When is Temporary Healthcare Work a Good Choice?

During a long and tiring job search, many allied health professionals begin to wonder if temporary assignments are right for them. With various opportunities and a tradition of using temporary workers in healthcare, temporary work can be the right choice for many individuals.

Researching temporary positions can help you determine what options are available in your field.  For example, a therapist (occupational, respiratory, physical, speech) or technician (Radiology, CT, Ultrasound, etc.) could find a placement in a hospital, clinic, skilled nursing facility, sub-acute rehab or acute rehab facility, home health agency or school system. Many of these positions may be made by agencies or directly by the organization.

“Anyone who has grown frustrated looking for a permanent job has considered temp work. And it is rarely a misstep,” said Frank Burgoyne. Burgoyne is a former corporate recruiter, now working as a career coach in San Francisco. “It’s a fine strategy, particularly in medicine,” Burgoyne said. “But if your goal is to be on a career path, don’t lose sight of that goal: continue to do your networking and remember that your job search isn’t done. Many placement agencies site that a temporary worker can acquire during a temporary placement. Most of the time, temporary work will enhance a candidate’s resume, although a lengthy series of short assignments – under one year – might raise eyebrows.

Will it lead to a permanent position? Sometimes, recruiters say. But there is never a guarantee, regardless of what is hinted at or implied by employer or recruiter. Temporary work should be accepted for what it is. Yvonne Quiñones Syto, MA RD CDE, has done temporary work at different points during her training and career. “I figured it was a foot in the door. I’m very confident in what I do – I knew they just needed to see me in action. I told myself, ‘yes, it’s a risk, but I have to take a risk,'” she said. Quiñones Syto is an author, diabetes educator and consulting dietitian, now in private practice in New Jersey.

Moonlighting with temporary assignments is one way to take a look around at other positions. “Try before you buy” works both ways: an increasing number of employers are using short term contracts to gain deeper knowledge of a candidate/temporary worker’s strengths and weaknesses. The financial aspect of temp work can be a bit tricky. While the hourly rate can be quite high, Burgoyne advised taking into consideration the cost of health insurance and other benefits that are not included. Once an offer is made and a candidate has assessed their financial needs, Burgoyne encourages negotiation. “Even in this market,” he said, “people with really valuable skills should be negotiating their hourlies.”

If the assignment is out of area, relocation funds are often available, too. People find their way to temporary work at all stages of their careers. Some agencies specialize in working with new graduates and some job settings are more accepting of less-experienced personnel. On the other hand, more mature allied health professionals may be ready to tip the work- life balance toward other activities and some employers place a high value on experience. At any stage of one’s career, there are new skills to be learned and a new environment can get the process rolling. Temporary work does not ordinarily come with benefits such as health insurance. In addition, if permanent employment is still the desired goal, there may be an opportunity cost of spending less time in pursuit of that goal.

Family separations are often cited as the worst part of any temporary job that involves travel away from home. “I loved my (temporary) job,” Quiñones Syto said. “The only reason I left my position was to develop a private practice and stay home with my children. “Even when it was temp, I enjoyed the time while I was there.”

Have you taken a temporary healthcare job? Please tell us about your experience!