By Sharon Bishin, Corporate & Employability Trainer

There was a time not so long ago when the word “temp” as in temporary work, was seen as a four letter word – something nasty, and certainly to be avoided. But times, they are a changing, and since a recent survey by Randstad’s Global Workmonitor reveals that a startling 58 percent of Canadians do not believe in job security, it makes sense to look at alternatives to long-term, steady employment.What this means to today’s job seeker –according to that same survey – is that 82 percent of Canadians believe temporary work can be a stepping stone to a permanent job, a time to demonstrate your value to an employer, or a path to discovering new fields of interest. It may also be relevant if you:

• are at a crossroads and looking to break into a new field
• want to maximize your unemployed time – and reduce the number of gaps on your resumé – by filling in with a temporary opportunity

However, while staying open to the concept of temporary work, also be strategic about what transferrable skills you will be acquiring. If your larger goal is to stay in the technology field, look to temp posts that enable you to build up new software knowledge. If event-planning is your preferred industry, then select short-term assignments that stress people-oriented and project management expertise. In this way, you can demonstrate to a prospective employer that your overall value has been enriched by both your longer and shorter employment experiences.

The full Canadian HR Reporter article on the Randstand survey, is available at this link: http://click.xydo.com/toolbar_view/3229/10/839?e=W1VOSVFVRV0=

Connect with me on Twitter: Sharon Bishin @barnettbish