When you are looking for work, the type of role matters almost as much as the role itself. A permanent job, a fixed-term contract and a temporary assignment can all involve the same work, but they suit people in different situations.
Here is how each one works, what to weigh up, and what to ask before you say yes.
Permanent roles
A permanent role has no set end date. You are employed directly by the company, usually on a salary or a fixed hourly rate, and the job continues until either you or the employer ends it. Most permanent roles begin with a probation period, often six months, during which both sides can see whether the fit is right.
The advantages: stability, a predictable income, and usually access to company benefits such as a pension scheme, health insurance, bonuses or training and progression. It is easier to plan around a permanent job, and easier to get a mortgage or loan.
The trade-offs: permanent roles can take longer to secure, with more stages in the recruitment process, and moving on usually means giving notice and starting the search again.
A good fit if: you know the kind of work you want, you are looking for long-term security, or you want to build a career within one organisation.
Fixed-term contract roles
A fixed-term contract runs for a set period, often six or twelve months, or until a particular project is finished. Contracts are common when a business is covering parental leave, running a project, launching a new product line or dealing with a busy period. Many are extended, and some lead to a permanent offer.
In Ireland, fixed-term employees are protected by the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003. In general, they should not be treated less favourably than comparable permanent employees.
The advantages: a clear timeframe, experience in a new company or sector, and often a quicker hiring process. Contract roles can be a good way to get your foot in the door with an employer you would like to work for.
The trade-offs: less certainty about what happens when the contract ends, and you may need to start looking for your next role before it finishes.
A good fit if: you want to build experience quickly, try a new sector, or you are comfortable planning in six or twelve-month blocks.
Temporary roles
Temporary roles fill short-term needs: cover for absence, seasonal peaks, a sudden increase in orders or a short project. Assignments can last anything from a few days to several months. When you work through a recruitment agency, you are often employed and paid by the agency while you work on site with the client company.
Agency workers in Ireland are covered by the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012. This gives them the right to the same basic working and employment conditions, including pay, working time, rest breaks, annual leave and public holidays, as if they had been employed directly by the company to do the same job.
The advantages: flexibility, the chance to start work quickly, and exposure to different workplaces, which can help you work out what you enjoy and build a varied CV. Temporary work also keeps you earning while you look for something longer term.
The trade-offs: hours and assignments can vary, and some benefits that permanent employees receive may not apply.
A good fit if: you need to start soon, you want flexibility, you are between roles, or you want to try out different types of work before committing.
How to decide
There is no single right answer. It depends on what you need from work at this point. A few questions can help you decide:
- How important is a steady, predictable income to you right now?
- How soon do you need to start?
- Are you trying to move into a new sector or type of work?
- Do you want to build a long-term career with one employer, or gain varied experience first?
- How much flexibility do you need around hours, location or other commitments?
It is also worth remembering that the options are not fixed. Plenty of people start in a temporary or contract role and move into a permanent position with the same employer once they have proved themselves.
Questions to ask before you accept an offer
Whatever type of role you are offered, make sure you understand the details before you accept.
- When does it start, and how long is it expected to last? Is there a chance of an extension or a permanent position?
- What are the hours and shift pattern, and is overtime available or expected?
- What is the rate of pay, how often will I be paid, and who pays me?
- Who is my employer: the agency or the company I will be working for?
- What are the arrangements for annual leave and public holidays?
- What training, induction or protective equipment will be provided?
- Who do I contact if I have a question or a problem once I have started?
You are entitled to a written statement of your core terms of employment within the first five days of starting, with fuller written terms to follow. Read these carefully and keep a copy.
Turning temporary work into a permanent role
If you are in a temporary or contract role and would like to stay, the way you work is your best argument.
- Be reliable. Turning up on time, every time, is noticed more than people expect.
- Learn the processes properly and ask questions when you are unsure.
- Get on well with the people around you, and be willing to help out where it is needed.
- Let your recruiter know you are interested in a permanent role, so they can raise it with the employer at the right time.
Find the right role
eFlexes recruits for permanent, temporary and contract roles across a wide range of sectors. Browse current vacancies or register your CV to be considered for suitable opportunities.
