Many Find Full-Time Contentment on Temporary Jobs

Whether it is to tide them over until the next acting assignment, give them something to do in retirement or provide the freedom to take time off to spend with their children, workers who have held full-time jobs are switching to a life as permanent temporary employees, industry officials report.

“Many people who either want to, or have to, be a part of the work force are opting for career temporary positions,” said Diane Ford, national field manager for Dunhill Personnel System, a major network of recruiting specialists. “They have the option of working as much as 40 hours per week or less if they so desire.

“The number of such people, both men and women, has skyrocketed, and with businesses gearing up for the Christmas season, full-time temps will be needed more than ever,” she added.

Carolyn Hudson, Albuquerque, N.M., has been a permanent temp for one year, following a nine-year stint as a full-time secretary. She has no plans to return to full-time work, saying the full-time temp concept fits her life style.

“I quit my full-time job to spend more time with my son,” said Hudson. “Now I can work three days a week and have time for my bowling league and volunteer work at my son’s school library.”

Christina Keefe of Boston is an actress who has found that being a permanent temp gives her the flexibility to come and go between auditions and shows.

“I have done everything as a temp, from legal work to real estate development,” said Keefe, who took last summer off to study acting in London. “There is security in temping. You don’t have to go back the next day if you don’t like the job. You don’t have to take any abuse.”

Martha Monday, Knoxville, Tenn., retired after 30 years with General Electric. She turned to temporary work to relieve boredom.

“The temp job I have now, as an executive secretary, I have had for the last five months,” Monday said. “But when I want to take off, I take off.”

Vicki Tollinger of Boise, Ida., had no training when she decided to go to work four years ago. She started out as a receptionist and has gone on to do everything from legal work to word processing.

“Employers appreciate temps more than full-time workers,” said Tollinger. “They are in a bind, and you are there to help them out. Another wonderful thing about temping is that you see so many companies. If the day comes when I want a full-time job, I will have a good idea where I want to work.”

Uniforce Temporary Services’ recent national survey of temporary employment trends indicated that word-processing skills are of major importance in terms of career opportunities and chance for higher pay.

Word processing and data entry temporaries made up the largest specialty group of those surveyed, exceeding secretaries and typists. And 85% of them cited on-the-job experience as more valuable and effective than classroom training.

More than a third of the respondents said they learned basic word-processing skills working as temps, in contrast to 28% who learned the skills at a word-processing school and 25% who learned as a permanent employee.

“It is obvious that increased office automation is creating a huge demand for experienced word processors,” said John Fanning, president of Uniforce. “We foresee the percentage of word-processing temps doubling every year during this decade.”

Of those responding to the study, nearly 10% are over 50, and Fanning said he expected this figure to increase by 50% annually as more people take early retirement.

“The rising number of older temporaries also reflects the changing demographics of the work force, with the 18-24 age group expected to decrease by 14% during this decade,” he said. “Increased numbers of early retirees will join the temp work force and make important contributions to productivity through their years of experience and demonstrated adherence to the work ethic.”