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Temp Wanted! Tips for Succeeding as an
Interim Administrative Professional
by
Diane Domeyer, executive director of Office Team
If you’ve been thinking about working as a
temporary or contract professional, you’re not alone. An increasing number
of support staff are choosing temporary work as a means to secure
experience, build skills and explore new career options. Many individuals
also are attracted to the flexibility and variety of assignments this
arrangement provides.
Companies are turning to temporary workers to
assist with workload peaks and special projects, creating a multitude of
opportunities for skilled administrative professionals. In fact, according
to a survey by our company, 46 percent of firms are using more temporary
professionals today than just five years ago.
If you choose to pursue this career path, consider the following advice for
maximizing your experience:
- Understand your duties. The better you
comprehend the nature of the assignment, the better you’ll be able to
perform. Reviewing the basic job responsibilities and objectives with your
manager and clarifying all aspects of the project at the outset will help
avoid confusion and misunderstandings.
- Ask for help. Don’t be hesitant to ask
questions and seek more information when necessary. For example, you may
need instruction on a proprietary database system, unique business
protocols or customized features of a software application in order to
perform your best.
Seek feedback. Request feedback on your performance from your supervisor
and those with whom you work closely. Remaining open to guidance and
constructive criticism will enable you to be more effective and productive
in your role.
- Take assignments seriously. While the
position may be temporary, the impression you make is not. So be
enthusiastic and willing to go the extra mile when given projects. Brief
assignments can yield many professional benefits, including offers of
full-time employment. Often, companies view a temporary engagement as an
on-the-job interview. And interim workers who perform well may rise to the
top of the candidate list given their proven performance and ability to
fit within the corporate culture. It’s not surprising, then, that 87
percent of executives polled by OfficeTeam said it’s valuable to hire
someone on a temporary basis as a means of evaluating him or her for a
full-time position. Maintaining a professional attitude throughout your
temporary assignment demonstrates to the employer that you mean business
and positions you well for future projects or even full-time employment.:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Diane Domeyer is executive
director of OfficeTeam, the nation’s leading staffing service specializing
in the temporary placement of highly skilled administrative and office
support professionals. OfficeTeam has more than 300 locations worldwide and
offers online job search services at
www.officeteam.com.
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