“Please Mind the Gap” — London, UK

Temp, Temp-to-Perm & Contract Work Placements — Workplace Matters

[Also featured on Elizabeth’s LinkedIn page as part of her workplace, people culture and employee engagement series.]

London Underground in the 1980’s — Photo by Bob Mazzer

I only know of one place where we are asked to exercise caution as it relates to minding the gap: this happens to be within my hometown underneath the London Underground tube station. Ironically, the gaps that underground passengers are asked to “mind” are not nearly as wide as the employment gaps we might experience throughout the course of our careers or along the pathway towards career development.

As a paid temporary employee and or contractor, work related gaps can be extremely detrimental; especially with little or no prior warning to essentially “prepare for the worst.” If caution is not exercised the initial gap is a painful one. The second, third and fourth gap, one falls into, may not only impact the early stages of your professional life, but may also have an adverse effect on your personal life, financial well-being and perhaps your overall reputation. Yes, recruiters, employers and even those close to you may begin to place labels on you and sadly characterize you as: a serial temporary worker, job hopper and or a proposed “heavy” contractor — without keeping in mind or even considering the times, job market or era that candidates are inevitably confronted with throughout the course of their careers. We can all agree that the labels listed above are harsh, judgmental and painful — to say the least. As one falls within these unexpected career gaps and or long periods of delayed working prospects, this tragic experience can also crush the mind, heart, spirit and self-esteem; going as far as casting a shadow on your very soul. Additionally, you harbor the pain that comes with knowing that other working professionals, who may have taken note of your fall, do not seem to relate nor do they identify with your plight — so they just keep on walking by.

For those who are fresh out of university, for those who have had to acquire a few more degrees (to see if this will help to make you more marketable) and do not have a safety net (due to inconsistent working opportunities), no loved ones, genuine friends or peers insight — this fall is one that leaves you with bumps, bruises and extremely sore blisters.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of those who are voluntarily and or involuntarily engaged within the treacherous world of temp, temp-to-perm and contractual work assignments. Now here is some food for thought: temporary and or contracted employees do not love neither do they like going from one workplace to another. No, they do so for the purposes of keeping their work experiences current; seeking to gain more technical skills; obviously for the purposes of being better paid and, also in hopes that they will eventually be offered a more permanent position. Might I also add that there are a number of reasons why temporary work placements can be so short lived: companies do not want to pay staffing agencies the “extra” and very steep fees for converting a temporary employee and, or they have just temporarily hired someone for the purposes of filling a work need with no intentions of making the work assignment a permanent one.

In summary, short lived work assignments are not always reflective of someone’s work ethic and or character. Therefore, the next time you encounter temporary employees, contractual employees or resumes that reflect short-term work history and or career gaps, try to give the person the benefit of the doubt and, of course, an opportunity to both share and answer the question “Why?” Keep in mind that before making assumptions, characterizing, assigning labels, permanently placing a candidate within the “contractual zone” and or deeming them as not quite a good “fit” — everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an opportunity to explain what is outlined on paper in person. Now let us strive to change our attitudes about temporary employment, contract work and prospective candidates being considered for career opportunities — as the candidates may just end up working out!

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius

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