Turn to temporary work while looking for a tech job

In any field of work, looking for a job is perhaps the hardest job there is. And the longer the search goes on, particularly in the tech field, the more detrimental the gap in work history becomes. That's because tech changes as such a fast pace that a gap in your work history can make it look like your skills are becoming "dusty."( Information Technology)
If you're out of work more than a couple of months in IT, there are ways to keep you tech skills sharp and in use. For example, you can pursue certifications, volunteer or take on temporary assignments.
In this post, I'll focus on the last: temporary assignments. Temporary assignments are great for a number of reasons: ( Information Technology)

• They let you gain real-world experience if you're just starting out in IT. ( Information Technology)
• They can let you explore different fields of IT to see which ones you like best. ( Information Technology)
• They can, as I mentioned earlier, help fill in those gaps in work history. ( Information Technology)

Temporary work, particularly in the IT world, can be referred to in a couple of ways. Some temporary work is contracted, and some falls under the more typical definition of "temporary work."( Information Technology)
Contract work


With contract work, the length of time a contract will last is established from the beginning. Some contracts are for three months, some more than a year. This type of temporary work does not usually go to newbies. Contract workers are people who have a lot of experience in their IT fields and can command hourly rates of $40 or more per hour. Some gigs--particularly those in high-level consulting or that call for specialized skill sets--can earn up to $150 per hour. ( Information Technology)
If IT layoffs are becoming common, then you can expect some of the same in the contracting arena. However, many companies lay off regular personnel and then depend on contractors to fill their tech needs, so don't get discouraged. ( Information Technology)
Robert Half technology is an example of one company that places IT personnel in contracted positions.
Working for a temp agency

When many people think of a temp agency, they think of secretaries and receptionists. But good temp agencies now offer to place technology pros in short- and long-term projects. The Kelly agency, for example, explains its foray into IT this way:( Information Technology)
A lighter IT is emerging as IT service delivery becomes increasingly diversified with cloud, commoditized services, and multiple service providers to deliver aggregate value with less consumption.
They operate from an on-demand resource model, which is becoming more and more attractive to companies as they integrate their IT technologies and merely want to augment their IT resources.
NetTemps.com is another temp staffing agency. It lets you search by specialty and location for any temporary job openings. In entered "web developer" in the search box without choosing a location and was given ten pages of results. Each result gives the project duration and a hyperlink to an in-depth description of the position. ( Information Technology)
Companies like temp agencies for a couple of reasons.

It saves them money. Committing to a new hire costs them more than just an annual salary. Companies don't have to offer a temp a benefits package, which could equal 30 to 40 percent of an employee's base income. There's no cost for training since temp companies make sure they match the company need with the temp worker who already has the skills.( Information Technology)

Also, using temps allows them to try out employees without having to make any commitment. If someone isn't working out, it's not a big deal to let them go. They don't have to worry as much about wrongful termination and other costly legal issues.( Information Technology)
As is the case with contracting, temping can also end in actually being hired by the company. But if not, you have filled in that gap in your resume and gained some new skills while you're looking for that next permanent position. ( Information Technology)