Career Retraining Helps Temps Find Permanent Positions

For the past few decades, job seekers have leaned on the temporary help industry to get them through recessions and other tough times. Unfortunately, the current economy has hit many temporary staffing agencies hard. Staffing companies recently reached the top of a government list of industries most affected by layoffs. As employers find it easier to cut back on temps than to cut their own payroll, agency-based contractors should build essential job skills to qualify for permanent positions.

Common Job Skills of Temporary Workers

• Flexibility
• Focus
• Technology-savvy

Career Opportunities Reward Soft Skills and Unusual Schedules

Many full-time temporary workers enjoy the flexibility of working unusual hours, often to accommodate work or family commitments. Other temps like the challenge of working through a variety of complex tasks for a series of clients. While these traits once scared off prospective hiring managers, new technology and the demands of today's economy have changed their minds.

With minimal career retraining, many former temporary workers can qualify for some of the country's fastest growing job categories. Despite a slow economy, employers find it difficult to staff many service and support tasks, especially those required outside traditional office hours. As a result, some of the roles that temporary workers once found only at staffing agencies are now available from companies in a variety of industries.

Many of the tasks once handled by in-house professionals in offices or at call centers can now be performed remotely. Thanks to high-speed Internet connections and inexpensive phone service, employers can set up home offices for qualifying employees. Therefore, some former temporary workers have discovered that they can replace their former commutes with more paid work hours.

New Economy Careers for Former Temporary Workers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these new economy careers should see the following increase in employment opportunities through 2016:

• Customer Service: 25 percent
• Computer Help Desk Support: 13 percent
• Administrative Support: 13 percent

Benefits of Career Retraining

Focused career retraining, often building on the skills developed as a temp, can help you qualify for permanent work in recession-proof companies. Associate's degrees in business or information technology can often qualify you for entry-level jobs in customer service or computer support. By investing in courses from a local career center or in an online degree program, you can start to enjoy a regular paycheck without surrendering the freedom of temping.

Sources:
Customer Service Representatives, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Computer Support Specialists, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mass Layoffs Summary, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Money.CNN.com
Office Clerks, General, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Tomorrow, Bureau of Labor Statistics
USAToday.com