Startups look to hire creatives on a temporary basis

The job market today can be a rocky place. One month companies are on track to meet their quarterly quotes, and the next, they've dipped into the red.

In tough economic times, many people look to finance and start their own companies because bank lending is low and jobs become less secure. Startups and small businesses often search out skilled mid-level workers looking to improve their portfolios and resumes. However, they also consider recent graduates for entry level positions as a cost-effective way to complete projects.

In an April 2011 study conducted by Startup Outlook, 83 percent of U.S. startups were planning to hire more employees in 2011 - a tremendous 10 percent growth from 2010.

Some of the most sought-after positions on the market today are creative roles. According to U.S. News & World Report, meeting planners, PR specialists, film and video editors, multimedia artists and technical writers are among the best new emerging career paths in 2011.

With more businesses looking for creative personnel come a variety of new ways to employ them. Consulting and freelance work is a great way for companies to hire creatives on a temporary basis, which saves money and effectively gets projects done without having to give up salary benefits. However, temporary work is not only beneficial to employers. Freelance and consulting workers find temporary work beneficial to their overall career. Working on specific projects allows people to focus on tasks that are important to them, as well as develop a creditable resume.

The main drawback to accepting a consulting job is having to deal with confusing contracts. The biggest downfalls in temporary hire work come from miscommunication or misunderstandings during the contract process.

If you're considering temporary work, be sure that you are honest and up front about your goals. The wording in some contracts can purposely be confusing. Therefore, make sure you pick the right project and the right employer. Companies that try to limit your expertise to their project during the duration of the contract can harm your chances of multi-tasking and building an extensive portfolio.

Also, during the contract policy, make sure that compensation is fully laid out with a specific time-frame and accountability for both parties. That way, if either side does not meet its end of the bargain, there will be consequences.

Working on your own can be a difficult venture, but being prepared to accept various roles in creative companies can result in extraordinary opportunities for any individual.