The Temporary Life

One of my strategies for getting by since losing my job has been to take temporary work through creative staffing agencies like BOSS, Aquent and Techead. While I initially thought this would make up a larger portion of my workload, with freelancing directly with clients and agencies filling in the gaps, the ratio has been somewhat reversed.

That may change today, as I am interviewing for a three-month contract position through a staffing agency. The job isn’t exactly what I am looking for, but three whole months of steady pay is hard to turn down. If I get this gig, I will have less time for other freelancing, particularly taking meetings during the day or working on-site with clients, but I should be able to maintain some level of freelance work while contracting.

Contract work is also a great way to find your way into full-time employment, and it has worked for me at least twice in the past. Both times I was hired on full-time before my contract was even up. It gets you in the door where you can impress people with your work and your attitude. And best of all, some temp agencies pay every week, so you don’t have to wait up to a month (or more, depending on the client) for freelance checks.