Jobseekers have more reason than ever not to snub job openings just because they’re temporary
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS — An influx of seasonal and temporary jobs in multiple Caribbean countries is expected heading into the holiday season and the end of the year.
There can sometimes be a stigma around temporary jobs in the Caribbean. (Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels)
Ahead of this anticipated uptick in job vacancies, Joseph Boll, Caribbean Employment Services Inc. CEO, is encouraging jobseekers not to turn up their noses at temporary job opportunities that may become available.
The head honcho of the regional recruitment agency and talent acquisition firm emphasized there are many opportunities that become available through temp jobs in the Caribbean that may otherwise be hard to come by.
“There can be a bit of a stigma around temporary jobs in some Caribbean cultures,” Boll says.
“Sometimes, people look down at them or consider them low-quality. They won’t apply because they’re almost embarrassed to say they have a temporary job. They don’t think it’s worthwhile or they may be waiting for the perfect opportunity.”
However, accepting a temporary position can have many benefits that some Caribbean jobseekers may not realize.
Three reasons why you should consider accepting a temp job in the Caribbean
1. A temp job helps you to earn immediate income
A temp job offers stable employment. (Photo by Jopwell on Pexels)
Poverty rates in the Caribbean and Latin America skyrocketed both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
More people were out of work, or had to take up informal jobs like becoming street or beach vendors just to get by, which leaves them more vulnerable to external shocks.
“A temporary job may not be the glamorous lifestyle some expect, but it is reliable, formal employment that is usually stable,” Boll says.
“It can make the difference between keeping your head above water and having to borrow funds even while you are waiting for a more ideal job to come along.”
Even further, many temp jobs promise some level of benefits and can be more lucrative than meets the eye.
2. There is a good chance you will be hired full-time
Temp jobs often lead to full-time employment. (Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Pexels)
“Around 30% of people who are hired on a short-term or contractual basis end up hired full-time,” the Caribbean Employment Services Inc. CEO notes.
“Many also have their contracts extended or renegotiated in the event that it’s not possible for them to be hired full-time for whatever reason.”
Additionally, with many employers struggling to find adequately trained employees, they are less willing to part with a worker who already knows the ins and outs of the company.
The point, Boll says, is that a temp job in the Caribbean may be a direct pathway to the full-time employment a jobseeker would have otherwise been sitting and waiting for.
“Don’t let the perfect job you’re looking for be right under your nose but you miss it because you don’t realize how trying out for the temp position could lead you there,” he cautions.
3. Temp jobs can offer unique upskilling and networking opportunities
Another way a temp job can lead to permanent, full-time employment is by providing upskilling and networking opportunities.
Temp jobs also give unique training and networking opportunities. (Photo by Tim Samuel on Pexels)
“In many Caribbean cultures, landing a great opportunity depends on networking,” Boll says.
“The implications and downsides of that aside, having a temporary job in the Caribbean workplace can give you access to inner circles that can lead to employment opportunities that are more in line with your ideal.”
Additionally, workers can learn transferable or specialized skills while on a temp job, which they can then use to boost their employability.
“Even in the worst-case scenario, where maybe a temp job is just that, and they don’t keep you on for more than a few weeks, in that time you could have met a businessperson who was so impressed with your work that they now want to hire you,” the CEO notes.
“Or maybe a coworker may know someone who is hiring and want to recommend you because they now see your skill and work ethic.”
Resources like Caribbean Employment exist solely to help jobseekers find job opportunities for full-time, part-time and contract positions.
However, the CEO notes that there are also many ways jobseekers can be resourceful and seize opportunities that can lead to future career success.
Find the latest jobs in the Caribbean via Caribbean Employment Services Inc.
