Life As A Perma-Temp
Sacha Cohen
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There was a time when being a temporary employee
wasn't viewed very favorably. The perception was
that you couldn't hold down a "real"
job or that you were just biding your time until
permanent work came through. But nowadays, with
the emergence of the "free agent nation"
and a more flexible workplace, being a temp or
contract worker is, in fact, a viable career alternative.
In fact, more than 8.5 million people identify
themselves as independent workers.
Matt Grant, Minister of Enlightenment at Aquent,
one of the largest temp agencies in the world,
says that the perception began to change a few
years ago for a couple of reasons. First, companies
started trying out different models to control
labor costs. Second, with the rise of the tech-based
economy, there was an increase in the need for
technically skilled workers, many of whom no longer
felt tied to one particular employer because their
skills were needed everywhere and, in many cases,
they could demand top-dollar for their services.
"Since there is an intense need to continually
upgrade your skills in the technical world, many
of these workers preferred the freedom contract
work provided them since it allowed them to work
in diverse environments and exposed them to a
wide range of technologies and applications,"
says Grant.
The American
Staffing Association's analysis of the staffing
industry concurs with Grant's observation. "Job
security no longer depends on employment within
a single company. It now resides in the worker's
own knowledge, skills and experience," says
the report. The association also says that the
fastest growth in assignments is occurring in
the professional and technical occupations, which
includes scientists.
The Free Agent Frontline
The benefits of temping are plentiful: flexibility,
the freedom to chose the projects you want, unlimited
earning potential, and the chance to be the master
of one's own destiny. While there are also some
downsides such as a higher risk factor and the
uncertainty of not always knowing when the next
paycheck will arrive, many seem more than willing
to deal with the tradeoffs.
Jim Howley, 60, had been in the scientific research
business but left to raise his family and open
a general store. Thirty years later, he decided
he wanted to get back into the scientific business,
so he signed up with Randstad
North America. An agent who specializes in
biotech helped him evaluate his skills and determined
appropriate positions he might consider. Howley
took a 90-day assignment with Genzyme Corporation
in Boston, working as an analyst doing quality
control testing and before his work assignment
was up he was offered a full-time position with
Genzyme, which he accepted in January.
Howley says he sees no end in sight to his career
at Genzyme. His experience shows that using temporary
positions to check out a company's work environment
and whether or not you'll be a fit for a position
is a good choice, especially when re-entering
a field. "My contractor status allowed me
the time to evaluate my 'fit' with the job and
the company for which I was working," says
Howley.
Judith Jankowski, who now works at the American
Chemical Society, was a former scientific recruiter
for a temporary placement agency called On
Assignment Lab Support. The company has offices
throughout the country and specializes in placing
science professionals in a variety of industries
including biotechnology, chemical, and pharmaceutical.
Jankowski says that working with an agency to
find work "cuts out a lot of footwork for
people" and is a "great way for entry-level
people to find out what different types of jobs
they like-it exposes them to a lot of different
things." To compete with full-time offers,
On Assignment Lab Support and other placement
agencies offers health insurance, vacation pay,
a 401(k) retirement plan, and other benefits.
Fresh out of college, Andrew Cohen, 23, wasn't
exactly sure what he wanted to do with his future.
So after receiving his degree in chemistry at
Princeton, he signed on with Yoh
Scientific. He started working with the agency
in July of last year and is currently about to
start on his second project working as a chemist
for a small research company. Like Howley, Cohen
is positive about his experiences working as a
contractor and enjoys the freedom and exposure
to different workplaces that this type of work
affords him. Would he recommend this route to
other recent grads? "If you don't really
know exactly what you want to do with your degree,
working as a contractor is a great way to find
out how things are," says Cohen, "plus
you get some stability as well."
Another recent graduate, Nadiyah Fullwood, 23,
joined Yoh Scientific after leaving a full-time
job and is now working as an analytical chemist
for a large pharmaceutical company in New Jersey.
"I decided to become a contract employee
because I was not happy at my previous job and
I needed a fast way out and contract work provides
that service without leaving me stuck in a decision
that I made in haste," she says.
As Fullwood quickly discovered, being a contract
employee has its positives and negatives. "I
am not treated any differently by any of the permanent
employees, I have the same job responsibilities
that they have, and if I did feel like I was not
a welcome member of the company I could always
leave," says Fullwood. According to Fullwood,
the only downside could come at the end of her
contract if she isn't offered a permanent position
or additional projects at other companies.
Working as a contractor can be beneficial both
for professionals returning to the science field
after an absence and also for those who are just
entering the field. In addition, mid-career level
folks might also discover that free agent-dom
is a great way to avoid dreaded mid-career burnout.
Should You Try It?
Thinking about
hanging out your own shingle? Not everyone
is cut out to be a free agent. The risk-adverse
and those who like job stability, for example,
probably won't make good candidates. However,
if you are confident in your skills and ability,
are looking for new challenges, and are comfortable
with a certain amount of uncertainty, this can
be a great alternative to full-time, 9-5 jobs.
To find out if you're cut out to be a free agent,
try to take on a freelance project while you still
have the security of your full-time job. For example,
you might be able to work a few hours a week after
regular business hours or even on weekends "testing
the waters."
Long-time free agents also recommend talking
to others in the field so you can benefit and
learn from their mistakes. As a free agent, you'll
find that networking is invaluable-it's one of
the essential skills you'll need to make the most
of this career choice, which can often be lonely
and isolating. A great way to begin networking
is through your industry's association, such as
ACS. Almost all associations have conventions,
seminars, and social events for members. For more
information, check out this article from eWork.
Finally, evaluate your financial situation to
make sure that you can withstand the ups and downs
associated with working as a contractor. Do you
have enough savings to weather a slow period?
How long can you go between projects? Are your
skills currently marketable in today's workplace
and if not, how can you get training to make yourself
more likely to find work?
Trading in your 9-5 job for temporary work requires
a fair amount of soul searching and self-knowledge,
but it can lead to a career change that may be
exactly what you need to thrive.
Sacha Cohen is a Washington-based business
and technology writer. Her work has appeared in
The Washington Post, Kiplinger.com, Fast Company,
Oxygen's ka-Ching and other print and online publications.
Cohen has been covering Internet trends and culture
since 1996.
Related Reading:
Daniel Pink, a contributing editor to Fast Company
and former Gore chief speechwriter, started the
Web site for independent workers, FreeAgentNation.com.
His 1998 book, Free
Agent Nation, shows who these free agents
are, why they are free agents and how they are
the new economic icons replacing The
Organization Man.
Update: Read a recent
interview with Pink in Fortune magazine,
which asked whether the downturn in the new economy
made him rethink the premise behind Free Agent
Nation.
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