Nearly one in four employees
work as temps to pursue other dreams, according to new research.
A survey of more than 3,500
temporary workers by internet job site reed.co.uk, shows that people temp to
gain time and money.
One respondent said he temps to
have "time to pursue a career as a DJ", while another claimed the
flexibility allows her "to audition as an actress, travel round the world
and be an artist".
Others use temping to fund
major lifestyle or career changes, such
as plans "to move to Spain in about eight months time, once our villa is
built", or to "become a full-time Feng Shui consultant."
Reed.co.uk claims people choose
temping for one of five different reasons:
● Bridge builders –
29 per cent use temping as a stepping stone towards a permanent job
● Lifestyle leaders – 20 per cent choose temping so they can
pursue personal interests outside work
● Skill seekers – 20 per cent use it to improve their skills and
gain insights into different careers
● Family flexers – 6 per cent choose it to fit with domestic or
family commitments
● Friend finders – 6 per cent choose temping because they like
meeting different people and working in different environments
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Some respondents plan to temp
for their entire working lives, with one in 12 (8 per cent) classing themselves
as ‘career temporaries’. More men are attracted to spending their whole careers
as temps with 11 per cent aiming for the long-term, compared with just 4 per
cent of women.
