The long and the short of it

Ranging from two, three or six months to covering a year’s maternity leave, short-term contracts regularly feature on jobs24.com – but are they always a good career fit?

Let’s look at some of the long-term gains of taking on a short-term job.

Your flexible friend

Not everyone wants to be tied into a permanent contract. Someone considering a career break, going travelling, studying or making a move to another area will be more than happy to fill a short-term gap.

Money maker

We all need to pay the bills, so why not consider taking on a temporary job to provide an income stream while you search for a permanent position? You can earn while waiting for your dream role to appear on jobs24.com.

Upskilling

If you feel your skills in certain areas are lacking, then a short-term contract can be the perfect way to enrich your CV, making you far more employable.

Test drive

Few of us buy a new car without taking it out for a spin first, yet many of us often jump head first into a job before knowing what it really entails. Taking on a temporary role allows you to dip your toe into the water. Temporary work could save a lot of heartache – and job searching down the line – if you realise a certain route is not quite right for you.

Foot in the door

A short-term contract gives you an ‘in’ then it’s up to you to get yourself noticed. You never know where a temporary contract might lead but even if it doesn’t result in anything permanent, it’s an opportunity to network and bulk out your professional contacts book.

Permanent fixture

Some fixed-term job adverts come with a carrot attached – they have the potential to become permanent. Usually employers make this clear in their description on jobs24.com or at your interview. Sometimes, however, it only becomes apparent during the employment period itself if someone leaves, decides not to return after maternity leave or gets promoted.

Get the long and short of the very best roles with jobs24.com.

Posted on August 8, 2018