Here's how you can cultivate resilience and adaptability in your career through temporary and contract work.
In today's dynamic job market, cultivating resilience and adaptability is crucial. Temporary and contract work offers a unique opportunity to develop these skills. By navigating different organizational cultures and tackling diverse projects, you gain valuable experience that can make you more robust in the face of career challenges. This adaptability can be your greatest asset, as it allows you to adjust to new roles and industries with ease. Let's explore how temporary and contract work can be a training ground for building a resilient and adaptable career.
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Ts. Roslinda Abu Bakar-KellseyBusiness & HR Leader | Technologist | Public Speaker | Educator | Regional Director at Emeritus Institute of Management
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Marc PragerSr. Director, Talent Development at LinkedIn | Empowering Leaders & Teams to Unlock Potential and Drive Growth
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Corina NEAGUThe "Human" in HR , the International HR Strategist, Trainer, EMCC Senior Practitioner Mentor & Coach #bringing human…
Embracing change is at the heart of resilience. Temporary and contract roles inherently come with change - new teams, projects, and environments. By actively seeking these opportunities, you train yourself to adapt quickly and learn to thrive in uncertainty. This experience can make you more open to change in your career, helping you navigate future transitions with confidence.
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Annaya Fernando
Senior Global Talent Partner - Singapore, Malaysia, Australia & the UK | Executive Resume Designer | LinkedIn Profile Optimisation Specialist | 3500+ Career Breakthroughs
Temporary and contract work is not just a job; it's a career development strategy. It's a fantastic way to build resilience and adaptability, key skills that can propel your career forward. Exposure to Diverse Environments - Each project exposes you to different companies, cultures, and working styles. You'll learn new tools, processes, and approaches, broadening your skillset and making you more adaptable. Developing a Growth Mindset - Temporary work often requires quick learning to get up to speed. This fosters a growth mindset, where you see challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. Building Your Network - Each project presents opportunities to meet new people and develop your professional network.
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Alex Silva
LinkedIn Specialist | Content Creator | Career Mentor | Interview Preparation | Resume Reformulation
Cultivar resiliência e adaptabilidade em sua carreira por meio de trabalho temporário e por contrato é uma estratégia poderosa para desenvolver habilidades que são essenciais no mercado de trabalho moderno. - Diversificação de Experiências - Desenvolvimento de Novas Habilidades - Rede de Contatos Ampliada
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Elizabeth Crawford
Career & Personal Development Coach|Getting Results for Career Seekers|M.Ed.|GCDF|CWDP|DEI|Coach/Consultant
In the midst of a career transition? Consider temp, temp-to-perm, contract or volunteer work! Why? It keeps you connected and engaged!! They are an excellent networking tool, you can learn a new skill, you gain experience, you fill in gaps of unemployment, you have freedom/flexibility in your schedule, you become acclimated to a new city/town or state and the biggest one is that you earn a paycheck (minus volunteer work). Your resume will reflect activity (that’s the connection and engagement aforementioned). This type of work is also reflective of your resilience and ability to accept what’s happened and pivot. It’s also a salute to your professional and personal development!
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Samantha Wong
Executive Search | Financial & Professional Services |
-Develop a GROWTH mindset: approach each new role as a chance to grow and improve. -Network Proactively: Temporary work allow you to connect with a broad range of professionals . Leverage these connections to stay informed about potential job opportunities and industry trends. -Embrace FLEXIBILITY: Temporary & contract roles require a willingness to adapt to new environments & tasks, and boss/colleagues on a regular basis. Developing your problem-solving skills and expand your skillset.
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Laura Peñaranda Madurell
ASSISTANT HR
Where some see a disadvantage, others see an opportunity. It can be frustrating to change companies and experience a drop in job rank, but to me it has always given me a holistic view of the company. That prism is divergence. Those people who give you the first support, who receive you and share their knowledge and experiences, are the ones who have made me grow. If you also receive this attitude and collaboration from your coordinators, you understand that you want to join the team you work with every day. There are many situations that we face and must manage, many moments where a person asks you for help, the same ones in which providing it is more a vocation than a job. That adaptability makes us Unity, always.
Contract and temporary positions often require you to wear multiple hats, pushing you to expand your skill set. This exposure to different roles and responsibilities not only makes you more versatile but also demonstrates your ability to learn and adapt to potential employers. These diverse skills can become your career safety net, ready to catch you if your job landscape shifts.
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Ts. Roslinda Abu Bakar-Kellsey
Business & HR Leader | Technologist | Public Speaker | Educator | Regional Director at Emeritus Institute of Management
Versatility makes one very dynamic. The old saying of "Jack of All Trades Master of None" becomes irrelevant in today's workplace. Being adaptive means one has to adopt the mentality of "King or Queen of All Trades, Master of Some". Be curious, be willing to explore and experiment yet quick to pivot. So yes. Contract & Temp position definitely a way to find a niche!
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Christine Borore
Founder @ Epitome Consult 🔸Business Strategist 🔸Career Coach 🔸 Freight Fowarding Expert
Being multi-skilled is like having a magic wand. It's easy to fit in new environments and the Employers look foward to tap into your rich skill set. Learn new skills regularly and you will never starve.
Temporary assignments are networking goldmines. Each new position connects you to professionals across various levels and industries, expanding your professional network. These connections can lead to future opportunities and provide support and advice that help you navigate your career path with a more informed perspective.
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Marc Prager
Sr. Director, Talent Development at LinkedIn | Empowering Leaders & Teams to Unlock Potential and Drive Growth
Temporary assignments are networking goldmines. Each new position connects you to professionals across various levels and industries, expanding your professional network. I’ve found that these connections often lead to future opportunities and provide invaluable support and advice. By actively engaging with new colleagues and maintaining these relationships, I navigate my career path with a broader, more informed perspective.
A key aspect of resilience is mindset. Temporary and contract work challenges you to view every assignment as a stepping stone for growth. This mindset encourages you to seek valuable lessons in each role, no matter how short-term, helping you build a repertoire of experiences that foster a resilient approach to your career.
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Corina NEAGU
The "Human" in HR , the International HR Strategist, Trainer, EMCC Senior Practitioner Mentor & Coach #bringing human back into HR# ❤️HR (Human Relations)!
I am a really optimistic person. I have always been one. Realistic, at the same time, as life is not always sunny, even sometimes it gets really hard and painful. But seeing things in a positive light helps all the time to go through difficult situations and to take decisions. Good or bad, they are your decisions, you are completely responsible for them. You are also responsible for the consequences. Therefore, resilience is something you may educate once you get to know and trust yourself, to acknowledge that there is a lesson behind all experiences, to take things as they come and your do not get anxious about the uncertain future anymore. You may want to enjoy the present instead worrying about something you cannot control...
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Célia Zermatten
I help high-potential women regain control of their careers & lives by calming thoughts & emotions, tuning into feminine energy & authenticity, and boosting confidence | Events & Workshops | ICF ACC | Ex-McKinsey Manager
I believe one of the most powerful mindsets includes: 1. POSITIVITY: Focus on the bright side of whatever is happening. Be grateful for everything that is going well, and notice everything you already have. 2. GROWTH: Constantly grow through all experiences, both positive and less positive (probably even more so from the latter). Learn about yourself, develop new skills, and meet new people. 3. ABUNDANCE: Recognize that there are many opportunities out there, and many more can be created. Couple that with PATIENCE and CONSISTENCY, and you'll be set for success and personal fulfillment!
Taking on temporary or contract work often involves a degree of risk, stepping out of your comfort zone into unfamiliar territory. This risk-taking is instrumental in building resilience. You learn to handle uncertainty and the potential for failure, which are inevitable aspects of any career. This comfort with risk can empower you to pursue opportunities you might otherwise have avoided.
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Kay Allen Brownlee
Chief Career Officer @CareerSnobs | Passionate Career Development Coach & Executive Talent Strategist | Transforming Careers and Elevating Organizations by Optimizing the Recruiting Experience | Book a Call Today ⬇️
Taking on a contract or temp assignment can certainly be a risk but if you take it at the right time it will pay off. In my own life, contract work allowed me to fine tune an unknown skill, break into a new industry, and doubled my pay. Yes, in most cases there may not be insurance. Sure, in some scenarios once the assignment is over, it’s done. However what you learn in that short amount of time is priceless. If applied well, that leap will open up the door for new opportunities you wouldn’t have been qualified for before.
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Laura Peñaranda Madurell
ASSISTANT HR
If you want a change, you must leave your comfort zone. With the risk you take, you grow, relearn and renew your experience. Do you want to take a risk? Trust in yourself, in your options and in the opportunities that present themselves. It is a very important growth. A person proves his or her worth every day. Whether in a temporary job or not. I have not been a pioneer in this project, but I have joined on more than one occasion... and I recommend it.
Reflection is crucial for growth. Temporary and contract work provides a platform for continuous reflection as you move from one assignment to another. Assessing what skills you've gained, what challenges you've overcome, and how you've adapted helps cement the resilience and adaptability you're building, ensuring these traits become ingrained in your professional identity.
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Marc Prager
Sr. Director, Talent Development at LinkedIn | Empowering Leaders & Teams to Unlock Potential and Drive Growth
Reflection is crucial for growth. Temporary and contract work offers a unique platform for continuous reflection as you transition from one assignment to another. I always make it a point to assess the skills I’ve gained, the challenges I’ve overcome, and how I’ve adapted to each new environment. This ongoing self-evaluation helps cement resilience and adaptability, ensuring these traits become a core part of my professional identity.
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Benjamin MacNevin, CFA
Under 35? Let's advance your career.
It’s difficult to separate our identities from our careers. Our work takes up so much of our lives that we can feel it as a part of ourselves. This makes it challenging when your career isn’t going the way you had hoped, and you need to do work in a job you see as temporary in order to earn income. It’s important to appreciate that any work you do matters, but also that you are not your work. So if you need to do temporary or contract work for a period, try to see it for what it is and keep sustainably working towards your next career step.
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Shalini Ramesh
Career Coach | Helping You Navigate Your Career Journey for 2 Years | Expertise Anchored in Project Management and Digital Marketing Sorcery | Your Personal Mentor, Your Career's Best Friend
Prioritizing continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends is essential. Engaging in professional development courses, attending workshops and conferences, and seeking mentorship can provide deeper insights and new perspectives crucial for navigating the dynamic landscape of temporary and contract work. Additionally, balancing work with personal time ensures well-being and prevents burnout, allowing for sustained productivity and creativity. Building a strong personal brand and showcasing your unique strengths and experiences can also set you apart, opening doors to new opportunities and fostering long-term career growth.
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Laura Peñaranda Madurell
ASSISTANT HR
In my opinion, you always have to consider the person... you. Who you are, what you are, what you recognize yourself in, what you want to contribute, what skills you have and how eager you are to learn. In addition to all of the above, never forget to be excited about new projects. It may seem like an unknown world, but in reality, it is not so unknown.
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