By Michele Genet

Today’s workforce offers myriad ways for companies and employees to work together. Here at Far West Staffing Services, we are continuously striving to match our clients and candidates in the best options.

Let’s start with insights on the primary job structures: full-time employment, the more traditional style that most folks know; temporary roles, which allow more flexibility for both sides; and temp-to-hire situations, a little bit of a mix of both. We’re experts in helping both employers and those looking for employment identify which working style suits them best. Most importantly, no one-size-fits-all solutions applies to the modern workplace; every company, candidate and situation is unique.

Embracing the Full-Time 9-to-5

For decades, full-time employment was the norm for most of the American workforce, and, while it still fits the bill for some companies and candidates, it’s not for everyone. When employers are hoping to fill a long-term role, they typically put a strong emphasis on defining upfront exactly what that role looks like in the job description. Unlike temporary roles, full-time opportunities often include specifics about the location, the supervisor and any other relevant information about the potential employee’s day-to-day experience at the company.

Having the job description solidified ahead of time goes a long way toward recruiting the types of people suited best for a full-time role. In general, these candidates are looking for longevity; they want to be in one place for an extended period. They thrive in an environment that has a steady, predicable work pace, is typically constant, and is someplace they can see themselves working for several years or an entire career. But this isn’t for everyone, making it important for companies and candidates to identify exactly how they prefer to work before jumping into an opportunity.

The obvious advantage of full-time employment is the stability, of course, and in most cases, traditional benefits. Given the expected longevity of these roles, employees can dive into that company’s culture and community, while developing their career over time.

Growth on Your Own Time with Temporary Employment

We’ve seen a rise in temporary roles within the marketplace over the last few decades, but this past year has ushered in a renewed stream of interest from candidates looking for short-term employment.  As a key member of the recruiting community, Far West Staffing Services has carefully kept an eye on this shift – more specifically, the two demographics leading the trend.

Temporary work has historically benefitted candidates looking to kick-start their careers by gaining entry-level experience (which is still true today), but we’ve also noticed an influx of demand for short-term roles for more-experienced candidates, especially those nearing the end of their careers. Employers benefit immensely from the wisdom and insight this segment of candidates can bring, and temporary engagements allow that to happen. Most folks nearing retirement don’t have interest in committing to a new long-term job, but they also might not be ready to completely exit the workforce. Similarly, companies might want to gain that discernment and perspective from an experienced employee, but don’t have the budget to hire someone at that level in a full-time capacity. Temporary roles can be the perfect sweet-spot solution.

Candidates starting out their careers (or in some cases, pivoting toward a new direction) often benefit from experience provided in temporary working roles. But to succeed in a short-term working environment, candidates must bring the right set of soft skills. This rule of thumb applies to candidates of all ages and experience levels, but particularly those newer-to-the-industry folks who are building their professional foundation. These employees must be able to jump into an established environment, find a way to fit into the team and maintain a consistent work ethic – even though they are expected to only fill this role for a short period. Every situation is different, but the candidate’s ability to adapt is a constant need that will make this a win-win experience for everyone.

Temp-To-Hire: The Best of Both Worlds

Temporary employment often provides less-experienced candidates with the time and exposure to really make a lasting impression with an employer. The more a candidate demonstrates the value they bring to the team, the more likely they will be considered for longer term roles in the future. In temp-to-hire situations, both the employer and the candidate have a brief period to assess whether this role is the right fit for both sides. From there, temp workers can either commit to the engagement or carry on to new opportunities.

Let’s Get Working

The main takeaway when it comes to comparing the benefits of each type of employment — full-time, temporary and temp-to-hire – is that each and every scenario is different. It varies from person to person, company to company and job to job. At Far West Staffing Services, we take pride in our ability to remain nimble and resourceful to match candidates to their perfect roles and to bring employers the right candidate. We don’t strive to offer one-avenue solutions. In some cases, a company might bring on three people, one in each type of employment outlined above. Our job is to help candidates and employers identify what makes the most sense for their unique situation.

If you’re looking for employment, planning to expand your team and hire soon, or are simply curious about how to identify the best working style for you or your company, give us a call. We’re seasoned experts in navigating these situations and ready to help you get started. Now, let’s get working!