Here's how you can combat the stigma of temporary and contract work in your career.

As someone who needs to hire for projects that may last 6months or 5 years, I love someone that can demonstrate flexibility. The best candidates for ambiguous work, do not just demonstrate a history of being flexible, but a history of seeking change, and successfully navigating chaos. Change is inevitable, how quick we pick up the trail on the new directions sets leaders apart from followers.

As a mentor with extensive leadership experience, I can attest that temporary and contract roles are not just stopgaps, but a crucible for growth. They challenge professionals to adapt and innovate, honing skills that are invaluable in any industry. Embracing these roles can demonstrate a passion for continuous learning and a servant leadership mindset, as you're constantly putting the needs of the project or organization first. This perspective can be a powerful narrative in career discussions, showcasing an inquisitive nature and commitment to personal and professional development.

Who do you believe in - yourself or someone else? Know yourself first and ensure your self confidence is well founded Only then can you have confidence to move from short term contract to short term contract

I think contract/temporary opportunities are a way of expanding and exploring new fields without needing to commit large sums of money or extensive amounts of time. It prevents us from getting pigeonholed into one single area of expertise, but to keep us challenged and excited about further applications of our ever-growing knowledge. Embracing lifelong learning leads to much more fulfilment.

Nearly all of the most lucrative positions I have been able to acquire have been because of relationships that I had built previously. It if vital to get to know people at all levels and build positive relationships with them. You never know who you may have left an impression on at one point or another that leads that contact to reach out to you with an offer.

A palavra networking pode gerar confusão. Manter a rede ativa é essencial em qualquer fase da jornada profissional, mas deve ser tratado com naturalidade. A base está em construir relações sólidas e de confiança e não em apenas aumentar o tamanho da base. O histórico das relações farão com que você seja lembrado pelas entregas e compromissos firmados e não pelas promessas feitas.

When I started my business 6 years ago the best bit of advice I got, was to network. It was the start of building up good working relationships and to build on the know, like and trust, as well as raising your profile in the business community.

Have you heard the old adage, “It is not who you know, it’s who knows you?” This statement rings true for career advancement like non other. Slump in career prospects may be a sign to evolve as consistent short term contracts may sometimes prove disheartening. Networking has proven an effective cure to career slump. The question is how? Key questions to ponder: Who is in my circle? How do I effectively develop relationships that with the phrase, “reciprocity counts?” Research claims that people who are part of a network tends to live a more fulfilled life. What do you believe?

Many job seekers believe that temporary jobs only means instability, and moving from one job to another, this is actually not true. Many temporary positions can be ongoing for a long period, can become permanent, and offer many benefits. One disadvantage of using temporary and contract workers is. they often do not have the knowledge, skill, or experience to effectively contribute to the company. they tend to be less committed to the organization. However there is an optimism that should reside in you that you are leaving the position to a better place. You can bring that into reality when you leverage on the time availability to invest in personal and career development. This will make you more an invaluable asset to any organization.

É frequente me perguntarem se realizar jobs temporários pode prejudicar a imagem profissional. A meu ver, trabalhos temporários são belas oportunidades, e não obstáculos. Mas para evitar qualquer estigma, é fundamental que você repense como você apresenta essas experiências. Enquadre-as como escolhas conscientes que impulsionaram sua carreira. Compartilhe como esses papéis permitiram contribuir para projetos importantes, aprender com líderes do setor e alcançar resultados diferenciados. Destaque a adaptabilidade adquirida, mostrando como as suas novas habilidades são valiosas no mercado atual. Essa abordagem positiva pode mudar percepções e evidenciar o valor que você traz. São grandes oportunidades de crescimento, para ambas partes!

There are genuine life changing situations which may necessitate taking a contract or temporary position before you get back into full time employment. You need to stay current, make yourself relevant and bring your experiences to the table. If you got the interview it’s because you got the interest of the Recruiter. If you did not get the job, ask for feedback and use it to reframe yourself for the next opportunity.

Presenting your contract work effectively demonstrates your versatility and the breadth of your experience. It helps potential employers see the value you've brought to multiple projects and the consistent quality of your contributions. In doing so, you position yourself as a capable and adaptable professional, ready to tackle new challenges and drive success.

If people don’t know you , then they will look at your track record of delivery , your ability to work tight timelines and above all understanding of the “ pain points and deliverables” for the organisation and leaders employing you . Let your numbers do the talking for you

3️⃣ Project the value of networking. Perhaps the most underestimated value of contract work is the networking potential. With every contract role, your professional network broadens. This exposure to a diverse set of professionals is invaluable. It's an ongoing process of learning, growing and connecting. Consider the doors it could open and the contacts you could make. After all, it's not just about the job at hand, it's about the networking opportunities that can shape your future career.

Mentoring is crucial when navigating temporary and contract work. Find mentors who have thrived in these roles and understand the specific challenges they bring. They can offer advice on how to present your experience attractively, negotiate contracts effectively, and might even help expand your professional network. This guidance can be a key factor in transforming short-term gigs into substantial steps towards long-term career success.

Ter mentores ao lado é transformador, mas esteja aberto a aprender com a jornada do outro. Parece simples, mas vejo muitos profissionais desperdiçando a oportunidade de se desenvolver, pois querem justificar o porquê fazem como fazem e não param para refletir sobre os melhores caminhos para evoluir e se desenvolver.

As a workplace mentor and a volunteer mentor to students, the value of mentorship is already very clear for me. As careers progress or take off in a different direction, becoming a mentee at any point can also be impactful in many ways. Working with a mentor who has already made the transition you are about to make can be insightful, comforting and help to support your confidence. As well as providing a safe place to discuss practicalities, share any doubts and discuss ideas openly.

To overcome temporary and contract work stigma, network with mentors, showcase skills through portfolios, and continuously learn. Embrace flexibility, develop a strong personal brand, and leverage temporary work for permanent opportunities. Communicate clearly how contract work aligns with employers' needs to stand out in the competitive job market.

100%. Work with a mentor or coach who has done it before. Someone who can help you to set things up, position yourself, work with you on the sales process. Someone to guide you and work out the cadence to win new clients, holding you accountable.

I will keep my answer simple: contract work is amazing. Every major company I worked for started as contract to permanent. From Microsoft to other big companies who exclusively hired contract to permanent. Often times they didn't hire people who applied via the public listings. They almost always hired the contractors first to permanent roles. I later did this at Boeing years ago. Same process! Then a major national telecom. Same thing! It accelerated my career too. I got my latest job this way too. Now I lead and direct in the industry and only hire contractor to permanent too. I say just start looking for agencies locally or national ones and have them help you find contract work and enjoy the ride as they help you too!

I strongly encourage mid-career and senior leadership professionals to take up temporary and contract roles. My 2 cents - 1. They add diversification to your resume. 2. They expand your network. 3. They expand your domain of experience as well. One important aspect of contracting is to understand the client’s problem statement and recommend a viable solution. It throws you into a variety of use cases and challenges you to think out of the box. 4. They improve your ability to recommend, negotiate and influence. Note that in most contracting opportunities, you do not have the weight of a title or a reporting structure to leverage or prior stakeholder relationships to utilise. You will have only your thought leadership to drive the outcome.

In my experience, contract and temporary work are highly valued. It’s a lifestyle choice, too; I'm now finding myself in a redundancy situation and taking consulting roles would be the perfect option to open my networks and experience up to new organisations. New thinking, new ideas and lots of opportunities. Embrace the change. :)

Is there really a “stigma” attached to contract and temporary work. Really? For some it is “their way”; a preference. It allows “adventure”, “exploration”, “discovery”. For me it allows me to stay “third party”; objective, unburdened by corporate regulation, brave, free, flexible, unafraid, unencumbered. I’m given the gift to say what often can’t be said. And get away with it. People want that in me. Guts. Humour. Authenticity. Transparency. That’s why they keep me around. Not all. But most. “Stigma”? Really?