Why should I take a contract role whilst looking for a permanent role?
You’re newly active and looking for that perfect new job. Maybe you just came back from travelling, or maternity leave, maybe like most of the UK you’ve moved to Australia to start a new life in the sun. Or maybe, like many others, you got sick of the daily politics and decided you are better off unemployed than ever having to turn up at the office again.
Most people without work are seeking permanent employment, and why wouldn’t you? It gives you security, holiday pay, sick pay, the chance to live the dream that every permanent recruiter sells you… ‘You can grow with the company and get that promotion you’ve always wanted.’
As highly experienced contract recruiters, we are here to tell you the 3 reasons why taking a contract role when unemployed is one of the best things you can do!
1. Who knows how long the permanent role will take?
Sure, having a short break from work is great! It gives you the opportunity to do all the things you just haven’t had time to do. Visit the gym; perfect your baking skills; relaxing with that book you’ve been meaning to read for years. But when does the break start getting a bit too long? When do the bills start to stack up just that little bit too much? How long until you’re your significant other wants you to get a job more than you do?
There are no guarantees with work, and you never know when that perfect role might come along. Contracting ensures that you are in a role and the money is coming in. In our experience, a company hiring permanently will always wait for the perfect candidate (they may even take on a contractor in the meantime themselves). Don’t get caught up in thinking if you take a contract role; it counts you out of permanent opportunities… It doesn’t!!
2. Get into the company you’ve always wanted to
Throughout your journey in University or the very start of your career you’ve dreamed of working for ‘that company.’ Maybe you’ve tried applying with them, maybe you even got to meet with them, but unfortunately for you, another candidate ‘had more relevant experience.’ Well let us tell you, the dream doesn’t end there! Not if you're open to contract anyway…
There have been numerous occasions where we have placed candidates into contracts within businesses they have been unsuccessful with in the past. The endless list of requirements for any particular role is dramatically reduced for contract. It gives you the opportunity to get a foot in the door with a company you may have otherwise not.
3. It may just turn permanent
So, you’ve bagged yourself a contract job with your dream company… Your settling in, you’re doing a great job, and your new boss even sometimes laughs at your terrible jokes. Now what? You don’t want to leave and go back to living under your partner’s feet (having to cook dinner because ‘you are the one without a job’). Well, you don’t have to! A large percentage of contract roles are made permanent.
In our experience, contracts turn into permanent roles very regularly, mostly because they already know what you can do and how well you can do it and believe it or not, your more valuable to them now than any new applicant. You know their systems, their processes and require little or no training to do the role full time. Back yourself!
In Conclusion
Contract roles are nothing to fear, they are becoming far more common in every industry, and there is a reason for it! Contract can open many doors are benefit you in ways that even permanent roles can't. At worst, if the job isn’t for you, you have the flexibility to leave at very short notice with no repercussions. Our advice? Take the role; you have NOTHING to lose and everything to gain.