Don't Wait, Just Temp

Temping or temporary employment is a global trend that's fast catching on in India. It's a $200-billion industry worldwide where five per cent of the total workforce gets temped. Today about 55,000 associates are on temporary payrolls but in the next 8 to 10 years this figure is predic-ted to touch 12 million. Says Ashok Reddy, whose firm Teamlease is the only pure play temping agency in the country, "Temping in India is seen as a test drive, a stepping stone to permanent employment. In the next decade we hope to see 3 to 4 per cent of the total workforce converting to temping."

From banking to FMCG and ITES—virtually all industries are open to hire people on a temporary basis. Even CEOs and CFOs are not immune to this phenomenon. Salaries too, contrary to popular perception, are not discounted. Sometimes employees are willing to pay a premium for temps at entry levels.

Reddy says that 15 to 20 per cent of all temps move to permanent jobs, 70 per cent get an extension and only 8 per cent have a gap between assignments.