Temporary Jobs - What Are They and How to Get One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A Temporary job is an employment arrangement in which both parties, the employee and employer, agree in advance that the position will be filled for a set period. Temporary jobs often are based on employers’ seasonal or specific project needs. Occasionally, Temporary employees will be offered ongoing, full-time positions if their performance is excellent and a position is available. However, you should not assume this will be the case.

The duration of a Temporary job varies widely. Some positions may only be for a day, while others can be months. For example, you may be employed by a temp agency. These temporary agencies specialize in finding employment for many different careers on a short-term basis. Whether someone is out on disability or leave, or there is just extra work in this season, Temporary jobs can be a great way to gain experience, even if they do not turn into a full-time position.

When employers are hiring on a temporary basis, they let the potential employees, recruiters, and job boards know that this is their intention. Therefore, if you are seeking temporary positions, you should be able to find a variety using ‘temporary’ as a keyword search. Such positions are usually limited in terms of time and benefits. However, some employers prefer to hire temps and then keep those who are a good fit.

Some Temporary jobs offer benefits, but most do not. Employees placed through a temp worker agency may find that the agency itself offers options for benefits, including healthcare and dental care. Most people must land a full-time, long-term position before benefits, like healthcare and 401K, are offered but, as with all things, there are exceptions. The best thing to do is to read each job listing carefully and ask questions at the interview regarding benefits.