By Laura Shure, Senior Director – Temporary Division, Hawthorne Lane
Temporary work offers numerous advantages. It allows you to develop new skills, explore different career paths, expand your professional network, and maintain flexibility while providing income. It also provides valuable on the job experience that keeps your résumé current and your skills sharp. In a job market that continues to change, temporary work can be a strategic step forward. Saying yes to a temporary assignment can help you to gain experience, build connections, and move your career ahead with intention and confidence.
Temporary staffing needs arise for many reasons within organizations. Employers may require additional support for a special project, coverage for parental or medical leave, or interim help while awaiting approval to add permanent headcount. While temporary work may not always be top of mind for job seekers, it can often lead to unexpected and rewarding long-term opportunities.
Below are several specific ways we’ve seen professionals benefit from temporary employment.
Exploring Career Options
Budget cuts and organizational restructuring can unexpectedly eliminate positions. When job seekers reenter the market and begin interviewing, it often takes time to secure the right long-term role. In the interim, temporary work can provide a valuable financial cushion while opening doors to new industries and expanding professional networks.
There can be a silver lining to being between positions. We’ve frequently seen temporary employees discover environments they might never have previously considered—sometimes uncovering new strengths, interests, and passions along the way. What starts as a short-term bridge can end in a perfect match. In one recent instance, one of our associates took a temporary role supporting an association’s CEO transition to keep her skills fresh during her job search. She proved so indispensable that the team asked her to stay on—and eventually made her a permanent offer. They simply couldn’t imagine their daily operations without her.
A Foot in the Door
Large cities are full of high-profile and reputable organizations, but they often have competitive hiring practices. It can be discouraging to submit a résumé and receive only an automated acknowledgment with no clear next steps. Partnering with a recruiting agency that offers access to temporary roles can provide a more direct and strategic path to your target companies or industries.
Even if an assignment doesn’t perfectly align with your long-term goals, it can serve as a valuable foot in the door. Temporary roles allow you to demonstrate your skills, work ethic, and adaptability to a desired employer, while also giving you the opportunity to evaluate whether a company’s culture and environment align with your career aspirations.
New to the Area
Relocating to a new city without secured employment can create both financial and professional stress. Temporary work can serve as a bridge, providing local experience, expanding your network, and offering exposure to future openings while giving you steady income.
While some assignments are truly short-term, many professionals make such a strong impression that they are considered for full-time roles, sometimes before those positions are even formally posted. By demonstrating adaptability, commitment, and skill, a temporary employee can often be identified and offered longer term positions.
Consider the experience of one of our associates who, upon moving to town, accepted a short-term receptionist assignment to cover a staff vacation. She made such a positive impression on everyone she encountered that, once the initial coverage ended, the organization immediately offered her a temp-to-hire opportunity in a higher-level role. Although she didn’t meet the traditional requirements for that position on paper, the team’s firsthand experience with her personality and work ethic gave them the confidence to bypass the job description and hire her based on her proven potential
Short-Term Availability
You may have already decided to leave the area or pursue a new direction. Educational plans, family commitments, or other opportunities may be taking you elsewhere. In these situations, temporary work can align perfectly with your availability.
Short-term assignments allow you to remain professionally active and continue earning income while preparing for your next transition. They provide flexibility without requiring a long-term commitment, helping you maintain stability during periods of change.
Temporary-to-Hire Opportunities
If you want to ensure your next role is the right fit before committing long-term, a temporary-to-hire position may be an ideal option.
With temporary-to-hire opportunities, you interview for a specific role and, if selected, begin in a temporary capacity as an hourly employee for a designated trial period. This arrangement allows you to fully immerse yourself in the position, collaborate daily with colleagues, and evaluate whether the responsibilities, expectations, and culture align with your professional goals.
If the fit isn’t right for either party, there is flexibility to conclude the arrangement. When the match is strong, however, temporary-to-hire roles often transition seamlessly into permanent employment, providing confidence and clarity for both the employee and the employer.
A temp-to-hire role is often the key to unlocking a long-term career. For instance, one of our candidates joined a prestigious international law firm as a temporary HR Coordinator. Through consistent high performance and a series of well-deserved promotions, she rose through the ranks. Today, she leads the entire Talent and Recruitment process for the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, proving that a temporary start can lead to a successful long-term career.
The Evolving Landscape of Temporary Work
The temporary employment landscape has evolved significantly from outdated stereotypes of “temping.” Today, temporary employees are considered high-value contributors and integral members of many teams.
According to the American Staffing Association, staffing companies hired 12.7 million temporary and contract employees in 2023. Nearly one quarter worked in administrative or office-related roles, and 73% of staffing employees worked full time. These figures highlight that temporary work is often far more than a short-term stopgap, it is a meaningful and substantial segment of today’s workforce.
Laura Shure is a Senior Director with Hawthorne Lane’s Temporary Division. With over two decades of experience recruiting in the greater Washington, DC area, Laura specializes in placing candidates in temporary assignments. She partners closely with employers and candidates alike, building strong relationships to create strategic matches that meet temporary staffing needs across industries.
