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.