If you’ve been unemployed for more than six months then you’ve probably
considered taking a legal temp job at some point. But many unemployed attorneys, even those freshly out of law
school may view temping as a step backwards. The truth is that temping can offer quite a few
opportunities that an unemployed attorney might not otherwise find. Let’s take a look at some of the
benefits of taking a temp job:
1. An attorney who
chooses to take a temp job may get his/her foot in the door of an organization
that is of interest to him. While
there, the attorney has the opportunity to not only demonstrate his skills and
knowledge in a way that no job interview could, he also gets access to people
who could help him/her go from temporary worker to full-time staff.
2. While it is not
guaranteed, temporary workers are often given priority consideration for jobs
that open up while they are temping with the company. Think about it, even though you’re a temp, the company still
has to train you for the job. If
they convert you from temp to full-time employee, they can save time and money
by avoiding an additional job candidate search.
3. And if you
think that working a temp job is just about the company getting to “try” you
out, you’re wrong. By working at a
temp you get to see the company from the inside job candidates who will only
see the company’s “good face” during interviews. If you like the company, you can apply for positions as they
open and if you don’t like it then you have at least discovered one company for
which you don’t want to work.