Tech jobs on the rise (but mostly in temporary positions)

The atmosphere for tech jobs isn't rosy these days, but it is far from sour, according to a recent study by Dice.com. They found that job openings in the tech sector were up dramatically at the beginning of February, although the bad news is that most of the growth came from temporary, contract positions.

Okay, so contract positions are not full-time, 'keep-em-forever jobs,' and often lack medical benefits, but there are huge reasons to take advantage of contract jobs while they're available:

1. You get paid. Nothing wrong with that!
2. You'll meet a whole lot of people. Expand your network. Every time you meet someone, add them to your address book. If you get to know them half-way well, add them to your social networks (like LinkedIn and Facebook). Keep in touch after you move on, especially if you do a memorable job.
3. You get a work history in your field. You'd rather have a top tech company on your resume for three months than a blank spot where you weren't employed, or a job at Starbucks, right?
4. You'll gain valuable experience. In addition to work experience, you'll see how things run at different companies. Cultures vary from corporation to corporation, and you can learn valuable lessons by observing different rules, methodologies, meeting styles, and the like. (Plus, broad experience early on will help you avoid becoming rigid later in life.)
   
5. You might be able to get job recommendations for other jobs. Do a good job, and you'll have contacts and past posses who can recommend you for any full-time jobs you apply for later on. Or people you're working with might hear about a full-time job opening and let you know about it. The inside track is always the best! Speaking of which...
   
6. You could be in the right place at the right time. Even if a company isn't hiring full-time workers now, they might be in the future. And known quantities are always more attractive than strangers. Keep an eye on the company job boards, and when a full-time position comes up, make it clear that you're interested. The company could find they have the perfect employee right under their noses!

So don't rule out contract positions in your job search. Even a temporary job is better than no job at all!