The Life of a Temp Things Aren’t always as Bad as they seem
For several years I worked as a temp. and have to say that I loved every minute of them. In fact the only reason I took a permanent job, was when I took out a mortgage and needed a little more financial security, but once that mortgage is paid off in three years time, I envisage myself going back to temping, and I am much looking forward to it. So if you ask me if the life of a temp is bad, I would say most definitely not.
Firstly, there is the variety. For most people the worst thing about going to work, is the sheer, grinding, mind-numbing monotony of it. Getting up at the same time each day to go to the same place, and see the same people, and look at the same filing cabinets. No matter how interesting the work is, it can become deadly boring if you do the same thing day-in-day-out for months and years. If you are temping however, this monotony does not exist. Your assignment time will obviously vary from job to job, but the average is usually two weeks (to cover for a permanent worker's annual leave), going up to three months to cover longer-term sickness, so in most cases you don't get time to be bored with the work, the office, or the people, before you move on. Yes, there may be assignments that you really hate and find boring, but if you know it is only for a finite time period, it is much easier to drive yourself forward, than getting up thinking you have years to put up with it.
Added to the variety, is the skills and training aspect. Of course in the ideal world, every temp that goes to every assignment would be 100% up to speed with the skills needed for that job. But certainly in the UK this is not always the case. There are so many companies needing temps for a variety of reasons, that often they will accept a temp who is skilled in only 90% of the things they require, especially if the Agency can show through the temp's CV that they are experienced and a quick learner, so will soon pick up the missing skill. So, of course, that means a temp is always learning new skills, broadening their horizons, and adding to their work experience and expertise, which will allow them to add to their CV for their next assignment and, hopefully, ask for more money. It also adds to the variety and interest value, if you are actually learning new things all the time.
Then there is the social aspect. Every time you go to a new assignment, a temp meets a whole group of new people, whereas in a permanent job the staff may stay the same for years. Therefore, if you are a sociable person who enjoys meeting new people, it is a great way to meet new friends, and maybe even find romance, as the usual rules surrounding office romances will not apply when someone only works in a place for a couple of weeks and then moves on.
The obvious pitfall for temporary work is the lack of job security, especially if you have a mortgage to pay. If the assignments dry up then you could be left without a wage for a month or so, and Unemployment Benefit will not pay enough to cover any mortgage here in the UK. Also, most mortgage brokers here won't even consider anyone for a mortgage if they are a temporary worker for that very reason. However, once your mortgage is paid off, it is a great way to earn your living. All Agencies in the UK give at least 20 days paid holiday a year (it is illegal here not to provide that for all workers), and unlike some permanent jobs, there is no need to "beg" for your annual leave and get everything signed in triplicate before you can get it agreed. You just go when you want to and as often as you want to - and if you want more than the 20 days and can afford to take it unpaid, then no one can stop you. Also Social Security will pay you sick pay should you fall ill.
So I honestly can see nothing bad in the life of a temp. Most of the places I temped in here are full of permanent employees wishing to join the ranks of temporary workers, and just waiting for their mortgages to end so they could do so.
