men and 62 for women, according to the most recent...

  • The First Thing You Should Do With Your Paycheck To Build Wealth at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60

    Are you trying to build wealth? No matter what stage of life you're at, building wealth is still an option. However, there are certain things you should do with your paycheck as you near retirement....

  • 3 Reliable Dividend Stocks Offering Up To 5.9% Yield

    As global markets react to the recent U.S. election results and a Federal Reserve rate cut, investors are witnessing record highs in major benchmarks like the S&P 500, driven by optimism surrounding potential economic growth and tax reforms. In this environment of fluctuating yields and evolving fiscal policies, dividend stocks present an appealing option for those seeking steady income; they offer not only potential returns through dividends but also a measure of stability amid market...

  • Florida’s Retirees Are Fleeing: Experts Predict These 5 States Will Be Top Retirement Spots in 10 Years

    As major Florida cities like Miami continue to grapple with the ever-increasing cost of living expenses, some retirees may question if it's in their best financial interests to retire in Florida. This...

  • Ask an Advisor: $3 Million Net Worth, With $5K in Monthly Costs. Is 55 Too Soon to Retire?

    I'm 55 and would like to retire now with a $3 million total net worth. I'm assuming my net worth will grow, on average, 5% until I’m eligible for Social Security. My house is paid off and my lifestyle is simple. I can live with $5,000 per month. Am I making the right decisions? – […] The post Ask an Advisor: I'm 55 With a $3 Million Net Worth and $5k in Monthly Expenses. Can I Retire Now? appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset.

  • Oil falls on Chinese stimulus disappointment, supply outlook

    HOUSTON (Reuters) -Oil prices fell by more than 2% on Monday after China's latest stimulus plan disappointed investors seeking demand growth in the world's second-biggest oil consumer, while supply looked set to rise in 2025. Donald Trump's U.S. election victory may continue to affect the market, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst for the Price Futures Group. "The election with Trump's promise to 'drill, baby, drill' has taken away some incentive to go long," Flynn said.

  • India Pesticides Ltd (BOM:543311) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth ...

    India Pesticides Ltd (BOM:543311) reports robust revenue and EBITDA growth, while navigating challenges from pricing pressures and inventory levels.