Editor’s note: This is the first installment in a three-part series about temporary work. We’ll be exploring its benefits, how it can factor into your long-term career goals, and what it’s like to be a temporary worker.

Temporary workers, also called independent contractors or free agents, are self-employed and are hired by businesses or people to provide an end-result of work. From flexible schedules to control over projects and clients, being a temporary worker offers a number of perks that permanent employees can’t always enjoy.

“Transitioning to an independent contractor is a good choice for those who have a valuable skill or expertise along with a reputation for excellence,” says Jill Notte, a temporary worker and marketing consultant who has worked with Choice Logistics, a company that specializes in mission-critical service parts logistics. “It provides flexibility and a foundation to build a larger business in the future when the demands of family lessen and the work week can be lengthened.”

So what are some of the career benefits of being a temporary worker and what does it take to be successful in this self-employed role? Six temporary workers weigh in on the perks, offer advice and describe the qualities needed for this position.

Career perks
A flexible schedule is one of the main attractions of being a temporary worker. However, that’s not all this position offers. “I can work from anywhere, from a fast food shop in Tokyo to a coffee shop in Sioux City, Iowa,” says John Paul Engel, a temporary worker and founder of Knowledge Capital Consulting. “[I’m] largely independent because the client mainly just cares the work is done.” He adds, “Multiple streams of income means it’s unlikely I would lose them all at once.”

Deborah Scanlan, a temporary worker and style consultant for J. Hilburn, a luxury men’s clothing company, agrees. “Perks are that you can work a flexible schedule, work from home and in my case, be in control of how much money I make. [I’m] commission-based and have access to great training opportunities for my professional development.”

Tips to succeed
Since temporary workers are largely responsible for their own careers, they’re the ones who have to make tough business decisions and ensure they’re receiving a paycheck. What does it take to be both a successful boss and employee?

“Treat your contracting business exactly like an office gig,” says Susan Miller, a temporary worker and founder of Ewing Miller Communications. “That means showing up at 8 a.m. and leaving at 5 p.m. Invest in tools and technology to do your job properly. Before beginning a solo practice, make sure that you’ve set aside funds for the professional tools you’ll need, whether that’s a media database subscription, faster Internet connection or professional association fees. Promote and connect. Offer to speak at service clubs, leadership venues and in college classrooms. The college approach can lead to connections with affordable and intelligent emerging talent as your business grows.”

Dorin Rosenshine, a temporary worker who has worked with Jay Suites, a full-service business center that provides fully-furnished office space to clients, says, “It’s difficult to build your reputation, get exposed and win new clients — so word of mouth is key. I’ve grown my workload and client base pretty much exclusively through referrals. Focus on medium-size businesses that don’t have the time to manage whatever work is your specialty, are sufficiently large that they can afford to spend on someone to do it for them and lack the clout of large firms. These middle-of-the-road companies often find great value in the one-on-one interaction and high accessibility that are the hallmarks of independent contractors. Develop relationships with them, keep them happy, and they’ll want to help keep you in business by referring to you other similar-sized businesses they know.”

Traits of top independent contractors
Although there are plenty of reasons to be interested in this career choice, the demands of being self-employed may not be for everybody. Katie Heaney, a temporary worker for Vector Marketing and Cutco Closing Gifts, says, “Some of the keys to being a successful contractor are exceptional time management — I am my own boss and don’t have a ‘clock-in, clock-out’ system; goal-setting — there is not a manager or boss telling me what my benchmarks are, so I make goals quarterly and track them week to week; and relationships with current and past clients and referrals are key.”

Personality is just as important as the work you’re offering as a temporary worker. “Consider this move only if you’re a free-spirited introvert with a high degree of self-discipline, because it’s easy to get distracted when no one is directly watching you, and much of the time, you’ll likely find yourself strictly on your own, typing away on your laptop in a silent room,” Rosenshine  says.

“Being an independent contractor is not for everyone,” Scanlan says. “Successful ICs are entrepreneurial, multitaskers and self-motivated. You have to be disciplined to time-block your calendar and not get distracted by things you could be doing in your home — household chores, social media, etc.”

Luckily, seasonal hiring is heating up, and job seekers should find opportunities for employment in a variety of different industries. According to CareerBuilder’s annual Summer Job Forecast, 29 percent of employers report they plan to hire seasonal workers this summer. While unchanged from 2012, the number is significantly up from an average of 21 percent from 2008 to 2011. Employers in leisure and hospitality (47 percent), manufacturing (34 percent), information technology (34 percent) and retail (33 percent) are the most likely to hire seasonal help this summer.

“The summer forecast shows yet again that although the jobs recovery has been slow, employers are more confident today than they were three or four years ago,” says Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America. “Seasonal work — whether in retail or engineering — is also a good entry point into the labor force for job seekers, as a vast majority of employers — 67 percent — will consider summer hires for permanent positions.”

Compensation comparisons
If you’ve held seasonal positions the past few years, there’s a chance your paycheck may be a little fatter this summer. Two-thirds (66 percent) of employers plan to pay their summer hires $10 or more per hour — up from 64 percent in 2012 and 58 percent in 2011:

• $7.25-$9.99 — 34 percent
• $10.00-$15.99 — 46 percent
• $16.00-$19.99 — 11 percent
• $20.00 or more — 9 percent

Variety of roles available
While many summer jobs are in retail or hospitality, if that’s not what you’re seeking, there will be plenty of opportunities in other support and technical positions this summer, according to employers:

• Office support — 27 percent
• Customer service — 22 percent
• Information technology — 20 percent
• Engineering — 18 percent

Hiring happening now
If you think you have some time before you need to start applying for seasonal positions, think again. More than half of all employers (53 percent) will complete their seasonal hiring in May or June. So update your résumé and cover letter and research employment prospects now.

Create a clear résumé
Some hiring managers may be unfamiliar with a résumé that includes military experience, especially one that uses unexplained acronyms, or roles and responsibilities that may not be apparently related. Avoid this problem by creating a clear, easily accessible résumé. “Craft your résumé so it reflects your military experience and connects it to your civilian employment goals (so a non-military employer can understand it),” says Suzanne Robitaille, founder of www.abledbody.com, a website on disability issues. She has written for Hire Learning, Think Beyond the Label’s collaborative blog. She says, “Spell out all acronyms, even the ones that come to you as second nature (NCOIC, SME, and SFC-P do not hold as much weight in the civilian workplace as they do in your NCOER/OER). Also, make sure that after each training listed on your résumé, you add a few bullets detailing what you learned. Finally, try not to leave any time gaps in your résumé. For example, if you were attached to a Warrior Transition Unit during your recovery, make sure to include it as your most recent assignment.”

Translate your skills
Just as it’s essential to create a résumé that clearly explains your qualifications, it’s equally important to communicate to an employer how military experience has prepared you for a business role. “Think in advance about how to equate the skills learned in the military to those that a potential employer is seeking,” says Adam Clampitt, president of The District Communications Group, a service disabled, veteran-owned specialized communications consultancy located in Washington, D.C. “For example, the military trains young servicemembers to lead large numbers of people, and that type of leadership can be of value to an employer. While being an infantry soldier may not sound like a skill you can use in a corporate setting, the leadership skills learned can be very valuable.”

If you were injured while serving or have other hurdles you’ve overcome, you may consider explaining your experience and how it’s brought you to where you are today. “Talk up your service skills,” Robitaille says. “Weave the strengths you have developed from your service, your skills and your injury into your interview answers. Wounded warriors are among the most resilient, and that perseverance can springboard your answers to the interviewer’s first question, ‘Tell me about yourself.’ After some practice, that common interview question will become your best ally. You can answer it with your passions, your hobbies, your family, your military career, your injury and recovery, and your strengths and weaknesses all wrapped into one inclusive, incredible answer. Some interviewers only ask that one question, so make sure you do practice the answer.”

Prepare for the differences of a civilian job
Just as a civilian employer may not be well acquainted with military jargon or responsibilities, you may not be expecting the different aspects of corporate culture. “Private sector jobs have different expectations than in the military,” Clampitt says. “It’s all about getting the job done in the private sector, and being flexible to fit into the changing requirements of your employer. The military is governed by policy, and change happens much more slowly. It’s important to let potential employers know that you are flexible and willing to shift with the company as needs change.”

Military personnel are able to recognize and understand the needs of current and former service members more easily than most employers. It may be a good decision to explain any work environment needs you would require, rather than leave them guessing.  “Do what feels right,” Robitaille says. “If you have a visible injury and you feel comfortable about it, it’s a good idea to be the first to bring it up or ‘break the ice.’ If you have an invisible injury that you feel comfortable talking about, be sure to explain to your interviewer how you personally have learned to cope with it. Perhaps you, like many others, have a service related traumatic brain injury with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; if you explain to your boss that you sometimes get anxious and would prefer a quiet environment with a desk that faces the doorway, it is much easier for your employer to stomach than having him or her guess your needs or fear the unknown. However, if you do not want to address the injury, don’t feel obligated to do so. Your résumé and responses will speak for themselves.”

No matter what industry or role you pursue after your time serving the armed forces, you can make smart decisions for your career by clearly explaining your past experience and how it’s prepared you for your current pursuits, and also be open with employers about your own needs from the job as well.

We recently identified the top growth jobs for 2013 and identified meeting, convention and event planner as one of the jobs with the highest growth since 2010, with 12 active candidates for every 25 jobs posted. Learn more in the graphic and video below:

Learn more by watching the video below:

Watch more top jobs videos! Or learn about other top jobs emerging in the US.

1. Cbyond
Industry: Telecommunications
Sample job titles:  Cloud executive, engineer, sales manager, sales consultant
Location: Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, Houston

2. CMG Financial
Industry: Mortgage
Sample job titles: Account executive, loan officer, underwriter, loan processor, funder, document rawer, compliance analyst, marketing specialist, regional sales manager, national sales director
Location: San Ramon and San Diego, Calif.; Seattle; Phoenix; Dallas; Jacksonville, FL; as well as remote opportunities nationwide

3. Crescent Processing Company
Industry: Financial services
Sample job title: Outside sales executive
Location: Nationwide

4. Digital Risk
Industry: Finance
Sample job titles: Certified residential appraiser, mortgage underwriter, director national accounts, new graduate fastlane training program, senior BI developer
Location: Florida, Colorado, New York, Nationwide

5. Equifax
Industry: Financial services
Sample job titles: Marketing leader, analytics consultant, application developer, application architect, strategic account executive
Location: Atlanta, St. Louis, Charleston, New York, Dallas

6. FirstData
Industry: Financial services
Sample job titles: Account executive, data entry operator, senior application developer
Location: Orlando, Fla.; Columbus and Atlanta, Ga.; Richmond, Va.

7. Hilti Construction
Industry: Construction
Sample job titles:  SAP business base administrator, systems analyst, inside sales specialist/call center, IT infrastructure, server engineer
Location: Dallas; Pittsburgh; Atlanta; Tulsa; Kansas City; Richmond, Va.

8. Regus
Industry: Real estate/hospitality
Sample job titles: Customer service representative, general manager, area sales manager
Location: New York; New Jersey; Washington D.C.; Virginia; North and South Carolina; Atlanta, Ga.; Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fla.; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colo.

9. Sprouts Farmers Market
Industry: Grocery/retail
Sample job titles: Cashier, bakery clerk, meat clerk, produce clerk, grocery clerk, bagger
Location: Dallas and Houston, Texas; Western United States

10. Whataburger
Industry: Food service
Sample job titles: Restaurant manager, restaurant team member, area manager, project manager IT, database administrator, finance design coordinator
Location: Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Oklahoma

By Tony Lewis, Senior Recruiting Specialist, Insperity

My efforts to find a new career later in life led me to the career that I have now — one that I not only enjoy, but that makes a difference in the world. In the previous article of this series, I recounted some of the steps that worked for me in performing a personal inventory so that I would have a better idea of the direction I needed to go for the next stage of my career. In this article, I have already made some key decisions concerning direction after doing some self-evaluation. Now, it’s time to build my personal brand that I will use to launch myself in the direction that I have chosen. 

Who am I? Brand building and marketing
In the previous article, I recommended doing a personal inventory so that you can be more secure in the direction that you should go and then enlist the help of those closest to you to not only provide support but to serve as your encouragers. One of the key steps in the next part of the process is to either update your résumé or create a new one that will serve as your brand banner to the rest of the world. Perhaps you never really had one before, since the work that you’ve been doing didn’t require it. If so, you will need one now. This is going to be your official advertisement to potential employers about who you are, what you have accomplished and where you want to go.

Understand that this will not be a static document — one that is created and then sits in a beautiful frame for the world to admire. It will be constantly updated and revised depending on the particular positions for which you are applying. Some of the revision will happen in this document, and some will happen in the cover letter that will accompany your résumé. Most importantly, it will constantly adapt as the position requires. It is more than just a “history of you.” It is a document that highlights your adaptability, your achievements, your overcoming of challenges, your teamwork abilities and your creativity. 

Some key points about your résumé
There are several types of résumés: chronological, functional and combination, along with many versions of each. However, for the type of leap that you are making, I suggest a variation of a targeted résumé. A targeted résumé is a résumé you have adapted to highlight the experience, skills and relevant achievements that would be applicable to the specific job for which you are applying. It’s a little more work, but it will set you apart from the pack who are just cranking out cookie cutter versions of a résumé.

Remove older and irrelevant job experiences and instead, play up the recent experiences that translate well to the particular position for which you are applying. Make sure that you highlight current technical skills and savvy for using them to achieve results. Make sure that the top of your résumé includes hyperlinks to your profiles in professional and social networking sites, and make sure that people attempting to find you through those sites can actually get in touch with you using your current contact information. Place these alongside your email address and phone numbers.

If you don’t have a presence on professional networking sites such as LinkedIn, Plaxo or ZoomInfo or on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook or Ning, take some time to build these out fully. You’ll also want to have on hand a good, current picture of yourself dressed in business attire for your profile picture. Lastly, you’ll also want to use some of the same phrases and terminology in constructing these that you are using on your résumé so that your presence on the Web will appear consistent.

Be careful to remove the points of your résumé that highlight your age (“I’m the proud grandpa of five beautiful grandchildren”), or at least revise them to keep the focus on your skills and accomplishments and away from your calendar age. You won’t be able to hide them all, but just don’t make them a key point of your résumé. A lot of this can be accomplished by removing the experience points of your résumé that are old or are not relevant to the position that you are seeking.

Work to beef up the skills and achievements portion of your résumé to highlight your recent accomplishments. Don’t forget to include markers that indicate dedication, loyalty, and perseverance — the things that younger candidates can’t offer as well as you can. Use these to reflect what you have been doing, what you have learned and what you have contributed to the organizations of which you have been a part. Show yourself as a life-long learner who is effectively adaptable. Do you have an avocation or hobby that could be easily translated into a marketable skill? If so, this should be placed under the skills and/or achievements section of your résumé but should only be used if this hobby directly highlights your suitability for the targeted role.

An ever-changing document
Now you have the core of your ever-evolving personal brand banner — your résumé. As I mentioned before, you will need to constantly help your résumé adapt to the specifics of the role for which you are seeking at the time, so don’t hesitate to rewrite it as often as needed so that your personal brand banner always presents you as the solution for any prospective employment opportunity. This document, combined with a targeted cover letter, will represent you until you have an opportunity to place yourself in front of a potential employer.

The next article in this series will address how to prepare yourself physically and mentally for that eventuality — an interview for one of the positions that aligns with your career goals. We’ll do this in the next part of the process, “Job hunting after 50: Preparing yourself physically and mentally.”

Tony Lewis is a Senior Recruiting Specialist with Insperity Recruiting Services and has been the top producer for Insperity Recruiting for the past 5 years. He is also an experienced trainer and performance management specialist and is a former public school classroom teacher. He currently serves as the team lead for project teams working with two of Insperity’s largest clients.