The pros and cons of short- and long-term work

Today, there are plenty of job offers in Lithuania, which can be long-term or short-term. Often, companies need short-term workers when there is a seasonal increase in workload (e.g. in December, there is an increase in the need for couriers serving post offices due to a higher-than-normal volume of parcels). Short-term work is not necessarily a day or a week. It can be a month, two months or longer. Normally, when a temporary position is taken up, the employee is given a fixed-term contract.

Every job, no matter how long it lasts, can be rewarding but also inconvenient. Here's a look at the pros and cons of short-term and long-term jobs.

Short-term work Advantage: After losing a steady job, a great way to keep your income stable

Short-term work can be useful if you have not been able to find a long-term job for a long time. A recruitment agency can offer you short-term work and help you maintain a stable income until you find a long-term, permanent job. Finding a temporary job is not difficult, as a large number of companies in Lithuania are dependent on seasonality. With winter being the season for some companies and summer for others, migrating from one company to another in a temporary position is no problem.

Short-term work Advantage: Opportunities to gain new skills and experience in your desired field

Temporary work can give you experience in new areas, which will be useful when working in different jobs. For students and graduates, temporary work can provide work experience that will create a positive image for employers. Having a variety of work experience is a big plus when it comes to getting a job in a desirable location, especially in an unskilled position, as it opens up a wider range of job positions for you.

Short-term work Advantage: A great opportunity to work while studying, as there are many jobs that require no experience, with shift schedules

Short-term work is an effective way to help students who want to earn money but don't yet have any work experience. You need to combine your studies with work, and many short-term jobs are timetabled in shifts! Finding a permanent job is a big challenge for graduates, but a recruitment agency can help by offering a wide range of jobs that do not require any work experience.

Short-term work Advantage: You can get a job by returning to Lithuania from abroad for a short time

People who live abroad can work when they return to Lithuania, but they do not have to commit to working for a long time. There are cases where foreign companies put their employees on downtime or leave for as long as a few months, giving them extra time to earn extra income. Foreign Lithuanians can turn to RETIVA, a company that offers staff leasing services, which can quickly help you get a job for the desired period.

Short-term work disadvantage: The works are temporary

Hiring an employee for a limited period of time is a temporary process. The person may feel unstable and insecure because he or she is working in the knowledge that the short-term contract will end and a new job will have to be found. A constantly changing work environment can be stressful.

Short-term work disadvantage: Difficulties in adapting to a new organisational culture

Working for a company for a short period of time can make it difficult to fit in, and co-workers may be less likely to engage with a newcomer, knowing that he or she will be a temporary worker.

Long-term work Advantage: Trustworthy working relationships with colleagues

Long-term work allows you to build strong and lasting working relationships with colleagues. Strong working relationships within a company are a very important factor, as they have quite a strong impact on the overall performance of a company or team. If the hired employee feels comfortable and trusted by their co-workers, their performance can be significantly improved.

Long-term work Advantage: Learning and career opportunities

Working for the same employer over a long period of time not only gives you the opportunity to develop your skills, but also to improve your qualifications and progress in your career. Companies often organise in-house refresher training and send employees on business trips to gain knowledge and new skills. Gaining a significant amount of seniority gives an employee more influence within the company. Long-serving employees sometimes get extra days of holiday per year and additional salary increments.

Long-term work Advantage: financial security and convenience

One of the main advantages of long-term work is that you can feel secure about your future. A regular income allows you to plan for the future (bigger purchases, a new home, a bigger family, etc.). Also, you know your regular working schedule, so you can plan your personal time (for family, leisure, etc.).

Long-term work disadvantage: Less variety and stagnation in work experiences

People who have worked for the same company for a long time are afraid to step out of their comfort zone and change jobs, to try a new field. After working for ~10 years or more in the same company, skills become very limited and knowledge of other areas of work is minimal, so the fearful person looks for a new job in the same area again.

Don't forget that both short-term and long-term job offers can always be found on the RETIVA website and Facebook page.