Alternatives to Traditional Full-Time Employment

If traditional full-time employment is not a viable option for you right now, there are at least ten other possibilities you can consider. Each has advantages and disadvantages. What will work best for you depends on your personal situation and your likes and dislikes.

Work part-time

• allows you to remain in the workforce and keep your skills current
• offers less pay, and fewer benefits and opportunities for promotion
• may require extra effort to keep in touch with and feel part of the staff.

Job share (sharing the responsibilities, salary and benefits of one position with another person)

• allows some flexibility if you need to exchange days or take time off
• has the same advantages and disadvantages as working part-time
• requires a high level of communication between partners as well as similar (or at least complementary) working styles and philosophies.

Work temporary assignments obtained through an employment agency

• provides variety, an opportunity to meet many different people and the potential to learn new things
• may provide opportunities to move into full-time jobs
• may not give you enough time in a position to feel like you belong in the organization
• may offer few benefits and pay a set wage with little room for negotiation.

Casual/on-call work (working only when you are needed, often on short notice)

• allows you to remain in the workforce and keep your skills current
• may lead to more regular work
• offers an uncertain income and may create problems scheduling social events
• may not allow enough time at work to finish projects or get to know people.

Seasonal work such as outdoor jobs (working steady, often long hours for some but not all months of the year)

• allows you to study or travel during the remainder of the year
• can be difficult financially during periods of unemployment or when bad weather limits the number of days you can work.
  
  

Work with flexible hours (working a standard number of hours each day but with variable start and finish times, or working longer shifts but getting an extra day off)

• allows you to schedule personal appointments outside of work hours
• may allow you to start earlier or later in the day
  may require working 12-hour shifts with rotating days off.

Telecommute (working from your home by using telephone, fax and computer equipment to communicate with other workers)

• allows you to work independently on your own schedule
• eliminates commuting to work and office interruptions
• may limit opportunities to share discussions with co-workers.

Work for yourself, providing technical or professional services, business services (e.g. accounting or desktop publishing) or personal services (e.g. child care or housecleaning) for a fee

• allows you to determine your work hours and duties
• requires you to market your services
• offers an uncertain income and no benefits (e.g. sick leave, employment insurance, pension)
• can contribute to a feeling of isolation if you are alone much of the time, so you must work at maintaining contact with others.
  
  

Work for yourself, selling your own products (e.g. handicrafts)

• allows you to be creative
• allows you to adjust your work to seasonal demands or to the market
• costs relatively little if you work out of your home
• may not be very profitable if you are competing with mass-produced items
• requires you to develop new products to keep up with changing consumer demands.

Work for yourself, selling others' products via on-line/mail marketing, direct marketing (e.g. home parties) or purchasing a franchise (the right to sell/distribute a franchiser's goods and services and use the franchiser's trademark)

• provides training for you as a direct marketer or franchise owner but requires you to conform to others' policies and standards
• provides a successful formula for selling an established product or brand name but may allow little room for creativity
• may require a substantial financial investment (particularly for a successful franchise).
  

In today’s world of work, these and other alternatives to full-time employment are more available than ever. Depending on your preferences and lifestyle, they may be options you definitely want to explore.