Are You Afraid of “Interim” or Project-Based Work?

Are you afraid of “interim” or project-based work? If so, you are not alone.

The other day I was speaking to a participant in one of my speaking engagements. She confided to me that she had been laid off from her job and was looking for a new job. Then she told me how difficult it was for her to find a full-time position.

She had gotten interviews but was having difficulty making it through the final cut. There was no job offer.

She was starting to get scared, coming to the end of her unemployment benefits and dipping into her savings.

When I asked her whether she had considered looking for “interim,” “temporary,” or “project-based assignments,” she told me, “No. Security is important to me. I want a job.”

I understand. It’s nice to have a steady paycheck.

But, here’s the thing: there are fewer jobs being created these days. Why? Because it’s very expensive for companies to create jobs. Typically a company will pay between 35 – 50% over and above an employee’s baseline salary just to cover benefits. That means companies are slower to bring people onto the books on a full-time basis, which translates into a longer hiring process.

It’s much quicker, easier and cheaper for companies to create shorter-term assignments. In fact, much of the work that is available in the job market today is packaged up in terms of projects. Some say upwards of 50%. (This is happening in companies too, where project-based work is more prevalent than job descriptions.)

If you are like this participant, and can’t find a “job,” you might want to entertain the idea of working on a short-term project or interim assignment. Especially if you  need immediate cash.

It doesn’t mean that you have to spend the rest of your life in a 40 hour a week assignment, with no benefits. You don’t.

But, interim and project-based work is the fastest path to cash.

Consider looking for and accepting a project for 90 days. It’s better than not working at all, and in many cases, these shorter-term projects lead to full-time employment.

The key is to take control of your search for paid work. Don’t look at taking an interim position as needing to compromise. See this option as a wonderful alternative to generating quick cash while you continue your efforts to find, and even create, work you will enjoy, and if it’s important to you, a regular job.

Bottom-line: Don’t be afraid of interim assignments or project-based work. These alternatives can actually create security by guaranteeing an income stream. Use them to create a financial anchor to cover your expenses.

The most important part of any search for work is to ensure that your financial needs are met. Use this strategy to meet your needs.

And, if you need help with this, please reach out to me (click here) and let me know. We’ll set up a strategy session to see how I might be able to help you.