Ask the cubicle expat: Pros and cons of permatemp work
Lisa writes: Had hoped to flee the cube for good when my job got terminated (corporate restructuring and move out of state) 2.5 months ago. I am finding breaking into freelancing not quite feasible yet in order to pay the bills. That’s OK… I just know I need to make more connections and give it a go some other time in the future. Wondering, though, since I know you’ve done it, what working as a wage slave (contract worker) at A Big Corporation is like. I signed up with a contract agency and they lined up an interview for me at A Big Corporation. Job itself sounds interesting, but as I have never worked contract, I’d like to know the pros and cons.
What a timely question! As I hinted at a while back, I’m doing one of these short-term contracts at A Big Corporation now (though the gig is part time, ultra-flex, heavy on telecommuting, and due to end in a matter of weeks). I’m happy to weigh the pros and cons of working for the man, however noncommittally, here.
Pros:
- Steady money
- Priceless experience that helps flesh out your resume
- Contacts you can use when you do go freelance later (or try to land a staff job with the company you’re temping at)
- Not having to attend most employee meetings or perform other maddening employee tasks (annual reviews, feigned enthusiasm for special projects)
- Being a short timer who gets unemployment when the contract’s over
Cons:
- Commuting
- Dealing with office politics
- Commuting
- Getting treated like a second-class citizen because you’re not a “real” employee
- Commuting
- Being expected to hit the ground running, sans training (because you’re not a “real” employee)
- Commuting
Temp’s little helpers:
- My first day on the “job,” I brought Summer Pierre’s awesome zine, The Artist in the Office, with me — the perfect lunch companion. She reminded me that every job, no matter how partially or wholly shitty, has its merits, even if those merits are nothing more than Keeps My Fridge Partially Stocked or Affords Me Access To Free Staples And Sticky Notes. (For the record, my job’s not shitty. Hi, Boss!)
- Ayun Halliday’s hilarious book Job Hopper: The Checkered Career of a Down-Market Dilettante is a nice reminder that you’re not the only one who’s so much more than her day job of fielding emails, ducking out of meetings, and dodging dodgy managers.
- You may think your boss, officemate, or job description is the worst, but they’re not. Just read TrueOfficeConfessions.com. You’ll feel better instantly.
Lest you worry that this has turned into a working stiff’s blog, here are a few freelance resources:
- The Renegade Writer’s 10 Years of Freelancing Tips
- Freelance Switch’s 101 Ideas to Get More Freelance Work
- HR World’s 101 Reasons Freelancers Do It Better
Have a question for the Cubicle Expat? Ask away.
6 comments September 12th, 2007
