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Don't Avoid Industry Switchers

Reem El-Khatib
American Staffing Association

Your staffing firm might be seeing more job seekers who want to move into a different industry. Contract or consulting work is a good way for employees to switch industries, and more employees may decide to make a change in 2008, according to a recent survey of 3,000 job seekers.

"If the economy continues to weaken and jobs become harder to find," reported Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the global outplacement firm that conducted the study, the nation "could see an escalation in industry switching as job seekers attempt to improve their odds of success by casting a wider net."

Diversity in jobs is a top reason staffing employees choose temporary or contract work, according to a landmark survey of staffing employees conducted by American Staffing Association in 2006.

Similarly, the CGC report concludes that contract or consulting work is a good way for employees to ease into a new industry. Potential switchers may find that "this method of making a living is to [their] liking, gives more freedom, and provides a steady, nice income," the outplacement firm said.

Employers also benefit from hiring industry switchers. CGC wrote that, when a candidate has strong and relevant core skills, employers appreciate the fresh perspective and "new ways to solve old problems" that an industry switcher brings.

The CGC report added that contract or consulting work in a new industry may also help job seekers obtain permanent jobs. Temporary and contract employees agree: 56% percent of polled staffing employees told ASA that temporary or contract work helped them get a "foot in the door for a permanent job."