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Contracting jobs, temping jobs, and interim jobs, have all now evolved from simply being seen as stop-gap solutions, to now becoming credible and flexible career choices for many.
There are a whole range of exciting contracting jobs, temping jobs, and interim jobs, around the UK – particularly in large cities such as London. This is why we have dedicated teams of specialist consultants based in the capital and around the UK, helping to place candidates with our leading clients in these areas.
If you’re considering looking beyond permanent job opportunities and moving into something more flexible, it’s worth considering the various types of roles available and how they differ. To assist in your search we’ve put together this handy guide.
Contractors are typically paid on a pro-rata basis through a firm’s payroll. This can be on a fixed-term basis, or on a rolling contract, and companies use contractors in a number of different scenarios. Often this is during busy periods or to cover special projects, but contracts can also be used to assess an individual’s suitability for a more permanent role.
Normally, if a contractor is not part of another company or set of companies, the contractor is viewed as self-employed and would be expected to look after their own tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs). In this scenario, the contractor might not be entitled to the same rights as permanent workers but the recruiter is still responsible for their health and safety. If the contractor is a part of another company or set of companies, then whereas temps are usually paid by the hour without the perks of their permanent counterparts, contractors will often have the same benefits and holiday entitlement as permanent employees.
The terms of a contractor’s employment normally strictly adhere closely to the following rules:
- The contract lasts for a certain length of time;
- The contract is set in advance; and
- The contract ends when the assigned event/project is completed.
If a project overruns, conditions of that should be stated in the terms of the contract and as a contractor, you’ll be able to enjoy the flexibility and breadth of new experiences that contract jobs offer. Contractors can experience a variety of job roles within the private and public sectors, and the pay is significantly more than non-contract jobs. See our Benefits of Contracting article for more insights.
A contractor’s CV is their most valuable tool and when it comes to listing your contracting jobs be sure to list the name of the company that you worked for - not the contracting agency. This allows you to stand out in a competitive market and it also gives the recruiter a much better insight into the culture and size of the businesses that you once worked for. However, be prepared to have explanations for why you left your previous roles.
When approaching your CV, it pays to create a contract-specific version and a summary will serve as a great introduction point to showcase the experience gained from all your contracting jobs. Search our contract jobs page now to find the right one for you.
Temporary workers are considered a vital part of staffing strategies for many businesses. Although temp jobs are still used by many people as a short-term measure, they are the chosen, ongoing quick career path for many others. Temping can be a great solution for students and graduates who need to earn money while they study, or for those trying to re-enter the workforce after a period away from work. Equally, it can be a good move for those between jobs, or those who crave flexibility and variety from their work life.
As a temp, you’re not entitled to receive all of the same benefits or job security as permanent employees but it can still be a reliable source of regular, well-paid work – typically paid by the hour.
As a temp, it will be the recruiter that pays the agency the employee wages and it’s the agency’s responsibility to make sure workers get their rights. However, after 12 weeks’ continuous employment in the same role, agency temp workers are entitled to the same terms and conditions as permanent employees. This includes annual leave and breaks. For your CV as a temp, focus on the big wins. It’s the places and job tasks that will really impress.
If you are keen to ultimately find a permanent role, temping can help to keep your CV looking healthy and your skills sharp while you search for the right position. Visit our temporary jobs page and see if there’s a job that fits for you. Or if you’d like a more concentrated search of the London area, visit our temporary jobs for London page.
From the pool of interim workers, interim managers are generally the most sought after group. They tend to be highly experienced professionals with niche skills who can step into specific business situations quickly and make a real impact. But on the whole, interim workers will be recruited for their specialist experience in developing or improving upon a particular area of a business. This could involve leading a team or project in light of a sudden absence or departure. Equally, interims may be required to take the lead during a period of change for a business or to instigate a new initiative.
The best way to approach your interim job search is to be clear and honest about what you achieved in your previous interim roles. If you have project management experience then be specific on exactly the type of projects you managed, the type of tasks you completed and what the role required on a day-on-day basis. Were your targets achieved and did you save the business money?
Interim work is all about making a difference in a short space of time so it needs people that possess a quick thinking skill set, people that can problem solve and lead and follow through on their decisions. From the top level where interim managers take strategic approaches, to interim executives/officers, who rather than simply consulting, are responsible for actually getting the business as usual day-to-day job done, see our Michael Page interim jobs and find the right one for you.
Although we place temporary, contract and interim candidates through most of our specialist teams, we also have a business dedicated to placing interim managers in competitive and rewarding positions. Find out more about Page Executive Interim now.
To summarise, contracting jobs, temping jobs, and interim jobs, all allow a degree of flexibility and provide a great way to quickly build a range of experience. If you are considering temp, contract or interim work, start your search on Michael Page jobs today.
Submit today to become discoverable to all our live roles.
Michael Page UK
Michael Page is one of the UK’s leading recruitment firms, specialising in recruiting roles across a variety of sectors for over 40 years.
With offices across the UK, our consultants are experts in their field of work, providing organisations ...
Read more about Michael Page Michael Page is part of the PageGroup. Michael Page is a trading name of Michael Page International Recruitment Limited. Registered in England No. 04130921
Registered Office: 200 Dashwood Lang Road, Bourne Business Park, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2NX
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Michael Page, Recruitment Agency Leeds
4.7
Wioletta S.
6 days ago
I had a pleasure of working with Leighton Sii. Communication was excellent throughout the process. ... I was kept informed at every stage, and any questions I had were answered quickly and clearly. Leighton was supportive and offering helpful advice on interviews.
Thanks to his efforts, I was able to secure a role that I’m genuinely excited about.
I would highly recommend this agency to anyone looking for a professional, reliable, and supportive recruitment!read morePharelle N.
10 days ago
I had a genuinely great experience working with Emma Gillard at Michael Page. From the start, she t... ook the time to really understand what I was looking for. Communication was clear and consistent throughout the process, and I always felt kept in the loop.
They gave helpful insights before interviews, constructive feedback afterward, and never made me feel pressured at any stage.
Thanks to her support, I landed a role that I’m really excited about. I’d absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a recruiter who is knowledgeable, responsive, and cares about their candidates.read moreMelanie B.
11 days ago
Very positive about Emma Gillard! She's been great right from application through to getting the ro... le. Really nice and approachable, very supportive and goes above and beyond.read moreSarah K.
20 days ago
Emma was so helpful during my job search. Always checking in in me, doing per interview calls to ca... lm my nerves and make sure I knew what I was doing. Couldn't recommend her high enoughread moreEvie F.
a month ago
Michael page is an excellent service that was a massive help throughout my application. Emma was ve... ry responsive, approachable and knowledgeable.read moreSadie J.
a month ago
Was assisted by Emma, who was so helpful during the whole process of my recruitment and was there w... henever I needed. Cannot thank her enough for all the help and support she has given.read moreOpe O.
a month ago
Very Excellent Service. And Emma Gillard was a very excellent help in me finding a job. She made su... re she chased things up and helped enthusiastically.read moreIan M.
a month ago
Excellent recruitment agency. The consultants are knowledgeable on the various industry sectors and... will guide you every step of the way!!read moreSharmin
a month ago
I had a fantastic experience working with Leighton Sii, he was professional, supportive and highly ... responsive throughout the entire process. He kept me informed and provided valuable interview guidance that helped me secure an excellent role. I appreciated Leighton’s honest communication and genuine commitment to finding a position that aligned with my experience and career goals. I would highly recommend him to to anyone looking for their next opportunity ☺️read moreIsha C.
a month ago
had a great experience working with Leighton Sii at Michael Page. He was professional, responsive, ... and super supportive throughout the entire recruitment process. Communication was clear at every stage, and he really helped me during preparation, which made a big difference and gave me a lot of confidence. Leighton was always approachable and helpful, and I’d highly recommend him to anyone looking for a recruiter who genuinely cares about their candidates.read moreElla S.
2 months ago
From our first interaction all at Michael Page were friendly, helpful and professional. Leighton wh... o I worked closely with on the Finance side of MP was fantastic and offered me great advice throughout the interviewing process, landing me a role within 2-3 weeks of our initial conversation. Couldn't recommend highly enough! :)read moreLisa M.
2 months ago
An absolutely fantastic service provided by Emma Gillard. She was very supportive throughout the w... hole process of finding me full time employment. Keeping me updated with the progress of my application and preparing me for my interview securing me a successful role. Many thanks.read moreFlory Y.
4 months ago
Really pleased with the whole experience. The support throughout the whole process was top notch an... d Leighton (recruiter) was thorough and just really easy to get on with.read moreAngela S.
4 months ago
Brilliant service from Emma, extremely helpful and supportive. Thank YouChristian Jimenez H.
4 months ago
I want to say a massive thank you to Emma Gillard for the help and support she has provided me and ... the confidence boost I needed in getting the job offer! She has been nothing short of amazing in everything she has done for me. Absolute queen.read moreSam E.
4 months ago
I had the pleasure of working with Leighton Sii. My experience was extremely smooth. Leighton was v... ery diligent and thorough. He made sure to keep me in the loop at every stage of the journey. I received some great advice for each stage of the interview, and his advice was detailed and extremely helpful. His attention to detail and guidance is extremely appreciated. I would highly recommend working with Leighton I truly believe he has your best interest at heart.read moreeslam Y.
5 months ago
Emma Gillard provided an exceptional recruitment experience from start to finish. Her communication... , support, and dedication made the whole process seamless. A real pleasure to work with!read moreKristian
5 months ago
Helped me in terms of getting a job role suited to me and my skills.
Very efficient and quick and s... uper friendly during the whole process.read moreCameron D.
5 months ago
I have recently had the pleasure working with Emma G at Michael Page. The service and help I receiv... ed from Emma was brilliant, worked very well together on finding a suitable role for myself, and successfully found one very quickly. Amazing asset to the team, thank you Emma!read moreleonie C.
5 months ago
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Emma alongside my journey and have been successful! Her... attentiveness and help were really appreciated and made the process smooth from beginning to end! Would highly recommend to someone who may be struggling to find the right suited role 🥰read moreKirstie F.
6 months ago
Extremely pleased with the help and support I was given from Emma when I applied for a job as a leg... al assistant.
Emma was efficient with contacting me, she kept me up to date on the application process.
I felt truly supported when it came to my telephone interview and again at my face to face interview with the pre interview phone calls I was given to go through what the interviewers would expect from me.
Thank youread moreGary H.
6 months ago
Great recruitment process. Friendly and easy. 5 star service from Becki Johnson. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Richie T.
6 months ago
Good.Josie K.
6 months ago
Emma Gillard was amazing throughout the whole process of getting my new job! Can’t thank her enough... for all of her help and support. Highly recommend her if you’re job searching and in need of help:)read moreLina J.
7 months ago
I had the pleasure of working with Emma Gillard during my recent job search, and I can’t thank her ... enough for the support she provided throughout the entire interview process. From the very beginning, Emma was incredibly communicative—she kept me updated at every stage and ensured I never felt out of the loop. Her attention to detail, professionalism, and genuine commitment to helping me find the right opportunity made all the difference. I truly appreciated her guidance, transparency, and encouragement, and I highly recommend working with her if you’re looking for someone who truly has your best interests at heart.read moreHannah P.
7 months ago
I contacted michael page as i was facing redundancy at work. Within about a week they have found me... a position that is perfect for me. Emma was brilliant throughout the whole process and helped me improve on my interview skills as id not had an interview for many years. I cant thank Emma enough for her help.read moreDebi
8 months ago
Would highly recommend this company, specifically Emma Gillard, who was invaluable at getting me my... new job. Lots of great advice and help.read moreThomas M.
8 months ago
Thank you to Emma Gillard. A very good experience and helped support me massively, Would highly rec... ommend to anyone.read moreLa’Shanda C.
8 months ago
Emma G. is amazing to work with. I am very pleased with her assistance and would definitely recomme... nd Michael Page as a company and Emma, more specifically.read moreEmma O.
8 months ago
I had a great experience with Emma Gillard and strongly recommend her specifically. Thanks to her I... was able to go through the interview process fully prepared and confident which landed in me successfully getting said job! Constantly offering support and checking in was extremely helpful. Can’t thank her enough for her amazing service!read moreFrank T.
8 months ago
I’d like to say a massive thanks to Emma Gillard for helping my land a job I wanted. She is an abso... lutely fantastic person and amazing at her job, without her I would’ve really struggled in the interview but she gave me the confidence I needed to do well. I would definitely recommend using this service to anyone who job hunting. 5 stars all day long!read moreLouisa W.
8 months ago
Huge thanks to Emma Gillard who helped me with getting an interview this week and was successful!
E... mma has been extremely helpful and friendly throughout the process, providing coaching and keeping me up-to-date with everything. Excellent service. Thanks again!read morekishan S.
8 months ago
Emma Gillard not only helped me find a job but, she was also very patient with me. She searched for... opportunities that I couldn't find for myself. I would really recommend someone to try out Michael page and try counseling with Emma specifically. Really great service!read moreClaire A.
8 months ago
Excellent customer service.Emily W.
9 months ago
Within a week of applying for a job in a completely new career, Emma Gillard prepared me for each i... nterview, checked in after each step. everything explained perfectly clear, eased my nerves. Great service from her start to finish.read moreGina W.
9 months ago
I cannot express my gratitude towards Emma Gillard enough. Thanks to her, I’ve landed the perfect j... ob in a role that I am genuinely excited for. She made the effort to call me before interviews to prep beforehand and genuinely cares for you to do well. She is so lovely and I cannot recommend her enough!!read moreWill M.
9 months ago
I applied for some help and instantly Emma Gillard got in touch and was friendly and brilliant thro... ughout. Emma helped me prepare for the interviews, went through my cv and then found me a role to focus on. Thanks to Emma’s help, I was able to be given an offer in a very exciting and promising role.
It was thanks to Emma’s help that I was able to properly prepare for the interviews whilst, at the same time, moving house from Wrexham to Leeds.
If you need help finding a job, get in touch and ask for Emma Gillardread moreBrad
9 months ago
I have been recently looking for a full time role, and Emma had been beyond helpful; keeping me upd... ated on any progression, helped me with preparation, helped me find my ideal role, explained the role clearly and in depth, and was overall lovely to work with. Couldn't thank Emma more for the hard work of helping me find a job!read moreCharlenne B.
9 months ago
I had a great experience with Michael Page and more specifically Emma Gillard she was amazing throu... ghout my job search and kept in touch via email phone calls and Microsoft teams aswell. Thankyou Emma you are an asset to the companyread moreFlorence x
19 days ago
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