Due to the problematic conditions of today’s economy, many laid-off employees and graduates are facing the decision of whether to take a temporary position or to continue looking for a fulltime job. What should they do?

The answer lies in the circumstances of the job seeker, including the chances of finding employment in a reasonable period of time, available financial resources, dependence of family members on income and benefits or the desire to make a career change.

Some job seekers believe settling for a temporary position might hinder their chances of finding a fulltime position. Others believe a temporary job will assist in obtaining a permanent job.

In truth, a carefully chosen temporary position can lead to fulltime opportunities and may make a career change possible without having to go back to school for extensive training.

If you are in a similar dilemma, what factors should you consider before making a decision either way?

The first thing you should ponder is how badly you need immediate income. If you are the sole breadwinner in the household and you do not have enough money coming in to pay the rent or mortgage, the car payment and put food on the table, the answer is simple. Take a temporary job if available and continue looking for a fulltime job.

Another critical factor you should always consider is the amount of money paid and the length of time you will receive unemployment benefits. Use the benefits to your advantage. Unfortunately, the amount of money paid by unemployment is not enough for most families or even individuals to survive on if there are no savings to supplement the benefit.

If your employer has provided you with a great severance package that takes care of your needs for an extended period of time, or you can live on weekly unemployment checks, you might have the luxury of taking your time. But don’t wait until the money is almost gone before taking another job. If you wait too long you may not be able to obtain a position to prevent a financial meltdown.

A temporary position can open new opportunities. Some employers have diverse and extensive employment needs. The right employer can offer potentials you never imagined. Look beyond the immediate job.

Is the available temporary position you are considering in your field or with an employer for which you would like to work? If not, take a close look at the employment situation available to you. If there are other fulltime or temporary positions around or possibly coming available, maybe you should pass until the right opportunity presents itself. However, if things are really tight in your field, the best move might be to take the job and hope things improve later.

Significant numbers of temporary employees are eventually offered fulltime positions, according to staffing firms. Many others receive further temporary assignments.

Employers tend to hire people they know are performing at least an adequate job. This reduces the risk on hiring managers of making a mistake of hiring someone that cannot do the job or get along with others in the work environment. It also saves money for the employer since recruiting is expensive.

So, if you are in this situation, take a look at all your options. A temporary job may provide an income to take the pressure off you while you look for another job. It might even lead to a fulltime opportunity you really want. And remember, many temporary positions are never advertised.

M.B. Owens is a Nashville-based columnist and journalist with a decade of experience writing on employment topics and business. He can be reached at [email protected].