The Pros and Cons of Short-Term Financial Openings

Would you ever accept a temporary position as a bookkeeper, accountant, or other financial professional? Often, people who are new to our network say they wouldn’t. They are interested in full-time job opportunities only. That’s understandable, but it might also be a little short-sighted.

As with anything else in life, there are pros and cons to temp work as a financial professional. In some situations, the advantages might far outweigh the drawbacks. To help you understand why, let’s take a point-by-point look at both sides of the coin…

 

The Pros of Temporary or Short-Term Financial Openings

Temporary employment is often thought of as something people turn to only when a full-time job isn’t open. However, there are lots of advantages to short-term openings, including:

• Temporary financial work often entails higher pay on a per-hour basis. That’s particularly true if you have a skill or specialty that is in-demand.
• Work on short-term financial projects tends to move at a faster pace. Often, businesses are on a tight deadline to meet filing requirements, which lends a sense of excitement to the effort.
• Because temporary financial job openings sometimes need to be filled quickly, companies will bring in an individual and then train them for the work that’s needed. So, you could end up with new skills or resume qualifications you didn’t have before.
• Some temporary arrangements involve travel to fun destinations with expenses and accommodations covered. If you don’t need to stay close to home, a short-term project could offer the chance to get away.
• Of course, it goes without saying that some temporary employees are hired as full-time staff members. If you’re great at what you do, a supervisor or executive is probably going to notice.

 

The Cons of Working as a Temporary Financial Employee

While there are undoubtedly some big advantages to working on a short-term basis, there are a couple of important drawbacks as well:

• Temporary employment is by definition less stable. Eventually, the contractor position could end and you might have to start your next job search from scratch (although you could walk away from your assignment with new connections and recommendations).
• Most temporary financial job openings don’t provide insurance or other benefits. That could be an issue for those who rely on coverage from their primary employer.

 

The Bottom Line on Financial Temp Work

There is necessarily no right answer about whether you should consider financial temp work or not. Instead, it’s a case that suits some individuals and not others; or, that it suits different employees at certain points in their lives, even if it doesn’t make sense all the time.

If you don’t necessarily need the security of a long-term job right now, or the extra benefits that come with traditional employment, then why not fill in your resume and have a bit of fun with a short-term opening? It could just provide the boost in income and career flexibility you need.

 

To learn about temporary or permanent financial openings in your field, talk to the expert recruiters at AF Staffing today!