Ron Denecour is a chemist.
I turned to temp work after being laid off from my job. I had thought about going into consulting work before and felt this was the right time.
I have been temping now for six months, and see myself doing it full-time.
I'm 59 years old, and that makes it hard for me to find a permanent job; but the temporary route has worked very well. I work as a consultant and take care of my own benefits. My service finds the client and takes 25 percent of the fee; I get the rest.
My service manages the bills, and I don't have to hassle to get my money. . . . It's really worth it to me to have no problems collecting money from clients. . . . Temping is good for the older worker-you can be sure of a paycheck without the fear of a layoff. I wanted to go into chemical manufacturing, and temping has been a good solution. I have money coming in, and I'm working in my profession; it looks good on your resume to be working in your own field while you are in between jobs. If there wasn't subtle discrimination against the older worker, I'd probably look for something permanent; but I feel vulnerable because of my age.
The disadvantages?, Well, you work only when clients need your services, which is not necessarily when you need to work. There is some financial insecurity; you need to budget because you don't know what you'll be doing from one month to the next. I have my own lab, too, and this is expensive to keep up. It can be risky, so I take whatever assignments I can get.
My advice to others depends on the individual's objective in temping.
I don't think it makes sense to do temp work full-time unless you are a free spirit, or have a special need. I temp to bypass age discrimination.
It's not a bad idea to use it to find a permanent job, or if you want to change your career path and want to investigate new possibilities. You must remember, the responsibility for your career is your own.
Judie Collard, Greenfield, Wisconsin
Judie Collard, married and the mother of six children, temps so she can have maximum control over her career.
I've been temping for three years; I like a lot of variety. I can control the time when I don't want to work, so I have time to travel with my husband, have outings with friends, and take care of my household. It allows me time for a social life and time for my children... Temping is great for the working mother... I enjoy temp work for its flexibility, but I do think you sacrifice salary and benefits to get this control.
I learn a lot on every new assignment. Right now, I'm working at an ad agency. I prefer people-oriented assignments. Every time I learn a new way to do something, I bring this shortcut with me and I can pass my skills on to others... You learn on the job, but it is basically through your own initiative or by watching. There is rarely someone there to train you... I get stressed out" occasionally because when you temp, it is like starting a new job over and over again. Fortunately, the stress level is lower because you know an assignment will end. If I do get too tense, I just tell my service that I'm not available until x date, so I can control it.
My family moved from Wisconsin to Arizona and then back again. I was with a national service, so my work history could carry from one state to another. My hours, records, test scores, and recommendations came with me, and it made it easier for me to find temporary employment.
I tell new temps not to the rigid, to be flexible, and to be able to do a good job without the benefit of being able to see a project through to the end. It is a good experience if you want to control your time or earn extra money. You do need to have confidence in yourself, so you are not intimidated by new people at new assignments. If you don’t understand something, ask! One thing I do (and I think others should try it) when I’m on a new assignment-on the second day, after I’ve settled in-I bring in a glass jar filled with candy and put it out on my desk. Everyone stops to have some candy and talk to me, so it is a really good icebreaker. People remember me for it and are apt to be more friendly and helpful.
