Are you a construction worker, considering turning temp? There’s never been a better time to do so!

Temporary or contract positions have been on the upswing: according to StatCan, temporary workers have increased by 50% over the last 20 years, whereas permanent workers only increased by 33% in the same time frame. In addition to providing a source of income, working temporary positions must provide a number of other benefits in order for it to be steadily climbing in normalcy for as long as it has been – but what are they?

Temporary positions in fields like construction are a great choice for those looking to keep their options open or expand their repertoire. If you are in the construction field and are unsure about taking on a temporary gig, read on for our top five reasons why we think you should reconsider.

Flexibility and Work/Life Balance

Working in construction is typically very labour intensive work, so it’s nice to have the flexibility that comes along with most temporary placements. In keeping with their title, temporary positions are often relatively short, so if you like having some down time to relax and recoup in between jobs, temporary construction work is a solid choice.

Also, being accommodating to the flexible nature of temporary jobs can be a welcomed addition to your resume skills section. Sometimes an employer will only need you for a few days at a time or require you to be on-call; having this kind of adaptability is a quality that almost any employer will look for, regardless of the job.

Try a Construction Role Without Commitment

If you don’t have very much construction experience, taking some part-time work is a good way to dip your toes into something without committing to a long-term contract. Leaving a temporary position is typically less involved than leaving a permanent one, so if you decide the job isn’t for you, you hopefully won’t be on the hook for too long.

But if You’re Keen, It Could Turn into a Full Time Role…

And, if you decided that it IS something you want to pursue more diligently, temp positions can often turn into permanent ones. It is not uncommon for hiring managers to take on temporary employees to ‘try them out’ before hiring them as full-time employees.

Networking Opportunities

Temporary or not, you never know who you might meet on the job. In the professional world, there is no such thing as too much networking, and in the construction field, doing so on the job is one of the best ways to meet people.

The beauty of temporary positions is that you will be exposed to new groups of people on a regular basis, which can do wonders for expanding your network. Every time you connect with someone on a professional level, your opportunity pool gets deeper. Make a good impression, and they will remember you in the future.

Fill Construction Resume Gaps

Whether you took some time off due to an injury, to take care of family or simply to get some much-needed rest, resume gaps are by no means uncommon, and can easily be explained. However, if you are worried that having sizable stretches of unemployment in your experience will raise some red flags with potential employers down the road, taking some temporary work is an easy way to rectify that.

Even if the position is only a few weeks or months long, having some experience is better than none at all! What may seem like a series of short-term gigs can actually go a long way in securing future positions – taking the initiative to keep yourself employed can reflect positively on hiring managers.

Widen The Scope of your Skilled Trade Experience

Many construction jobs are similar in nature and require several of the same skills: physical strength, dexterity, mathematics, problem-solving skills, and so on. However, depending on the particular needs of a certain temporary construction position, you may be presented with opportunities to hone an entirely different range of skills.

Communication, teamwork, leadership and trust are all examples of soft skills that prove to be useful, especially in a new work environment. Any chance you can get to improve them should be taken: traits like these are indispensable, and even if what you learn doesn’t end up helping you in a professional sense, there is virtually no negative aspect to learning a new skill.

Are you interested in learning more about these kinds of positions? Next Level Group specializes in construction jobs, both temporary and permanent, and is happy to help you get started. Click here for more information.