How do you view temporary/contract employment following your service?

2015-10-01T13:52:07-04:00

Okay so some quick background here. I'm flying to Nashville at the end of October to speak at an expo of companies from across the country the hire temporary and contract employees to fill slots in other companies. Right now, I'm a contract employee with TekSystems, a company that specializes in hiring temporary/contract employees to work at other company on a short or long term basis. My current assignment is with PNC Bank.

As part of my presentation, I'm trying to get a feel as to how many Veterans are looking towards this type of employment rather than looking for a direct hire/permanent position. I'm also interested in hearing what other Veterans feel about this type of set up, both good and bad. I figured with all the great knowledge here on RallyPoint, I would come here asking you all for input. You don't need to give specifics. I'm just looks for stats and numbers but real numbers from real Veterans so I came to the one spot I know I can get.

So RP, what do you have to say? Do you find working as a temporary/contract employee allows you the chance to be successful? Do you find yourself looking more into these type of jobs or are you only looking at permanent jobs? If you are currently working as a temporary/contract employee, what are the pros and cons for you as a Veteran?

Response by SFC David McMahon made Oct 1 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-10-01T14:02:12-04:00

I would say, in my opinion, that most separating from the service would prefer something more permanent. While temporary is better than nothing, I myself would be hesitant.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 2:06 PM

2015-10-01T14:06:35-04:00

It my mind, it all comes down to choosing the right "temp company". When I retired in Colo Springs, TekSystems hired people left and right and used them to fill the huge number of defense contractor and hi tech positions there. They seemed to do a good job of finding people follow-on positions if one ended. It is a good way to begin building a civilian resume as well.

The biggest negative I see is that you will normally be at a lower pay rate than a direct hire for the same position AND you may be contractually precluded from accepting a position with the company you are working for.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 1 at 2015 2:08 PM

2015-10-01T14:08:33-04:00

I've done the Temp thing. Went Temp to Full. It was a good deal.

That said, most people (not just vets) don't know how it works, or how it can be beneficial. It's a learning curve, and there is so much "risk" involved especially since we are coming from an environment where we have so much "stability" that the idea of going into an environment without stability is just "foreign."

I use that term a lot. Foreign.

The main problem I think Veterans encounter is that we're basically "Foreigners in our own country" (Title of my next book if anyone wants to co-write it with me). We look like everyone else, but we just don't understand all this basic stuff because we haven't been in "America" for the last 4-30+ years. We've been in "Americastan" (The Sequel to "Foreigners in our own country" pending co-writer).

So we need help learning the ropes. We need re-education, and folks to explain how something like this can be a good thing.

Like me. I got out, and became a government contractor. Hated it! Absolutely loathed it. Now, contract work or temp work would have given me a chance to "try it before I bought it" if that makes sense. Would have saved me A LOT of heart ache early on. It wasn't until 6-8 years later that I tried temp agencies, and discovered how useful they were.

Being able to say "the juice ain't worth the squeeze" whether it was job satisfaction, pay, commute, or whatever. It was nice. It also opened up the ability to try "different" things. I ever would have ended up doing dispatching or heating & air conditioning had I not tried them. I had done a "little" facility management in the Marines as a secondary role, and admin is something that is part of Intel. That expanded into this. But you would never think about tying Intel to HVAC dispatching. Now I work 3 miles from my house, enjoy what I do, have 0 stress. It's not what I envisioned... but hell. I doubt anyone has exactly the same outcome they planned.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Oct 1 at 2015 2:18 PM

2015-10-01T14:18:22-04:00

SGT Ben Keen, Temp work is a temporary or short term fix to a permanent problem, that affords veterans and soldiers a gradual return to civilian life. Just make sure you explain the lack of benefits and how much their take home pay will take be.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 1 at 2015 3:16 PM

2015-10-01T15:16:16-04:00

I'm in a temp position provided through Voc Rehab. It's with the government and the people I work for aren't bad at all. I think vets NEED to look at alternative means to get employment and move away from the "traditional" sites. As more and more are pushed out of service, the number of jobs are holding steady, the competition for them is increasing, thus making it a HR market. If you can get in on a temp; take it and run. It might not last, but can lead to another temp/permanent position somewhere else.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Oct 1 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-10-01T16:47:25-04:00

Tamp jobs can be a good way to "test the waters" for a job. It is also a great way to bring in a paycheck while training, interviewing or deciding what it is you want to get into.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Oct 2 at 2015 8:53 AM

2015-10-02T08:53:15-04:00

You all have given me some great talking points! Once again, this shows why RallyPoint can be such a great tool. I would still love to hear from more in the community so if you know anyone that could give some more insight, both good and bad, please tag them .