LOOKING FOR A JOB

Step 1 – Decide what to look for

The first decision you’ll need to make is what you’re looking for. Here are the main things you’ll need to consider before you get started:

What type of work are you looking for?

There are three main types of work to consider: temporary, contract or permanent. There are, of course, benefits to each and you might not have a preference, but your job hunting will be easier if you know what type of work you’re looking for.

Benefits of temping

Temping is often unfairly seen as an inferior choice when compared to permanent work.

Temping in fact offers a host of benefits which can make it a preferable choice for many jobseekers.

Benefits of temping include:

• Giving you greater control over your working life – you can choose if and when you would like to work as well as for which companies.

• Allowing you to work and experience different companies, industries, working cultures and management styles all in a relatively short period of time.

• Giving you the chance to test yourself in different working environments and work out your relative strengths and weaknesses.

• Providing the chance to develop new skills through exposure to different systems and processes.

• If you’re unsure what direction you want to take your career in then temping can provide you with the opportunity to work flexibly until you can make a decision.

• Temping might be a way to get to work for a desirable company when no permanent positions exist. By getting a foot in the door you will be well placed to apply for a permanent position when one becomes available.

• Employers often use temping as a way to assess a person’s suitability and compatibility for a particular role. Temp to perm positions are a popular method of long term assessment for employers.

And, most importantly:

• Always remember that you’re there because the company needs you and your skills. It can sometimes happen that permanent employees have preconceived ideas about temps that can be difficult to overcome unless you remain confident in your abilities.

Benefits of contracting

What is contracting?

Like temping work, contractors are usually employed on a fixed term basis and paid daily or weekly. IT contracting is particularly popular, where specific skills are required for the delivery of projects.

What are the benefits of contracting?

Contracting shares many of the benefits of temping, such as increased flexibility and the opportunity to develop new skills. Some of the key benefits of contracting are detailed below:

Flexible working

Permanent jobs generally only offer workers between four and five weeks holiday each year. In contrast, due to the flexible nature of contract work, contractors are able to benefit from extended holidays, as well as more flexible holiday periods (e.g. short notice holidays at the end of a project).

Varied working environments

Contract work is often project-based, meaning that it lasts for a finite period of time before the contractor moves on to their next assignment.

This means that contract workers can engage with a range of different working environments, cultures and styles, by working in a number of companies.

This variety of experience can provide you with constant stimulation at work, as well as being indispensable experience for your future career.

Greater control over how you work

So, you’ve heard the benefits of contracting, but what are the drawbacks? Potential disadvantages include the following:

Relocation

Contractors with specific skills are likely to find that the locations of appropriate job openings may vary. For this reason, you may have to be flexible about where you work, either by commuting long distances or potentially relocating entirely.

Breaks between assignments

Whilst contract work offers the opportunity for flexible working and extended holidays, there is the potential drawback of unplanned work breaks between assignments.

As contractors are not paid when they are not working, breaks between projects are clearly undesirable.

Lack of training

As contractors work on finite projects, employers are often unwilling to provide training during projects. As a consequence, you may find that you have to organise your own training part-time out of work, or even take a break between assignments to gain new skills and qualifications.

What kind of organisation do you want to work for?

No two employers are the same and your search for work will be easier if you have a good idea of what kind of organisation you want to work for. Do you want to work for a small, local company or a multinational corporation? Would you rather work in the private or public sector? Or you might want to consider working for a charity or not-for-profit organisation.

Each kind of organisation has its own benefits and there are a number of factors to consider. Here are just a few of the questions you might want to think about to help you make your decision:

• What will the prospects for career progression be like?

• What training will offered?

• If it's a large organisation, will I have the opportunity to shine?

• If it's a small organisation, will my prospects be limited?

• What benefits are offered by the company?

• What will my colleagues be like?