Forbes Column Gives 9 Reasons Candidates Should Consider Contracting

These days, you may not have to talk candidates into taking contract assignments because more candidates are actually seeking out contract work. But if you do encounter a candidate who is reluctant to consider contract staffing, you may want to point them to a column titled "Why Temporary Work is Worth It" in Forbes.

According to the column by Kerry Hannon, more than a third of American companies are operating with smaller staffs than before the recession. No surprise there. But what might surprise your candidates is that 36 percent of companies plan to hire contract/temp workers this year, and a third of those plan to hire before April. For candidates who have been out of work for a long time, this represents a whole new crop of job opportunities. . . if they are willing to think outside the normal direct-hire box.

The column gives candidates plenty of reasons to consider contract staffing:

Try different careers, industries, and companies.
If a candidate is unemployed, contract staffing gives them something to do, which builds confidence.
Contract work may eventually lead to a direct-hire position (temp-to-direct).
Make good money. Hannon says many companies pay generously for contractors because they can solve a problem quickly without the usual "hand-holding and learning curve."
Build a professional network.
Get new references.
"Keep resume alive." Contract work can fill the gaps in a candidate's resume in between direct-hire jobs.
Keep skills current.
Get excited about a project without long-term expectations. Hannon points out that knowing the job is temporary "can be tremendously freeing."

Debbie Fledderjohann is the President of Top Echelon Contracting, Inc.