Can Temp Work Help You Switch To A New Career?

Can Temp Work Help You Switch To A New Career?

Many people find themselves wanting to switch to a new career at some point in their life. Whether you got a degree in a field only to find out that working in said field was not at all what you thought it would be like or you simply yearn to expand your horizons and try something new, it can be challenging to switch to a new career, especially the older that you get. Fortunately, temp work gives you the chance to both try new things and to find new careers, making the switch easier than it otherwise would be.

Here is what you need to know about some of the challenges people can have when they try to switch to a new career and how temp work can help.

Common Challenges People Face When Trying To Switch Careers

The younger you are, the easier it can be to switch careers. With less financial responsibilities, going from an entry level position to an entry level position can be easier. However, regardless of whether you are young or you’ve become an industry professional and you want a change, finding a new career is never easy in and of itself. There are many challenges people face when they’re trying to make a career change.

1. Getting their foot in the door. If you don’t already know people in the industry you want to switch to, it can be very difficult to get your foot in the door.
2. Lack of experience. Employers seldom want to hire people that they’ll need to train. Thus, if you aren’t walking into a career change with plenty of experience in the field you want to switch to under your belt, you can find it very difficult.
3. Pay cuts. If you’re established in an industry and you want to make a change, you’ll more likely than not end up needing to take a pay cut, as you’ll be going from established professional to entry-level.
4. Not knowing whether or not it’s worth it. You don’t want to put in all the effort it takes to switch to a new career only to find out that it’s not a good fit for you. 

How Temp Work Can Help

If you’ve been thinking about switching to a new career, working as a temp could be extremely beneficial to you. This is because working as a temp allows you to test drive different career options, network, and build up your skill set, among other reasons.

Here are some of the ways in which temp work can help you find a new career.

#1. Test Out Different Career Options

When you work as a temp, employers are a lot more forgiving. This allows you to try out different career options and see whether or not you like them, which you might not otherwise get the opportunity to do, since a lack of experience would bar you from being able to even test them out. 

#2. Network

Temp jobs are just that: temporary. They can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to a few months. This gives you the opportunity to really build you network and form good relationships with people across a variety of industries. That way, you have people you can lean on to help you get your foot in the door. Plus, the staffing agency itself works with you and helps you find jobs.

#3. Supplement Your Income

If you’re making a career change, you’ll likely experience a decrease in your income at first. This can be quite challenging, especially if you have financial obligations like a mortgage, car payments, and more. You can do temp jobs in addition to your normal work to supplement your income while test-driving different careers.

#4. Gain Experience

If you’ve never worked in a field before, working as a temp gives you the opportunity to gain experience in it and to try out new things. This can be extremely beneficial down the line when you’re looking for a permanent position, as you will be able to bolster your resume with experience that is relevant to the position.

#5. It Can Help You Land A Permanent Position

Since temporary positions are, well, temporary, many people assume that they’re not good for those who are trying to find permanent, full-time work. In truth, working as a temp can actually help you land a permanent position further down the line. If you make a good impression on an employer and they have the capacity to expand their team, they could offer you a full-time job.

Are You Considering Temp Work?

As you can see, there are many different ways temp work can help you find a new career. All Trades Staffing Services LLC can help you find positions that work for you. Contact us today to learn more about working with us or about the jobs that we have available.