Is Temporary Staffing a Career Boost or Barrier? Let's Discuss Your Experiences and Insights

Let's Discuss --

Since temporary staffing is very common nowadays, and many of the big companies are moving towards temporary staffing.

I want to pose some questions to the forum:

1. Will a person who has worked as a temporary staff or on a contract find it difficult to secure a permanent job in a good company? Is it so?
2. For freshers, what would be better - to opt for a temporary or contract job in a reputable company or to pursue a permanent job in a small company?

Waiting for the response....................

Thanks,
dsv

I am putting this post because I myself have seen that persons who have worked as temporary staff are neglected by companies, and the consultancy never entertains them. Well, I hope you all will actively take part to answer the above questions. So come on and give your views. dsv

Hi dsv,

Compliments to you for starting the discussion on this topic!

Temporary staffing is already gaining prominence in India. Take the example of the company Teamlease, which has grown phenomenally in the last two years. As I foresee it, this trend will continue into the future. Staffing on a temporary basis for certain skill sets will be crucial as the business models of most companies undergo significant changes due to increasing competition in the future. Therefore, HR will have to play a major role as a strategic partner to assist the company in achieving its goals.

For more information, please refer to the link: http://www.expressitpeople.com/20030901/careers2.shtml

Not really, it's a perception. What is more important are the skill sets or competencies gained and how these can be utilized by prospective organizations.

If you ask me frankly, there is no real meaning in job security or a permanent job. These notions are becoming irrelevant over time. Opting for a contract job or temporary work with a reputable company would be advantageous if the assignment is good or offers the opportunity to learn and contribute.

At the end of the day, it's all about acquiring skill sets and competencies and leveraging them to your advantage.

Cheers,

Rajat

Hi dsv,

I agree with Rajat on this issue. Of late, the trend of indefinite employment is picking up, and many international organizations state the employment period as 12-13 months (contractual) in their vacancy listings.

Ramesh

Hi there,

I definitely feel that freshers should join small companies on a permanent role. This would not only give them a wide range of experience but also make them feel important. On the other hand, when freshers join big branded companies (exceptional cases) on a contract basis, their satisfaction levels are often not up to the mark. At times, they are also moved out of the specified roles and responsibilities stated at the time of joining.

Hi DSV,

Even I feel that this trend will catch up soon. As you said, consultants don't entertain such people, so it is difficult for them to get permanent jobs. This could be true, but this is an era of competitiveness; we need to constantly market ourselves. People working as temporary staff could be excellent at what they do. They have to bank upon their skills, prove that they are worthy, and should have valid and convincing reasons as to why they preferred to be temporary staff.

As far as your second question goes, I am a fresher myself. If I feel that a small company is giving me a better opportunity, I would opt for that. If I feel I can learn more as a temporary staff, I'll go for that. The issue here is the learning, not the nature of the job.

1. Person who worked... will find it difficult to get a permanent... is it true.

This is not entirely true. In the majority of cases, it will be a struggle, but if you have developed core competences, you can succeed. Of the two, the contract job experience may find it easier than the temporary, because of the negative perception of the experience gained as a temporary. It is assumed and perceived that the temporary may not have the reliable/experienced competence to perform in the permanent job. Whereas in a contract job, people tend to pack/develop competences, knowing well that they will be in the job market as soon as the contract period expires.

2. For a fresher, which would be better...

For a fresher, in general, a permanent job is the ideal path for career development. It gives the fresher the time:

- to be trained
- to learn
- to gain experience
- availability of resources for development
- gain interaction, etc.

In the medium term, permanency is not the answer, but for the individual to get up and go for a career with a plan.

Regards,
LEO LINGHAM